Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Rasputin and the Empress

  • 1932
  • Approved
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Ethel Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Tad Alexander, and Ralph Morgan in Rasputin and the Empress (1932)
BiographyDramaHistory

A prince plots to kill the mad monk Rasputin for the good of the czar, the czarina and Russia.A prince plots to kill the mad monk Rasputin for the good of the czar, the czarina and Russia.A prince plots to kill the mad monk Rasputin for the good of the czar, the czarina and Russia.

  • Directors
    • Richard Boleslawski
    • Charles Brabin
  • Writers
    • Charles MacArthur
    • Lenore J. Coffee
    • John Colton
  • Stars
    • John Barrymore
    • Ethel Barrymore
    • Lionel Barrymore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Richard Boleslawski
      • Charles Brabin
    • Writers
      • Charles MacArthur
      • Lenore J. Coffee
      • John Colton
    • Stars
      • John Barrymore
      • Ethel Barrymore
      • Lionel Barrymore
    • 45User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos43

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 36
    View Poster

    Top cast78

    Edit
    John Barrymore
    John Barrymore
    • Prince Chegodieff
    Ethel Barrymore
    Ethel Barrymore
    • The Czarina
    Lionel Barrymore
    Lionel Barrymore
    • Rasputin
    Ralph Morgan
    Ralph Morgan
    • The Czar
    Tad Alexander
    Tad Alexander
    • The Czarevitch
    Diana Wynyard
    Diana Wynyard
    • Natasha
    C. Henry Gordon
    C. Henry Gordon
    • Grand Duke Igor
    Edward Arnold
    Edward Arnold
    • Doctor Remezov
    Luis Alberni
    Luis Alberni
    • Photographer's Assistant
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Alden
    Mary Alden
    • Natasha's Lady in Waiting
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Anderson
    Robert Anderson
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Oscar Apfel
    Oscar Apfel
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Armetta
    Henry Armetta
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Hooper Atchley
    Hooper Atchley
    • Rasputin's Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Butler Pouring Drinks at Party
    • (uncredited)
    Reginald Barlow
    Reginald Barlow
    • General Who Underestimated the Japanese
    • (uncredited)
    Barbara Barondess
    Barbara Barondess
    • Woman Getting Cigarette
    • (uncredited)
    Max Barwyn
    Max Barwyn
    • Bald Man Trying to See Duna
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Richard Boleslawski
      • Charles Brabin
    • Writers
      • Charles MacArthur
      • Lenore J. Coffee
      • John Colton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews45

    6.51.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7gavin6942

    The Man, the Myth...

    A prince plots to kill the "mad monk" Rasputin for the good of the czar, the czarina and Russia.

    In something of a minor epic, this film tells of the rise and fall of Rasputin, the "mad monk". How much is true and how much is legend is open to debate, but all the classic parts of the story are told here. If you are vaguely familiar with the story of Rasputin, this film should feel like you've seen it before (in a good way).

    Everything about the film is quite good, from the acting to the costumes and beyond. This is, of course, a showcase for the Barrymore family, and it really does show how much they each contributed to the acting greatness of American cinema.
    8planktonrules

    Lionel Barrymore must have had a lot of fun making this one!

    "Rasputin and the Empress" has the distinction of being the only movie that features siblings John, Ethel and Lionel Barrymore. However, of the three, Lionel is DEFINITELY the star and he's given ample opportunity to act and overact...and it's all very enjoyable to watch. His version of Rasputin certainly is NOT subtle.

    Now there is a problem with making a film about Rasputin and that is there is a lot of lore involved. Many of the supposed 'facts' are obvious exaggerations....with the man having weird mystical powers and his death is clearly NOT realistically portrayed in history books. Fortunately, MGM chooses to make Rasputin evil but 100% human and without laser shooting out of his eyes!

    The story begins in 1905, which is problematic since the film ends in mid-1918 with the murder of the Czar and his family. I say problematic because the children in the story never age! Additionally, although Rasputin had a personal relationship with the Czar and his family for about a decade, here in the film is looks like only a few months or perhaps a year. The fact is that the story wasn't intended as a history lesson and MGM made a few artistic changes here and there...something which probably made the film more enjoyable for most audience members.

    As far as portraying this evil monk goes, Lionel Barrymore imbued him an amazing over-the-top personality and humanized him. Humanized because the tricks he does in the film are simply tricks--such as hypnotism and spying on folks in order to 'magically' know their secrets. It's all very enjoyable to watch and never is dull.

    As for John, he has a relatively meaty role but is far, far more subdued. You do see him emote strongly during the murder sequence (one that varies tremendously with most accepted versions)....but otherwise he plays his role very straight.

    Ethel, on the other hand, has a rather normal and even somewhat bland role in the movie. Simply put, any decent actress could have done her part.

    So is it any good? Exceedingly so, yes. The story is never dull, is very big and exciting. And, even though they use a lot of stock footage, its inclusion isn't at all a detriment to the movie. Well worth seeing and quite enjoyable.
    7Better_Sith_Than_Sorry

    Triple Play

    Plot in a Nutshell: Russian Prince Chegodieff (John Barrymore) tries to stop the evil Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore) from exerting his influence over Czarina Alexandra (Ethel Barrymore).

    Why I rated it a '7': That's a lot of Barrymore! Admittedly, that fact alone doesn't make it a 7, but seeing the three accomplished siblings together here (for the only time in celluloid history) IS worth a few extra points. This is an interesting tale, showing how an unknown/outsider was able to insert himself into the lives of the Russian royal family and influence them in ways one wouldn't think possible. I will say that the film goes out of its way to denigrate Rasputin. I don't think he needed any help, really, but in addition to his actual crimes, he is shown here to be a war-monger, royal rapist and freedom-hating enemy of the peasants. Lol that's quite a despicable guy! Some reviewers have complained that "Rasputin" is not always true to history (in some ways, it's not), but what this tells me is that Hollywood apparently has been making historically inaccurate films for perhaps longer than anyone thought. If you can forgive it that, it's otherwise pretty entertaining.

