Josef von Sternberg as director provides gothicness, garishness, German Expressionism, Russian madness, style and Marlene Dietrich looking goregous.
The film is archaic nowadays, Sam Jaffe is a looney tune as Grand Duke Peter who reminded me of Harpo Marx. Louise Dresser steals the show as the stern and wacky Empress of Russia. It is a film that shows you the early development of cinema as art.
The film is flawed in its narrative, it is almost maniacal at times.
Yet Dietrich carries it through as Catherine who plots to take over as Queen of Russia by getting the army onside once the old Empress croaks it. At least she and her dashing lover Count Alexei appear to be subdued.
The film is archaic nowadays, Sam Jaffe is a looney tune as Grand Duke Peter who reminded me of Harpo Marx. Louise Dresser steals the show as the stern and wacky Empress of Russia. It is a film that shows you the early development of cinema as art.
The film is flawed in its narrative, it is almost maniacal at times.
Yet Dietrich carries it through as Catherine who plots to take over as Queen of Russia by getting the army onside once the old Empress croaks it. At least she and her dashing lover Count Alexei appear to be subdued.