Discover
Marlene Dietrich stars in Josef von Sternberg’s feverishly debauched biopic as the spoiled princess Sophia Frederica, who grows up being groomed for greatness and yearning for a handsome husband. Sent to Russia to marry the Grand Duke Peter, she is horrified to discover that her betrothed is a half-wit and her new home a macabre palace where depravity rules. Before long, however, she is initiated into the sadistic power politics that govern the court, paving the way for her transformation into the imperious libertine Catherine the Great. A lavish spectacle in which von Sternberg’s domineering visual genius reaches new heights of florid extravagance, The Scarlet Empress is a perversely erotic portrait of a woman—and a movie star—capable of bringing legions to heel.
Original Release
07/27/1934
US Release
08/11/1934
Links
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Marlene Dietrich | Catherine II / Princess Sophia Frederica |
John Lodge | Count Alexei |
Sam Jaffe | Grand Duke Peter |
Louise Dresser | Empress Elizabeth Petrovna |
C. Aubrey Smith | Prince August |
Gavin Gordon | Capt. Gregori Orloff |
Olive Tell | Princess Johanna Elizabeth |
Ruthelma Stevens | Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie' |
Davison Clark | Arch-Episcope / Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky |
Erville Alderson | Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef |
Directors
Writers
Manuel Komroff, Eleanor McGeary, Catherine II
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Marlene Dietrich | Catherine II / Princess Sophia Frederica |
John Lodge | Count Alexei |
Sam Jaffe | Grand Duke Peter |
Louise Dresser | Empress Elizabeth Petrovna |
C. Aubrey Smith | Prince August |
Gavin Gordon | Capt. Gregori Orloff |
Olive Tell | Princess Johanna Elizabeth |
Ruthelma Stevens | Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie' |
Davison Clark | Arch-Episcope / Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky |
Erville Alderson | Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef |
Philip Sleeman | Count Lestoq |
Marie Wells | Marie Tshoglokof |
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski | Ivan Shuvolov |
Gerald Fielding | Lt. Dmitri |
Maria Riva | Sophia as a Child |
Eric Alden | Lackey #5 |
Richard Alexander | Count von Breummer |
Nadine Beresford | Sophia's Aunt |
Thomas C. Blythe | Narcissus |
Hal Boyer | Paul - Lackey #1 |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Emanuel Cohen | Executive Producer |
Josef von Sternberg | Producer |