    Best line: "You know, people with visions like yours, my dear father, are sometimes rather unlucky. There was a general, not long ago, who shot himself in the back. No one could understand quite how he did it!"

    Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Yes.
    boris-26

    Fun example of old Hollywood.

    A true example of the assembly line style film-making of the old studios, where one doubts if the screenwriter ever visit the set, or did the director ever sit at an editing bench. Lionel Barrymore, however is a treat as the grimy, kooky Rasputin. He doesn't go for one-note scary. He's seen as a fun party animal, a believable healer, and the world's worst dinner guest. Other than that, John is wasted as the hero, as is their sister Ethel.
    7AlsExGal

    Great as dramatic history but as for Russian history...

    ...forget about it. This film is completely inaccurate in its portrayal of actual events in Russian history. As for the nature and character of the historical figures involved, the three Barrymores give good renditions. There is Ethel Barrymore looking every inch the empress and giving a convincing portrayal of a woman concerned for the welfare of her very ill son - and I would expect that. What I didn't expect is how weird it would be to watch a film in which John Barrymore is the shining hero and Lionel Barrymore is a truly diabolical villain, and each are spectacularly convincing in their portrayals. Lionel is really the center of attention here as he plays the evil Rasputin whose ability to sidestep assassination attempts is legendary, and here a few logical explanations are given to some of his alleged abilities. However, none can explain what happened at the end of his life - how he was poisoned, bludgeoned, shot, and finally thrown into an icy river and still managed to cling to life for awhile.

    Although Tsar Nicholas is accurately portrayed as a rather weak willed man and the Romanov marriage is also accurately portrayed as one of the few royal arranged marriages that also turned out to be a love match, there is a mischaracterization of the Tsar as being progressive and wanting a Duma only to have Rasputin defeat that plan. In fact, Nicholas was autocratic in his outlook and distrusted any attempt to give the people more say in their government. This sets up one of the great ironic struggles in the film - that of aristocrat Prince Paul Chegodieff (John Barrymore) wanting more for the peasants in the way of both bread and democracy, and that of peasant mystic Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore) saying that it was God's will that the peasants were poor and powerless. Paul wants to save Russia, Rasputin wants to rule it.

    Another piece of fiction shown in the movie for dramatic measure are the public proclamations about the illness of Tsaravich Alexai, the heir to the Russian throne. In fact one of the things that turned the Russian people against the royal family - besides the fact that they were starving during WWI - was that the people assumed that Rasputin's hold over the empress was because they were lovers. The Romanovs did not want it to be known that the only son in the family and heir to the throne had a serious disease - in this case hemophilia - that kept him in very delicate health and would likely lead to a greatly shortened lifespan. They felt it would leave them vulnerable to the overthrowing of their rule. Ironically hiding the truth and leaving Rasputin's relationship to the empress unexplained also led to exactly that.

    Watch this one for the high production values and compelling performances by the members of Hollywood's royal family during its golden age, but as for a Russian history lesson, look elsewhere.

    More like this

    Svengali
    6.8
    Svengali
    The Barretts of Wimpole Street
    6.9
    The Barretts of Wimpole Street
    Rasputin: The Mad Monk
    6.2
    Rasputin: The Mad Monk
    Thirteen Women
    6.3
    Thirteen Women
    Rasputin
    5.0
    Rasputin
    Five Star Final
    7.3
    Five Star Final
    The Mad Genius
    6.3
    The Mad Genius
    The Last Gangster
    6.7
    The Last Gangster
    Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid
    6.3
    Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid
    Rasputin
    7.0
    Rasputin
    Rasputin
    4.7
    Rasputin
    Conquest
    6.5
    Conquest

    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Annoyed that his brother John Barrymore was trying to show him up by placing his hand on him while he was finishing a scene (an ancient actor's technique for drawing attention to oneself), Lionel Barrymore excused himself from the set and went to the back lot to find a telephone. He then phoned the set and told director Richard Boleslawski that "he'd better advise Mr. John Barrymore to not place his hand on me at the close of this scene, lest I lay one on him!" By the time Lionel returned to the set, John has been advised to keep his hands to himself.
    • Goofs
      The fact that the Tsarevich was sick was not announced publicly as portrayed in the movie. It was kept a secret.
    • Quotes

      Natasha: You don't like him because he's so outspoken. You don't like his manners. Isn't that it?

      Prince Chegodieff: No, that's not it. It, its his, smile. It's like a man-eating shark with a bible under his fin.

    • Alternate versions
      Upon its premiere "Rasputin and the Empress" ran approximately 132 minutes. Due to the famous lawsuits against it, a number of scenes had to be cut for legal reasons. One critical scene that was deleted was one which implied that Rasputin had raped Diana Wynyard's character of "Princess Natascha". The removal of this scene tended to make the character of Princess Natascha somewhat incomprehensible - initially she is a supporter of Rasputin; in the latter part of the film she is very afraid of him. Unless the viewer is aware of the cuts made in the film, there does not appear to be any explanation for the change in Princess Natascha toward Rasputin.
    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: The Barrymores (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Russian National Anthem
      (uncredited)

      [Played during the opening credits and at the end]

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ18

    • How long is Rasputin and the Empress?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Rasputin
    • Filming locations
      • St. Petersburg, Russia(archive footage)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,022,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 1m(121 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.