DramaHistoryRomance
The Scarlet Empress
“The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!”
During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.
Directed by Josef von Sternberg, Emanuel Cohen
69
User score
143 votes
Stream on
Status
Released
Released
May 9, 1934
Runtime
1h 44m
Language
English
Budget → Revenue
$900K → —
Top cast
Marlene Dietrich
Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II
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
Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope
Erville Alderson
Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef
Maria Riva
Sophia as a Child
Jane Darwell
Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
Edward Van Sloan
Herr Wagner (uncredited)
Akim Tamiroff
Bit Part (uncredited)
Marie Wells
Eric Alden
Elinor Fair
Julanne Johnston
Agnes Steele
Philip Sleeman
