The Scarlet Empress

(Josef von Sternberg, US 1934, 104 min., 16mm)

Senior Matinee | Period Dramas. Overlooked by both critics and audiences when Paramount released it in 1934, this breathtaking historical drama is now considered one of the most innovative productions of the sound era. It is certainly an audacious and baroque entry in the Marlene Dietrich–Josef von Sternberg series, a collaboration that still spellbinds moviegoers around the world. Ostensibly a biography of Catherine the Great, the film is also a witty exploration of sexuality and gender roles. Dietrich is exhilarating as the cynical empress in one of the most sumptuous films ever made. Free for ages 55 and older.