The Scarlet Empress (1934): Grandeur and decadence

ByFabian Bullitt

1934 • Josef von Sternberg • 1.37:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Released in mid-1934, during the early enforcement phase of the Production Code, The Scarlet Empress was the second-to-last collaboration between director Josef von Sternberg and actress Marlene Dietrich. The film depicts the rise of Catherine II of Russia from a naïve German princess to empress.

Not renowned for its historical accuracy, the film is more of a spectacle, prioritising aesthetic experience over dramatic realism. Catherine’s emotional progression is expressed visually rather than through dialogue.

The film itself is one of the most visually extravagant of 1930s Hollywood. The frames are filled with texture and symbolic detail, and monumental, grotesque sculptures dominate the palace interiors. Extreme side-lighting and backlighting isolate Dietrich in halos and often make faces emerge from darkness rather than natural illumination. Veils, lace and shadow are also used to create layered depth. The Scarlet Empress is a feast for the eyes. It is so rich and grandiloquent, and Dietrich’s performance makes it all feel so alive.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: A young German princess arrives in Imperial Russia for an arranged marriage and gradually transforms into a formidable ruler, navigating court intrigue, sexual politics, and brutal power struggles as she ascends to the throne.
  • Actors: Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser, C. Aubrey Smith, Gavin Gordon, Olive Tell, Ruthelma Stevens.
  • Director: Josef von Sternberg
  • Year: 1934
  • Cinematographer: Bert Glennon
  • Origin: American Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
  • Genre: Historical Drama / Pre-Code Hollywood
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