The Scarlet Empress
DVD - 2001
Catherine, a German princess, married the Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Because of his madness, she was able to seize the throne and become known as Catherine the Great.
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Publisher:
[U.S.A.] : Criterion Collection, 2001, c1934
Description:
1 videodisc (104 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in
ISBN:
9781559409162
1559409169
1559409169
Branch Call Number:
DVD Scar
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Add a CommentBoasting a supporting cast of 1000 extras - 1934's "The Scarlet Empress" was, to me, nothing but a stuffy, boring, pretentious costume drama which was clearly intended as a vehicle to glorify Marlene Dietrich and present her as a serious dramatic actress.
Apparently based on the actual diary entries of Catherine II - I thought that (under the heavy-handed direction of that lunatic eccentric, Josef Von Sternberg) ""The Scarlet Empress" (with its million dollar budget), pretty much, amounted to being nothing but a total mockery of Russian history from start to finish.
This was clearly one of those films that (because it took itself so bloody serious) ended up being downright laughable, in the long run.
*Note* - As expected - Marlene Dietrich does her celebrated "man-drag" shtick in this picture, as well. (Ho-hum!)........ (*Watch unrelated, 3-star "You're So Vain" music-video*)