Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

Director:

Richard Boleslawski
(more)

Writer:

Charles MacArthur (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

24 March 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

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

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Jan. 6

10:00 PM

TCM

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)
Luis Alberni	...	Photographer's assistant (uncredited)
Mary Alden	...	(uncredited)
Robert Anderson	...	(uncredited)
Oscar Apfel	...	(uncredited)
Henry Armetta	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Hooper Atchley	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Mischa Auer	...	Butler pouring drinks at party (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow	...	General who underestimated the Japanese (uncredited)
Barbara Barondess	...	Woman getting cigarette (uncredited)
Max Barwyn	...	Bald man trying to see Duna (uncredited)
Maurice Black	...	Revolutionary soldier (uncredited)
William 'Stage' Boyd	...	Comrade General (uncredited)
Francesca Braggiotti	...	(uncredited)
William Burress	...	(uncredited)
Robert Cain	...	(uncredited)
Emile Chautard	...	(uncredited)
Clay Clement	...	(uncredited)
Louise Closser Hale	...	Lazy spoiled woman (uncredited)
Richard Cramer	...	Revolutionary given birdcage (uncredited)
Marie Deauville	...	Pianist surrounded by all three Barrymores at Party (uncredited)
Nigel De Brulier	...	Priest (uncredited)
Jean Del Val	...	(uncredited)
Helen Freeman	...	Hysterical woman about to be shot (uncredited)
Dale Fuller	...	(uncredited)
Clarence Geldart	...	(uncredited)
Miriam Goldina	...	(uncredited)
Ben Hall	...	Boy about to be shot (uncredited)
Sherry Hall	...	Officer watching celebration mass (uncredited)
Carey Harrison	...	(uncredited)
Charlotte Henry	...	Girl (uncredited)
Brandon Hurst	...	Staff general (uncredited)
George Irving	...	(uncredited)
Murray Kinnell	...	Prof. Kropotkin (uncredited)
Henry Kolker	...	Chief of Secret Police (uncredited)
Otto Lederer	...	(uncredited)
Robert Lees	...	(uncredited)
Frank Leigh	...	(uncredited)
Lucien Littlefield	...	Reveler at party (uncredited)
Eily Malyon	...	Woman yelling, 'Blessed among women!' (uncredited)
Margaret Mann	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Mabel Marden	...	(uncredited)
Mary Marden	...	(uncredited)
Jane Mercer	...	(uncredited)
Geneva Mitchell	...	(uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Officer watching celebration mass (uncredited)
Louis Natheaux	...	Rasputin's security official at party (uncredited)
Dave O'Brien	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Sarah Padden	...	Duna (landlady) (uncredited)
Jean Parker	...	Princess Maria (uncredited)
Purnell Pratt	...	Officer quieting Grand Duke Igor (uncredited)
Frank Reicher	...	German-language teacher (uncredited)
Ruth Renick	...	(uncredited)
Helen Robinson	...	(uncredited)
Evelyn Selbie	...	(uncredited)
Frank Shannon	...	Staff general (uncredited)
C. Montague Shaw	...	(uncredited)
Anne Shirley	...	Princess Anastasia (uncredited)
Martha Sleeper	...	(uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	(uncredited)
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Dr. Franz Wolfe (uncredited)
Milton Wallace	...	Staff general (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Reveler at party (uncredited)
Carol Wines	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Boleslawski		(as Richard Boleslavsky)
Charles Brabin		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Charles MacArthur		(screenplay)
Lenore J. Coffee		uncredited and
Ben Hecht		uncredited and
Robert E. Sherwood		uncredited
Mercedes de Acosta		uncredited

Produced by
Bernard H. Hyman	....	producer (uncredited)
Irving Thalberg	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Herbert Stothart

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(as William Daniels)

Film Editing by
Tom Held

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons
Alexander Toluboff

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Cecil Holland	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cullen Tate	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
G.A. Burns	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Milton Brown	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Clarence Sinclair Bull	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
William Axt	....	music adaptor: celebration music (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
General Lodijensky	....	cavalry trainer (uncredited)
Major John Peters	....	cavalry trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1932) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)

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:

The only film in which all three Barrymore siblings - John Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore - appeared together.

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

Lionel, John and Ethel - All Together!

The only film that all three Barrymores appeared in together. Rather dated and sometimes laughable, especially Ethel's constant "double-takes" whenever a dramatic moment occurs. But it's still worth watching.