(Richard Boleslawski, US 1932, 121 min., 35mm)
The only film featuring all three acting Barrymore siblings, Rasputin and the Empress takes place in the Russian Empire during the last years of the reign of Czar Nicholas II and the Czarina Alexandra. Reform-minded Prince Paul (John Barrymore) has long been concerned about the plight of the common people and knows a revolution is brewing. Prince Alexei (Tad Alexander), heir to the throne, is loved by the people but has hemophilia, and a slight fall turns out to be life-threatening. When royal physician Dr. Remezov (Edward Arnold) is powerless to stop the boy’s bleeding, Princess Natasha (Diana Wynyard), Alexandra's lady-in-waiting and Paul's fiancée, recommends Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore) as a healer. He convinces the frantic empress (Ethel Barrymore) that he has been sent by God to cure the child. Left alone with Alexei, he hypnotizes the boy and relieves his agony but also gradually makes Alexei a slave to his will.
GEM members admitted free to this screening—PLUS, as part of Member Appreciation Week, members are encouraged to bring a friend for free to this screening (no pass required; one free guest per membership).