

The Scarlet Empress
“The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!”
During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.
Where to watch The Scarlet Empress in United States
Click a service to open The Scarlet Empress there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Scarlet Empress streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FlixFling | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Amazon Video |
| Canada | FlixFling | FlixFling |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Canal VOD, LaCinetek |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Amazon Video |
About The Scarlet Empress
The Scarlet Empress is a 1934 English-language drama, history and romance film directed by Josef von Sternberg. The cast is led by Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe. It has a runtime of 1h 44m. Viewers rate it 6.9/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on FlixFling.
The Scarlet Empress was produced by Paramount Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on May 9, 1934, and carries a NR certification.
- Director
- Josef von Sternberg
- Writers
- Manuel Komroff, Eleanor McGeary
- Release date
- May 9, 1934
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $1 million
- Production
- Paramount Pictures
The Scarlet Empress cast & crew
The Scarlet Empress was directed by Josef von Sternberg and written by Manuel Komroff and Eleanor McGeary.
The cast features Marlene Dietrich as Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II, John Lodge as Count Alexei, Sam Jaffe as Grand Duke Peter, Louise Dresser as Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, C. Aubrey Smith as Prince August, and Gavin Gordon as Capt. Gregori Orloff.
Behind the camera, cinematography is by Bert Glennon and it was produced by Josef von Sternberg and Emanuel Cohen.
Is The Scarlet Empress worth watching?
The Scarlet Empress holds an audience score of 6.9/10 from 142 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 1h 44m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, history, and romance, The Scarlet Empress is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Scarlet Empress
In United States, you can stream The Scarlet Empress on FlixFling, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Scarlet Empress

Marlene Dietrich
Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II

John Lodge
Count Alexei

Sam Jaffe
Grand Duke Peter

Louise Dresser
Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

C. Aubrey Smith
Prince August

Gavin Gordon
Capt. Gregori Orloff

Olive Tell
Princess Johanna Elizabeth

Ruthelma Stevens
Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'

Davison Clark
Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope

Erville Alderson
Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef

Maria Riva
Sophia as a Child

Jane Darwell
Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
The Scarlet Empress — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Scarlet Empress in United States?
The Scarlet Empress is streaming on FlixFling in United States.
▸Is The Scarlet Empress on FlixFling?
Yes — The Scarlet Empress is currently available on FlixFling in United States.
▸What language is The Scarlet Empress in?
The Scarlet Empress is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Scarlet Empress?
The Scarlet Empress runs 1 hours 44 minutes (104 minutes).
▸What is The Scarlet Empress rated?
The Scarlet Empress is rated NR. It holds a 6.9/10 audience score from 142 ratings.











