Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

Director:

Richard Boleslawski

Writer:

Charles MacArthur (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 March 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

Children | Czarina Alexandra Of Russia | Czarina | Royalty | Palace

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 (Tsarina Alexandra) plays the lover of her real life brother Lionel Barrymore (Grigori Rasputin) in this film.

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:

Featured in "Biography: The Barrymores" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Russian National Anthem

Fun example of old Hollywood.

A true example of the assembly line style film-making of the old studios, where one doubts if the screenwriter ever visit the set, or did the director ever sit at an editing bench. Lionel Barrymore, however is a treat as the grimy, kooky Rasputin. He doesn't go for one-note scary. He's seen as a fun party animal, a believable healer, and the world's worst dinner guest. Other than that, John is wasted as the hero, as is their sister Ethel.