The Scarlet Empress (1934): cast, story & where to watch
1934 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1934, The Scarlet Empress is a drama, romance and history film directed by Josef von Sternberg, running about 104 minutes. “The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.
Who’s in it. The Scarlet Empress stars Marlene Dietrich as Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II, John Lodge as Count Alexei, Sam Jaffe as Grand Duke Peter and Louise Dresser as Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, The Scarlet Empress has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on FlixFling and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Scarlet Empress page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Scarlet Empress tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Scarlet Empress (1934)?
- In US, The Scarlet Empress is available to stream on FlixFling, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Scarlet Empress worth watching?
- The Scarlet Empress holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, romance and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Scarlet Empress?
- The Scarlet Empress stars Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser and C. Aubrey Smith.
- When was The Scarlet Empress released?
- The Scarlet Empress was released in 1934, with a runtime of about 104 minutes.