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Rasputin and the Empress is a 1932 American pre-Code film about Imperial Russia starring the Barrymore siblings (John, as "Prince Chegodieff"; Ethel, as Czarina Alexandra; and Lionel Barrymore, as Grigori Rasputin). It is the only film in which all three siblings appear together.
The film's inaccurate portrayal of Prince Felix Yusupov and his wife Princess Irina (renamed "Prince Chegodieff" and "Princess Natasha") caused a historically significant lawsuit against MGM and gave rise to the "all persons fictitious disclaimer", which has since become standard in Hollywood works of fiction.
Original Release
12/23/1932
US Release
12/23/1932
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Ethel Barrymore | The Czarina - Alexandra Feodorovna / Czarina Alexandra |
| Lionel Barrymore | Grigori Yefimovitch Rasputin / Grigori Rasputin |
| Ralph Morgan | The Czar - Nicholai Alexander / Czar Nicholas II |
| Tad Alexander | The Czarevitch -Alexis Nikolaiovitch / The Czarevitch |
| John Barrymore | Prince Paul Chegodieff |
| Diana Wynyard | Princess Natasha |
| C. Henry Gordon | Grand Duke Igor |
| Edward Arnold | Doctor Remezov |
| Luis Alberni | Photographer's Assistant |
| Mary Alden | Natasha's Lady in Waiting |
Directors
Richard Boleslawski, Charles Brabin
Writers
Charles MacArthur, Lenore J. Coffee, John Colton, Ben Hecht, Bernard H. Hyman, John Lee Mahin, John Meehan, Milton Raison, Robert E. Sherwood, Laurence Stallings, C. Gardner Sullivan, Carey Wilson, Mercedes de Acosta
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Ethel Barrymore | The Czarina - Alexandra Feodorovna / Czarina Alexandra |
| Lionel Barrymore | Grigori Yefimovitch Rasputin / Grigori Rasputin |
| Ralph Morgan | The Czar - Nicholai Alexander / Czar Nicholas II |
| Tad Alexander | The Czarevitch -Alexis Nikolaiovitch / The Czarevitch |
| John Barrymore | Prince Paul Chegodieff |
| Diana Wynyard | Princess Natasha |
| C. Henry Gordon | Grand Duke Igor |
| Edward Arnold | Doctor Remezov |
| Luis Alberni | Photographer's Assistant |
| Mary Alden | Natasha's Lady in Waiting |
| Robert Anderson | Undetermined Secondary Role |
| Oscar Apfel | Undetermined Secondary Role |
| Henry Armetta | Photographer |
| Hooper Atchley | Rasputin's Henchman |
| Mischa Auer | Butler Pouring Drinks at Party |
| Reginald Barlow | General Who Underestimated the Japanese |
| Barbara Barondess | Woman Getting Cigarette |
| Max Barwyn | Bald Man Trying to See Duna |
| Maurice Black | Revolutionary Soldier |
| William 'Stage' Boyd | Comrade General |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Irving Thalberg | Executive Producer |
| Bernard H. Hyman | Producer |
Editors
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1934 | Oscar | Best Writing, Original Story | Nominated |
