The Rise of Catherine the Great (1934)
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40% of users liked it
(31 ratings)
This historical drama recounts the events that led up to the rule of Russia's 18th-century Catherine the Great. Arriving from Germany as a young woman who is to wed Grand Duke Peter, she soon becomes caught up in the court intrigue and marries the lit-fuse duke. As the Grand Duke's mother… More This historical drama recounts the events that led up to the rule of Russia's 18th-century Catherine the Great. Arriving from Germany as a young woman who is to wed Grand Duke Peter, she soon becomes caught up in the court intrigue and marries the lit-fuse duke. As the Grand Duke's mother lays dying, she relates her fears about her son's mental states, leaving Catherine to contend with his irrational and cruel behavior. When he goes too far with his antics, he is overthrown and put to death, though not by her wishes. Soon, however, Catherine is made the new Czaritza and restores order to her country. Elisabeth Bergner stars with Douglas Fairbanks in this British production. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Directed By
- Paul Czinner
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 18, 1934 Wide
- On DVD
- May 12, 2009
- Studio
- Criterion Collection
Critic Reviews
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Truly flat historical drama. See The Scarlet Empress instead.
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Cast
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Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
as Grand Duke Peter
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Elisabeth Bergner
as Catherine II the Great
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Flora Robson
as Empress Elizabeth
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Gerald du Maurier
as Lecocq
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Irene Vanbrugh
as Princess Anhalt-Zerbst
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Joan Gardner
as Katuschenka
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Griffith Jones
as Gregory Orlov
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Dorothy Hale
as Countess Olga
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Diana Napier
as Countess Vorontzova
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Gibb McLaughlin
as Bestujhev
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Clifford Heatherley
as Ogarev
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Lawrence Hanray
as Goudovitch
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Allan Jeayes
as Col. Karnilov
