IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.2K
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In 18th century Russia, the naive and idealistic lieutenant Chernov meets Empress Catherine the Great who becomes infatuated with him and appoints him Chief of the Imperial Guard.In 18th century Russia, the naive and idealistic lieutenant Chernov meets Empress Catherine the Great who becomes infatuated with him and appoints him Chief of the Imperial Guard.In 18th century Russia, the naive and idealistic lieutenant Chernov meets Empress Catherine the Great who becomes infatuated with him and appoints him Chief of the Imperial Guard.
Paul Baratoff
- Russian General
- (uncredited)
Eugene Beday
- Russian General
- (uncredited)
Egon Brecher
- Wassilikow
- (uncredited)
Renee Carson
- Lady in Waiting
- (uncredited)
Harry Carter
- Footman
- (uncredited)
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
- Lackey
- (uncredited)
Victor De Linsky
- Stooge
- (uncredited)
Donald Douglas
- Variatinsky
- (uncredited)
George Du Count
- Russian General
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaProminent visitors to the set included architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who was the grandfather of actress Anne Baxter, and 20th Century Fox contract director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who wanted to study the technique of Lubitsch during the early part of the filming when the latter was involved.
- Quotes
Marquis de Fleury: Monsieur: the wig is the essence of our civilisation, it is the symbol of our century, it is the rococo of the rococo.
- Crazy creditsThis picture is about Catherine of Russia. Her people called her the "Mother of all all the Russias". Her biographers called her "the Great". Our story takes place at the time of her life when she was not so much of a mother but when she was especially great.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)
Featured review
Absolutely hilarious
This movie is so hilarious! Normally I don't like modern dialogue attached to a period piece, but I was laughing so hard, I didn't bother with the details. In a highly fictionalized account of Catherine the Great, the audience sees how she manipulates, seduces, wages war, and takes more interest in her champagne than affairs of state.
Tallulah Bankhead plays Mother Russia, a term she hates to hear, since it reflects on her age, and she has a weakness for handsome, young men. She's demanding and wants what she wants when she wants it. Just before she's to meet with the French ambassador, Vincent Price, she meets a devoted soldier William Eythe and prioritizes his youth, handsomeness, and enthusiasm over French-Russian relations. William is engaged to Anne Baxter, and he has no romantic interest in Tallulah, but Mother Russia won't take no for an answer. While her chancellor, Charles Coburn, tries to quietly fix her mistakes behind her back, she rages on in her pursuit of William. Tallulah's timing is impeccable, and as she rattles off one-liners faster than she blinks, you wonder why she retired after such a success. It's such a delight to see her in this movie: selfish, impulsive, calculating, and merciless. "Tell me everything. That's enough."
Sig Ruman costars as one of the empress's generals, secretly planning a revolution. He gets to rattle off just as many one-liners as Tallulah, and it's easy to see why he was so employed as a character actor in the silver screen. He's so funny! "Psst! Don't talk to me," he whispers to one of his co-conspirators.
If you like that type of humor, you'll love this movie. You won't have to keep up with any political issues, and you don't have to remember your history. Just sit back and enjoy the fast-flying barbs!
Tallulah Bankhead plays Mother Russia, a term she hates to hear, since it reflects on her age, and she has a weakness for handsome, young men. She's demanding and wants what she wants when she wants it. Just before she's to meet with the French ambassador, Vincent Price, she meets a devoted soldier William Eythe and prioritizes his youth, handsomeness, and enthusiasm over French-Russian relations. William is engaged to Anne Baxter, and he has no romantic interest in Tallulah, but Mother Russia won't take no for an answer. While her chancellor, Charles Coburn, tries to quietly fix her mistakes behind her back, she rages on in her pursuit of William. Tallulah's timing is impeccable, and as she rattles off one-liners faster than she blinks, you wonder why she retired after such a success. It's such a delight to see her in this movie: selfish, impulsive, calculating, and merciless. "Tell me everything. That's enough."
Sig Ruman costars as one of the empress's generals, secretly planning a revolution. He gets to rattle off just as many one-liners as Tallulah, and it's easy to see why he was so employed as a character actor in the silver screen. He's so funny! "Psst! Don't talk to me," he whispers to one of his co-conspirators.
If you like that type of humor, you'll love this movie. You won't have to keep up with any political issues, and you don't have to remember your history. Just sit back and enjoy the fast-flying barbs!
- HotToastyRag
- Jun 29, 2020
- Permalink
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 34 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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