The Scarlet Empress [Criterion Collection]

Director: Josef von Sternberg

Overview

"Josef von Sternberg's 1934 masterpiece The Scarlet Empress, starring his muse Marlene Dietrich, has been issued on DVD through The Criterion Collection. The film has been transferred digitally, with both the restored images (presented in 1:33:1 full-scre

Product Details

Release Date:	05/08/2001
UPC:	0715515011822
Original Release:	1934
Rating:	NR
Source:	CRITERION
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[monaural, Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:44:00
Sales rank:	21,554

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Marlene Dietrich	Princess Sophia Frederica/Catherine II
John Lodge	Count Alexei
Louise Dresser	Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Sam Jaffe	Grand Duke Peter
Maria Sieber	Sophia (as a child)
C. Aubrey Smith	Prince August
Ruthelma Stevens	Countess Elizabeth
Olive Tell	Princess Johanna
Gavin Gordon	Gregory Orloff
Jameson Thomas	Lt. Ostvyn
Hans von Twardowski	Ivan Shuvolov,Ivan Shuvalov
Davison Clark	Archimandrite Simeon Tevedovsky
Erville Alderson	Chancellor Alexei Bestuchef
Marie Wells	Marie
Jane Darwell	Mlle. Cardell
Harry Woods	Doctor
Edward Van Sloan	Herr Wagner
Philip Sleeman	Count Lestocq,Count Lestocq
John Davidson	Marquis De La Chetardie
Gerald Fielding	Officer
James Burke	Guard
Belle Johnstone	Aunt
Nadine Beresford	Aunt
Eunice Moore	Aunt
Petra McAllister	Aunt
Blanche Rose	Aunt
James Marcus	Innkeeper
Thomas C. Blythe	Narcissuse
Clyde Davis	Narcissuse,Jester
Richard Alexander	Count Von Breummer
Jay Boyer	Lackey
Bruce Warren	Lackey
Eric Alden	Lackey
Anna Duncan	Actor
Elinor Fair	Actor
May Foster	Actor
Julanne Johnston	Actor
Dina Smirnova	Actor
Agnes Steele	Actor
Patricia Patrick	Actor
Josef von Sternberg	Composer

Technical Credits

Manuel Komroff

Gordon Jennings	Special Effects
Emanuel Cohen	Producer
Josef von Sternberg	Producer
Manuel Komroff	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Side #1
0. Chapters
1. Opening titles [:09]
2. Hangmen [1:04]
3. The emissary [5:48]
4. Treasonous affections [4:58]
5. The celebrated journey [4:47]
6. Introductions and inspections [3:50]
7. Brood mare and royal half-wit [6:42]
8. Blessed be this bed [7:38]
9. Carefree spirit of youth [5:53]
10. Clandestine desire [7:19]
11. Rivals [6:39]
12. A very fortunate encounter [7:19]
13. Lessons in deceit [6:24]
14. Mourning and terror [:39]
15. Surveying the troops [6:08]
16. An enviable privilege [4:26]
17. Historic banquet [4:00]
18. Pray for her majesty [4:52]
19. Victory bells [5:00]
0. Index
1. Absolute control [4:28]
2. Martinet [2:14]
3. Marionettes [2:30]
4. The Dietrich persona [1:56]
5. Personal vision [4:35]
6. An abstract artist [2:28]
7. Artiface [1:56]

Menu

Side #1
Play the movie
The World of Josef von Sternberg
Play
Menu Group #1 with 7 chapter(s) covering 00:20:09
Stills gallery
Color bars

Editorial Reviews

The Scarlet Empress is a largely fictional account of the life of Catherine the Great, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best and most adult biopics of the 1930s. Directed in grand style by Josef von Sternberg, the film is a visual feast, though it is Marlene Dietrich's performance in the title role that has given the film its enduring appeal. A truer account of the life of Catherine the Great probably could not have been made in the U.S. in the 1930s. Nonetheless, The Scarlet Empress is unusually frank and occasionally suggestive. The film was the last of the great collaborations between von Sternberg and Dietrich. She would go on to make well-remembered films for other directors, while von Sternberg's later career would be less successful.