Rating: 
Summary: Sumptuous
Review: Josef von Sternberg was a master of detail and cinematography and his films, especially those with Marlene Dietrich, are a visual feast. "The Scarlet Empress" is the best of their 7 film collaboration. Based on the diaries of Catherine The Great, it tells the story of young Catherine from her childhood days up to her arranged marriage with the Grand Duke Peter of Russia and her eventual rise to power. The film, however, is not as much concerned with plot details and authenticity as it is with its visual presentation. Elaborate sets filled with gargoyles, wings, candelabra, massive doors and staircases, etc. frame the actors in every scene and add an appropriate sense of oppressiveness. But the highlight of all of this is the breathtaking Marlene Dietrich, who is at her most beautiful in this film. Sternberg photographs her in endless imaginable ways, through veils, nets, etc. and the results are stunning. From her first scenes as a wide eyed girl looking all about her with incredulous stares to her last scene, in which is she seen ringing the bells of victory with an insane grin, she commands every scene she appears in and you can't take your eyes off her. The only negative performance seems to be Louise Dresser who plays the Empress in a strange folksy manner. It's like the Empress is being played by Ethel Mertz. It is a humorous performance but oddly out of place in the film.The Criterion dvd is superb with a crisp transfer and excellent sound. The dvd also includes a 20 minute documentary on Josef von Sternberg which was made in the late 1960's by the BBC. Sternberg is interviewed and shows how he achieved the gorgeous lighting in his photography. Also included is a gallery of stills and lobby cards. The fold out booklet that comes with the dvd includes an excellent essay and gorgeous photos of Marlene Dietrich. I'm hoping that Criterion will release more of the Sternberg/Dietrich films, especially "The Devil Is A Woman" and "Shanghai Express".
Rating: 
Summary: ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING DVD TRANSFER FROM CRITERION
Review: Long-awaited DVD release is another disappointment from CRITERION. What's going on with the CRITERION COLLECTION? They have found an okay print with barely acceptable audio - and claim that the entire thing is 'digitally remastered'. CRITERION - formerly, and deservedly, the benchmark of classic DVD releases, and a name one could count on for quality - clearly has become just one more quick-profit distributor misrepresenting its products. They should be seriously questioned and held responsible for their marketing. Sadly - don't waste your money on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A visual delight
Review: Marlene Dietrich as Catherine II (not Catherine the Great). If the writing's uninspired and the acting only so-so, this is still a very beautiful film. From early in the talkie age, it is in many ways a silent film that just happens to have a soundtrack. (Though there is some beautiful music here also.) But it's a veritable delight for the eyes: Marlene Dietrich at her most beautiful; fantastical sets and costumes; Marlene Dietrich; a cavalry charge filmed on a soundstage, with real horses; Marlene Dietrich; black and white photography used to it's fullest advantage; Marlene Dietrich. Did I mention Marlene Dietrich? Though relatively few people may seen this film, you can bet most directors have, and they have been copying from it for all of it's seventy years. This is a must-have for any serious movie collection!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Film, Terrible Print...
Review: Of all the Sternberg/Dietrich films this is my favourite, a perverse and decadent vision of history with performances to match the stunningly bizarre art direction. I could hardly wait to open this DVD after I was soundly impressed by Criterion's Third Man disc with it's great print and oodles of extras... Unfortunately this disc has proved the most disappointing DVD I have ever purchased. Alleged to be "A luminous transfer, with restored picture and sound" this only is the case if the restorers were trying to reproduce the standard of a third generation VHS tape. With countless missing frames and splices, frequent audio drops and sizzles and a picture grain which looks like you're watching the film through sand, this is not what I expect from Criterion. Considering the only other Dietrich movie on DVD - the so-so Garden of Allah - is a gorgeous transfer at a bargain price, this is a huge let down. Considering most film collectors purchase Criterion DVD's on the strengh of the label alone this is an outrage that they can release such a low quality disc with such a little amount of extra features to compensate...which was the least they could have done.
Rating:
Summary: A visual delight
Review: Oops. Catherine II and Catherine the Great were one in the same.
