The Scarlet Empress
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.
Available In
Collector's Set
Collector's Set
Cast
- Marlene Dietrich
- 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
- Grigory Orlov
- Olive Tell
- Princess Johanna
- Ruthelma Stevens
- Countess Elizabeth
- Erville Alderson
- Chancellor Bestuchef
- Davison Clark
- Archimandrite Simeon Tevedovsky
Credits
- Director
- Josef von Sternberg
- Screenplay by
- Eleanor McGeary
- Based on the diary of Catherine II, as arranged by
- Manual Komroff
- Produced by
- Adolf Zukor
- Photographed by
- Bert Glennon
- Edited by
- Josef von Sternberg
- Edited by
- Sam Winston
- Art direction by
- Hans Dreier
- Art direction by
- Peter Ballbusch
- Art direction by
- Richard Kollorsz
- Costume design by
- Travis Banton
- Music arranged by
- W. Franke Harling
- Music arranged by
- John Leipold
- Music arranged by
- Josef von Sternberg
- Special effects by
- Gordon Jennings
