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| The Scarlet Empress - 1934 |
Welcome back to our Royal Week. Today's entry is 1934's "The Scarlet Empress", a fictionalized version of events that sees a young woman arrive in Russia and her rise to power as Catherine the Great.
The film's cast includes Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser, C. Aubrey Smith, Gavin Gordon, Olive Tell, Ruthelma Stevens, Davison Clark, Jane Darwell, and Maria Riva.
In Germany, Princess Sophia Frederica of Anhalt is destined to become the bride of the future Tsar of Russia. She's informed by her family and is told to await the arrival of the representative of Empress Elizabeth.
He arrives and tells the princess wonderful things about her future husband. She cannot wait to meet him in person.
However, on the way to Russia, the princess finds herself becoming attracted to the empress's representative, Count Alexei. She fights her urges, saying it would be disloyal to her future husband.
Arriving in Russia, Sophia Frederica meets with the Empress, who changes her name to Catherine. Catherine thanks the Empress for all of her kindnesses. "What I have done is nothing in comparison with what I shall do," replies the Empress.
The Empress asks if there is any request she can grant. Catherine replies that she wishes to see her future husband, Peter.
When he arrives, Catherine is quickly disillusioned, having pictured Peter completely differently. The man before her is only interested in toy soldiers, executions, and his mistress.
On her wedding day, Catherine is assisted by the Empress, who reminds her that it is her duty to provide Russia with a male heir.
Catherine numbly goes through the marriage ceremony. Peter looks around the room with a huge grin on his face.
They are watched most jealously by Peter's mistress, Countess Lizzie Varonsoff.
Catherine's mother, Princess Johanna Elizabeth, and the Empress also cast their eyes over the proceedings.
At the reception, everyone has a good time, except for Catherine. She sits very solemnly.
Time goes by, and Catherine doesn't produce the longed-for heir. Empress Elizabeth begins to lose her patience and starts to become very short-tempered with Catherine.
While assisting the Empress one night in her bedroom, Catherine sees something coming through the wall. It is Peter, who is making a hole in the wall so that he can see what his wife is up to.
The Empress is furious. When she asks him why he was poking holes in her bedroom wall, Peter replies that he wanted to watch his wife. "Watching your wife won’t give you an heir to the
throne. The next time I catch you providing my rooms with
needless ventilation, I’ll have you flogged!" the Empress shouts in a rage.
To assist in the providing of an heir, the Empress has Peter's mistress banished from court. Naturally, this doesn't endear Catherine to her husband.
Catherine eventually looks for comfort elsewhere. The result of a liaison with an army officer is the birth of a son. He is proclaimed the future tsar.
Because of the birth of a son, Catherine's esteem at court is enhanced. She also begins to do what she pleases with whom she pleases.
Peter, however, delights in tormenting his wife, ordering a regiment of soldiers to point their guns at her. He also secretly brings his mistress back to court.
Eventually, Empress Elizabeth dies, and Peter and Catherine succeed to the throne. As a ruler, Peter decides to terrorize the citizens of Russia. Catherine decides to cultivate friendships among the military, which could be of great advantage later on.
At a dinner one night, Peter publicly insults Catherine by offering a toast to his mistress. He also decides to lock Catherine up with the intention of killing her. However, Catherine has other plans.
Because the military is on her side, they refuse pointblank to kill her. Instead, they turn Peter's plans on himself, and he is killed.
Catherine is proclaimed Empress in her own right, and begins her reign with the armies of Russia paying homage to her at the palace.
Cast rundown:
Marlene Dietrich....................................Empress Catherine
John Lodge...........................................Count Alexei
Sam Jaffe.............................................Grand Duke Peter
Louise Dresser.......................................Empress Elizabeth
C. Aubrey Smith....................................Prince August
Gavin Gordon........................................Capt. Gregori Orloff
Olive Tell..............................................Princess Johanna Elizabeth
Ruthelma Stevens..................................Countess Lizzie Varonsoff
Davison Clark........................................Archimandrite Simeon
Jane Darwell.........................................Miss Cardell
Maria Riva............................................Young Catherine
And that's it for The Scarlet Empress. The film is notable for its Expressionist art design. Pete Babusch created many different types of gargoyle-like sculptures which adorn the royal thrones, hallways, and serving dishes. I'm definitely not a fan of that type of art, but the costumes, designed by Travis Banton, were very lavishly done and very beautiful.
Be on the lookout for Marlene Dietrich's daughter, Maria Riva, who plays the younger version of her mother's character in the beginning of the film.
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