The Scarlet Empress · LeviOsa

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The Scarlet Empress · LeviOsa

The Scarlet Empress key art

1934·NR

The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!

DramaHistoryRomance1h 44m

🍅87%

🍅

87%

Tomatometer

🍿

85%

Popcornmeter

6.9

TMDB

Storyline

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.

Trailers

The Scarlet Empress trailer thumbnail

The Insanity of The Scarlett Empress (Marlene Dietrich)

Details

DirectorJosef von Sternberg

ReleasedMay 9, 1934

StatusReleased

Original languageEnglish

Budget

$900K

Revenue

Not disclosed

Parental guideNRUS

Studio

Paramount Pictures

Cast

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich

Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II

John Lodge

John Lodge

Count Alexei

Sam Jaffe

Sam Jaffe

Grand Duke Peter

Louise Dresser

Louise Dresser

Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

C. Aubrey Smith

C. Aubrey Smith

Prince August

Gavin Gordon

Gavin Gordon

Capt. Gregori Orloff

Olive Tell

Olive Tell

Princess Johanna Elizabeth

Ruthelma Stevens

Ruthelma Stevens

Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'

Davison Clark

Davison Clark

Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope

Erville Alderson

Erville Alderson

Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef

Maria Riva

Maria Riva

Sophia as a Child

Jane Darwell

Jane Darwell

Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)

Where to watch(NG)

Stream

FlixFling

Rent / Buy

Amazon Video

Apple TV Store

Google Play Movies

YouTube

Fandango At Home

Reviews

9 reviews · 7 critics · 1 fan

8 fresh · 0 rotten

Critics consensus

“Complex, visually stunning, and breathtakingly intense, The Scarlet Empress overpowers its flaws with a confident vigor befitting its legendary subject.”

87% TomatometerRotten Tomatoes

R

Richard Brody

RTThe New YorkerNov 21, 2020

Josef von Sternberg makes the cruelty the point in his lurid and macabre spectacle about the rise to absolute power of Catherine the Great, of Russia, who's played with an arachnid subtlety by Marlene Dietrich.

J

John Gillett

RTSight & SoundMar 17, 2020

Dietrich's sweetly accented delivery makes the most of both good and bad lines.

D

Dave Kehr

RTChicago ReaderAug 20, 2014

Josef von Sternberg's 1934 film turns the legend of Catherine the Great into a study of sexuality sadistically repressed and reborn as politics, thus anticipating Bertolucci by three decades.

S

Sarah Boslaugh

RTTheArtsStlFeb 21, 2026

...the point is spectacle, not historical accuracy, and as spectacle The Scarlet Empress is a great success.

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More trailers on YouTube

Information

Title

The Scarlet Empress

Released

May 9, 1934

Rated

NR

Region of Origin

United States of America

Original Audio

English

Runtime

1h 44m

Status

Released

Studio

Paramount Pictures

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