The Scarlet Empress
“The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!”
1934•NR•1h 44m•6.9•Released
DramaHistoryRomance
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.
Director
Josef von Sternberg
Writer
Manuel Komroff, Eleanor McGeary
Budget
$1M
Languages
English
Studio
Paramount Pictures
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
Production
Company
Paramount Pictures
Producer
Josef von Sternberg
Recommended
6.3
Firebrand
2024
5.9
The Invisible Woman
2013
6.2
The Edge of Love
2008
6.5
Anna Karenina
1935
6.6
Rasputin
1996
6.6
Mary Queen of Scots
2018
6.1
Anna Karenina
1997
6.5
The French Lieutenant's Woman
1981
6.8
Orphans of the Storm
1921
7.6
My Policeman
2022
7
Oranges and Sunshine
2010
6.9
The Exception
2017
6.6
The Map That Leads to You
2025
7.2
The King
2019
7.3
The Physician
2013
7.2
The Other Boleyn Girl
2003
6
Scandal
1989
6.3
Fanny Lye Deliver'd
2019
6.7
"Wuthering Heights"
2026
5.9
Dalíland
2022
Similar Movies
8
Casino
1995
7.1
Tomorrow's Dining Table
2021
8.7
Drama from the Old Life
1971
6.4
Sold
2016
Ghosts of Hiroshima
0
5.8
Chorabali
2016
7.3
But the Flesh is Weak
1957
6.9
Kubi
2023
4.3
Dad Would Have a Fit
2003
7.8
Fail Safe
1964
7.3
Sissi
1955
7.5
Eyes Wide Shut
1999
8.5
The Green Mile
1999
8.1
Das Boot
1981
7.3
A Touch of a Butterfly
1972
5.2
Vasily and Vasilisa
1981
7.1
Murder at the Gallop
1963
8
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962
7.8
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
7.9
Gone with the Wind
1939