Rasputin and the Empress

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Rasputin and the Empress

Released Dec 23, 1932

2h 3m

History

Drama

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50%

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6 Reviews

47%

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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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Bruce Blevin

The New Republic

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.

Feb 18, 2022

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Pare Lorentz

Vanity Fair

It is a clumsy, pretentious, aimless motion picture.

Jun 4, 2019

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

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.

Rated: B

Jul 14, 2011

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Is memorable only because it's the one and only time that the Barrymore family appeared together on screen.

Rated: C+

Feb 21, 2008

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Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2003

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Splendidly stylish, often terrifying with great turns by all the Barrymores.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 5, 2003

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Steve D

Historical nonsense with nothing to recommend it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Frances H

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/25/16

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Audience Member

Interesting drama with the three Barrymore's together but could have used tighter editing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

good costumer/bio-pic, kinda.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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ashley h

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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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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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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