Rating:
Summary: visually stunning and deliciously evil
Review: The highest achievement of Von Sternberg as a filmmaker, and his greatest fruit of achievement with Marlene Dietrich, THE SCALET EMPRESS reign over film history like the terror of Catherine the great still curse Russian history. The film portrays a first innocent girl eventually rising into power of one of the biggest monarchy in world history. In exchange to that, she loses her innocence and get contaminated by the vicious corruption of the Russian court; as in many powerful tiranic regime does, the Russian court is corrupted, sex and power become weapons of conspiracies and murders. Von Sternberg always held an extremely cynical point of view towards human relationship. He always see them as a domain in which no moral, true love or compassion doesn't exist. In this film, women and men continuously cheat and betray each other to get what they want. Von Sternberg express that in a highly expressive, almost macabre, yet stunningly beautiful imagery. The corruption itself litteraly shines on screen. As Catherine the great, Dietrich is abslolutely breathtaking , the more she gets corrupted, the more she becomes radiantly beautiful. THE SCARLET EMPRESS is arguably one of the most morbid masterpiece of cinema history. It is a must-see film.
Rating: 
Summary: A beuatiful movie for Catherine the Great Fans
Review: The movie was very much in line with the biographies and letters I read about Catherine. Many of the characters were great, but some of the characters I just detested. I hated Sophia's mother Johanna, a real jerk. I could see in her looks that she wanted credit in the invitation meant for Sophia/Catherine later. And her unneeded scoldings were only meant to make herself look good. And the Empress did not have to act so vicious with Catherine at the dinner table scene or later that night! Other than those characters, I loved the scene with Alexei and Catherine when she finally appreciates his love for her. Countess Voronsova was quite a snappy jealous woman. In this version, she wasn't such a mouthy as she was an evil-eyed creature; she was always glaring disgustingly at Marlene. Peter was almost a man to feel sorry for, because of Elizabeth's absoluteness. His Peter was almost comic, however he did play the part of the tyrant well. His voice was very slick. I think Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge played the best characters of the film, since they were in most of the scenes. I was really impressed with Marlene's costumes; they were all so fantastic, containing some forth decade 20th century touches for creativity. A memorable film for those who love progressing characters.
Rating:
Summary: Marlene Dietrich is Incredible
Review: This is a decent enough transfer--- and most importantly the best one that you'll come across today.
The story itself is heavy handed and plodding but what is absolutly riveting is the beauty and artistry of each individual shot in this over the top costume drama. The steamy sensuality that Marlene Dietrich exuded in front of a camera is almost frightening but definitly fun to watch. "The Scarlet Empress" perfectly illustrates why Ms. Dietrich was such a hit in her day.
Rating:
Summary: Marlene Dietrich Is Incredible
Review: This is a decent transfer. The beauty and artistry of each shot in this over the top costume drama is amazing. Not as amazing as the steamy sensuality that Marlene Dietrich exuded in front of a camera. This movie perfectly illustrates why Ms. Dietrich was such a hit in her day. Too bad we don't have this sort of screen goddess to illuminate our screens today. The story is interesting but it is really the artistry that was put into each shot that stands out in this picture.
Rating:
Summary: Don't believe the hysteria - the quality is quite acceptable
Review: This is a DVD of a 67-year-old-film, of which the negative has simply deteriorated over time. And don't blame Criterion either - they were handed the transfer by Universal as part of the licensing agreement and that was that. After all the "Shock! Horror!" reviews here, I found the DVD to be quite a pleasent surprise. There is a great deal of grain, but also good detail, far fewer scratches than I would have expected and generally a very watchable image. Contrast levels are slightly high, but I found this easily counteractable with your television's own settings. It also has that lovely MGM-style glowing quality to the image, which more than justifies the "luminious" claim on the box. The sound is better than you'd expect for the film's age. The quality of the disc is fine, the film is a glorious, extraordinary masterpiece which other people have gone into and the extras - two splendid essays, a stills gallery and a 35-year-old television documentary which features some priceless interview footage - are wonderful. Any angry letters of complaint about the transfer (which, in my opinion, are unjustified) should be addressed to Universal. Let's just thank Criterion for getting the film out and with such terrific supplemental material to support it. I have given it four stars as it's not a spectacular quality disc, but still a splendid all-round package. I await Criterion's Shanghai Express with bated breath.
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