Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

Director:

Richard Boleslawski

Writer:

Charles MacArthur (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 March 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

Revolution | Hemophilia | Orgy | Epic | Abdication

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

John Barrymore	...	Prince Paul Chegodieff
Ethel Barrymore	...	Czarina Alexandra
Lionel Barrymore	...	Grigori Rasputin
Ralph Morgan	...	Czar Nicholas II
Diana Wynyard	...	Princess Natasha
Tad Alexander	...	Czarevitch Alexis 'Aloysha'
C. Henry Gordon	...	Grand Duke Igor
Edward Arnold	...	Dr. A. Remezov
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clarence Wilson	...	(scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

Rasputin the Mad Monk (UK)

Runtime:

121 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #2412) (1 July 1936 for re-release)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Ethel Barrymore's only starring role in a motion picture with sound.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although considered to be a mystic, Rasputin was neither a monk and nor was he unmarried. He had left behind a wife and several children in his native village on the outskirts of Russia.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Vintage Steele (#1.19)" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Waltz of the Flowers

Three Barrymore's

Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

*** (out of 4)

Lionel, John and Ethel Barrymore star in this film, which was the only one that all three legends appeared in together. After her son is near death, Czarina Alexandria (Ethel) lets the monk Rasputin (Lionel) pray with her son who eventually heals and the monk gives credit to God. Saving her son, the monk soon finds himself gaining power inside the government but this doesn't sit well with Prince Chegodieff (John) who will stop at nothing to prove the monk is mad. Apparently MGM was sued due to how inaccurate the story is here so if you want a history lesson you should go read a book but if you want to see all three Barrymore's together then this is the only film out there that will suit you. The film should have been a lot better than it is but the thing drags at several points and I'm sure fifteen or so minutes could have been trimmed from the 123-minute running time, although apparently the film ran longer when originally released. The performances aren't what you'd expect but it's certainly fun seeing the three Barrymore's working together. Lionel actually goes way over the top, which is something you'd expect from John but he actually manages to be quite calm and cool throughout the film. John certainly gives the best performance but it's Lionel who steals the film with his fake beard and over the top antics. Ethel is good in her role as is the supporting work from Ralph Morgan. The costumes and set design are wonderful and I really enjoyed the made up ending, which contains some pretty strong violence.