|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
The Scarlet Empress - Criterion Collection | Year: 1934 Classification: Drama Directed: - Josef von Sternberg Actors/Actresses: - Marlene Dietrich - John Lodge HIstory lesson, Hollywood style As one watches this film, keep in mind one should follow this one visually, not through the words of the charctors or dialogue panels. This is such a visual film, you can get lost easily. Just follow the magnetic presence of Marlene Dietrich.<BR>As strict history, it's more than a bit fuzzy. Von Sternberg claimed to use the private diaries of Catherine the Great herself in writing the story.Mainly though, it's just an excursion into style featuring his favored muse, Dietrich, to put incredible visuals onto the screen.<BR>When allowed to, Dietrich gives a very convincing portrayal of Catherine as she progresses from naive young girl to experienced, sophisticated empress. Hint, watch her eyelids throughout the film. When they are wide open, she's young and virtous. when those famous lids are lowered, she's certainly not virtous. Wonderful silent acting on Dietrich's part, to show the frame of mind through the mere use of her eyelids.<BR>Overall, this is a film that not everyone will enjoy. At times, one isn't too sure of what reaction is warrented. Is it supposed to be a comedy? A drama? Who knows? Just sit back and feast your eyes, as movies aren't this visually rich nowadays, not by a long shot. The photography is truly stunning, the sets are astounding, and the costumes! Amazing. As with The Devil Is A Woman, this film should be shown as a course in cinematography and how actors should be lit and framed. Great Film, Terrible Print... Of all the Sternberg/Dietrich films this is my favourite, a perverse and decadent vision of history with performances to match the stunningly bizarre art direction. I could hardly wait to open this DVD after I was soundly impressed by Criterion's Third Man disc with it's great print and oodles of extras... Unfortunately this disc has proved the most disappointing DVD I have ever purchased. Alleged to be "A luminous transfer, with restored picture and sound" this only is the case if the restorers were trying to reproduce the standard of a third generation VHS tape. With countless missing frames and splices, frequent audio drops and sizzles and a picture grain which looks like you're watching the film through sand, this is not what I expect from Criterion. Considering the only other Dietrich movie on DVD - the so-so Garden of Allah - is a gorgeous transfer at a bargain price, this is a huge let down. Considering most film collectors purchase Criterion DVD's on the strengh of the label alone this is an outrage that they can release such a low quality disc with such a little amount of extra features to compensate...which was the least they could have done. quite impressive for its time This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. The Scarlet Empress was one of the last films made before the Motion Picture Production Code began to be more strictly enforced. As a result, it was quite racy for its time and also contains scenes of a torture chamber near the beginning of the film. The movie is based on the diaries of Catherine II (The Great) who was empress of Russia in the late 18th century. The film covers her life from childhood till her ascension to the throne. The film depicts some of her many adulterous affairs making it controversal for its time. Thankfully it doesn't perpetuate the wildly popular myth that her death was caused by attempted beastiality with a horse (which never would have made it into the movie anyway.) The film does not cover her death, but for the record, she died after having a stroke while on a commode. The film has several montages of Russian folk music in it including the original national anthem of Russia, "God Save the Czar" The DVD does have restored image and sound, but is not as rigorous as many other Criterion DVDs. The DVD has two bonus features. A documentary "The World of Josef von Sternberg" and a slideshow of lobby cards and stills from the film. There is also an tribute to von Sternberg in the liner notes in addition to the regular essay that almost every criterion DVD has. Buy The Scarlet Empress at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Scarlet Empress Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Scarlet Empress This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
