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Rasputin and the Empress

Play trailer Poster for Rasputin and the Empress 1932 2h 3m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Desperate to cure her hemophiliac son, Czarina Alexandra (Ethel Barrymore) resorts to seeking out the services of mystic healer Grigori Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore). Despite his unconventional methods, Rasputin appears to be curing the sickly child. However, Rasputin has a sinister side, and he begins back-door maneuvering in a bid for power. Suspicious of Rasputin, Prince Paul Chegodieff (John Barrymore) attempts to thwart the scheming mystic before he destroys the Russian empire.
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Rasputin and the Empress

Critics Reviews

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Bruce Blevin The New Republic 02/18/2022
This sort of historical perversion, in the films and elsewhere, is not new; and the only point worth noting about the present instance is that the artistic result hardly seems worth the assassination of fact. Go to Full Review Pare Lorentz Vanity Fair 06/04/2019
It is a clumsy, pretentious, aimless motion picture. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/14/2011
B
Boleslawksi's lavish production of this historical melodrama is best known today as the only film that all three Barrymores (John, Ethel and Lionel) made together. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 02/21/2008
C+
Is memorable only because it's the one and only time that the Barrymore family appeared together on screen. Go to Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal 12/05/2003
3/5
Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 11/05/2003
5/5
Splendidly stylish, often terrifying with great turns by all the Barrymores. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D 03/04/2024 Historical nonsense with nothing to recommend it. See more 10/24/2016 If it were done with anyone else but the Barrymores, I doubt that it would have been watchable. Extremely dated film has the charm of the actors (once again: the Barrymores) to carry it. See more Frances H 01/19/2016 I really wanted to like this film, since I like all of the Barrymores and they were all in this film. However, the script is appalling. and the historical inaccuracies inexcusable. Playing the German national anthem for the Austrian ambassador was just the beginning. Despite the talents of the Barrymores which I respect, here they are all overacting to the point of being ridiculous. When I compare this flick to Nicolas and Alexandra, this film is laughable. To see them at there best, watch Ethel in None but the Lonely Heart, Lionel in Broken Lullaby, and John in The Great Man Votes. See more 04/15/2015 Interesting drama with the three Barrymore's together but could have used tighter editing. See more 04/12/2015 good costumer/bio-pic, kinda. See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 07/29/2011 Rasputin and the Empress is a mediocre film. It is about the friendship between Rasputin and the Empress Alexandra of Russia. The acting of John, Ethel, Lionel Barrymore is pretty good. The script is okay but could have been better. Richard Boleslawski did a decent job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture but would not see it again. See more Read all reviews
Rasputin and the Empress

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Boleslawski

Director

John Barrymore

Prince Paul Chegodieff

Ethel Barrymore

Czarina Alexandra

Lionel Barrymore

Grigori Rasputin

Ralph Morgan

Czar Nicholas II

Diana Wynyard

Princess Natasha

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Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress (1932) Rasputin and the Empress (1932) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Desperate to cure her hemophiliac son, Czarina Alexandra (Ethel Barrymore) resorts to seeking out the services of mystic healer Grigori Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore). Despite his unconventional methods, Rasputin appears to be curing the sickly child. However, Rasputin has a sinister side, and he begins back-door maneuvering in a bid for power. Suspicious of Rasputin, Prince Paul Chegodieff (John Barrymore) attempts to thwart the scheming mystic before he destroys the Russian empire.
Director
Richard Boleslawski
Producer
Bernard H. Hyman
Screenwriter
Charles MacArthur
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 1932, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 22, 2009
Runtime
2h 3m
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