Straightforward biography of the Russian Empress, up to her assumption of the throne.Straightforward biography of the Russian Empress, up to her assumption of the throne.Straightforward biography of the Russian Empress, up to her assumption of the throne.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
- Grand Duke Peter
- (as Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.)
- Bestujhev
- (as Gibb Maclaughlin)
- English Ambassador
- (uncredited)
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
- Regiment Soldier
- (unconfirmed)
- (uncredited)
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
- Guest at Hunting Lodge
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Paul Czinner
- Alexander Korda(uncredited)
- Writers
- Lajos Biró(uncredited)
- Arthur Wimperis
- Melchior Lengyel(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt the time of its U.S. re-release in 1947, this movie was most frequently paired in second position on a double bill topped by the re-release of The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933).
- GoofsWhen Peter marries Catherine in a Russian Orthodox service, they respond to the the lines "Do you take this man/woman to be your lawful wedded husband/wife... until death do you part?" These lines are not part of a traditional Orthodox service. The bride and groom usually do not say anything during the service.
- Quotes
Catherine: Officer! Officer! Please show me the way out.
Grand Duke Peter: Out of where?
Catherine: Out of the palace! Out of the town! Out of the whole barbarian country!
Grand Duke Peter: What's happened?
Catherine: He insulted me!
Grand Duke Peter: Who?
Catherine: The Grand Duke Peter.
Grand Duke Peter: Oh, that fellow.
Catherine: You know him?
Grand Duke Peter: Oh, yes, I know him.
Catherine: Oh, then perhaps you know why he refuses to marry me... why he refuses even to see me.
Grand Duke Peter: Well... well, perhaps they suggested some other German princesses to him. Maybe... maybe he prefers one of them.
Catherine: Which one?
Grand Duke Peter: Well, there's the, uh, Mecklenburg princess.
Catherine: Oh, that's impossible!
Grand Duke Peter: Why?
Catherine: Because she has a cavalier moustache and rabbit's teeth.
Grand Duke Peter: Well, then there's the, uh, the Oldenburg princess.
Catherine: Which one? Which one? There are four. Oh, old maids! I know them all. I tell you I'm far the best, and far the prettiest too.
- Crazy creditsOpenng credits prologue: RUSSIA 1745
THE HUNTING LODGE OF GRAND DUKE PETER, HEIR TO THE THRONE.
- ConnectionsFeatured in How to Stage a Coup (2017)
It was interesting comparing this to the same year's The Scarlet Empress, which I just rewatched recently. That film is far superior, one of the best of the year, but this one isn't bad, either. The biggest weakness of this version is Bergner, a very peculiar actress in both look and demeanor. She was a major star of the Austrian and German stage world, and she moved to London to escape the Nazis. She had high profile roles in this, Escape Me Never (1935) which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, and the Shakespeare adaptation As You Like It in 1936, opposite a young Olivier. She fades in the shadow of Marlene Dietrich in the role, and Bergner fails to convincingly imbue her with the strength needed for the later scenes.
The largest difference between the two is the depiction of Peter. In The Scarlet Empress, he's played by Sam Jaffe as a jabbering man-child barely able to operate in the civilized world. Conversely, Fairbanks plays him as a spoiled rich kid, but one with shades of maturity trying to break out, and he also adds a romantic attraction that Jaffe couldn't on his best day. The great Flora Robson is a treat here, just as spoiled and temperamental as her nephew, and she gives the equally revered Louise Dresser in the other film some stiff competition for who played it best. This version features very good costume and set work, but again, the sets can't match the grotesqueries in the other film nor that film's exquisite cinematography.
- AlsExGal
- Oct 26, 2022
- How long is The Rise of Catherine the Great?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Katarina - Carica svih Rusa
- Filming locations
- Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Studio, uncredited)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1