Movie Reviewed: Rasputin and the Empress, starring Ethel Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore and John Barrymore

Movie Reviewed: Rasputin and the Empress, starring Ethel Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore and John Barrymore

The Barrymore siblings star in this MGM’s memorable epic

MGM’s Barrymore idolatry reached its pinnacle when their movies started bringing big cash at the box office. For this movie, the studio producer Irving Thalberg enticed Ethel Barrymore into the movies for the first time in more than 14 years and for the first time with her two brothers. Despite their temperamental clashes, they worked together like good professionals. Screen writer Charles MacArthur had to do several screen writings and director Boleslawski let Lionel Barrymore do some scenery-chewing as Rasputin.

The story takes place in the Russian Empire during the last years of the reign of Czar Nicholas II and the Czarina Alexandra. Reform-minded Prince Paul has long been concerned about the plight of the common people and knows a revolution is brewing. Prince Alexei, heir to the throne is loved by the people but has hemophilia, and a slight fall turns out to be life-threatening. When royal physician is powerless to stop the boy's bleeding, Princess Natasha, Alexandra's lady-in-waiting and Paul's fiancée recommends Rasputin as a healer. He convinces the frantic Empress that he has been sent by God to cure the child. Left alone with Alexei, he hypnotizes the boy and relieves his agony but also gradually makes Alexei a slave to his will. The highlight of the movie is the brilliant performance of Ethel Barrymore as Czarina Alexandra.

There are at least six versions of this movie since 1932 and this was stuck with a libel suit brought against MGM by Prince and Princess Yousoupoff. They won record damages for a false piece in the story. MGM had to edit the film after the lawsuit and Diana Wynyard’s role in the movie becomes incomprehensible. Nevertheless she looks gorgeous and her performance is admirable.