It's 1928 Hollywood. Director Leo Andreyev (William Powell) picks the picture of an elderly Sergius Alexander (Emil Jannings) from a stack of nobodies to be an extra. He casts him as the Russian general facing a revolt in his own ranks. In 1917, Grand Duke Sergius Alexander is the Czar's cousin and commander of all his armies. In one incident, he viciously whips revolutionary Leo Andreyev in the face and puts him in prison. He keeps Leo's fellow revolutionary Natalie Dabrova (Evelyn Brent) at his headquarters. She is conflicted and falls in love with Sergius. When revolutionaries take over his train, she helps him escape and dies in the process.
There is some great acting from the three leads. Emil Jannings does a great job and wins the acting Oscar for his work in this film and 'The Way of All Flesh'. I'm not totally convinced by the love story between the revolutionary and the general but the movie is still compelling to watch.
There is some great acting from the three leads. Emil Jannings does a great job and wins the acting Oscar for his work in this film and 'The Way of All Flesh'. I'm not totally convinced by the love story between the revolutionary and the general but the movie is still compelling to watch.