

The Rise of Catherine the Great
“The more he hated her, the more she loved him...this girl of MANY loves who rose to rule a hundred million souls but could not govern her own heart.”
Synopsis
The woman who will become Catherine the Great marries into the Russian royal family when she weds Grand Duke Peter, the nephew of Empress Elizabeth. Although the couple has moments of contentment, Peter's cruel and erratic behavior causes a rift between him and Catherine. Mere months after Peter succeeds his aunt as the ruler of Russia, a revolt is brewing, and Catherine is poised to ascend to the throne as the country's new empress.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Rise of Catherine the Great (1934) - Final of movie
Type: Clip • Published 2012-04-13
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Grand Duke Peter
Elisabeth Bergner
Catherine
Flora Robson
Empress Elisabeth
Gerald du Maurier
Lecocq
Irene Vanbrugh
Princess Anhalt-Zerbst
Joan Gardner
Katushienka
Dorothy Hale
Countess Olga
Diana Napier
Countess Vorontzova
Griffith Jones
Grigory Orlov
Gibb McLaughlin
Bestujhev
Clifford Heatherley
Ogarev
Laurence Hanray
Goudovitch
Allan Jeayes
Colonel Karnilov
Charles Carson
English Ambassador
Stewart Granger
Regiment Soldier
Judy Kelly
Guest at Hunting Lodge
John Turnbull
Rumyantsev
Michael Wilding
Regiment Soldier
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 9, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Paul Czinner
- Screenplay & Story
- Marjorie Deans
- Original Score
- Muir Mathieson, Ernst Toch
- Original Title
- The Rise of Catherine the Great
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Production Studios
- London Films Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Paul Czinner
Marjorie Deans, Lajos Biró, Arthur Wimperis, Melchior Lengyel
Muir Mathieson, Ernst Toch
Georges Périnal
Stephen Harrison
Alexander Korda, Ludovico Toeplitz
Department Leadership Roster
Alexander Korda
Producer
Ludovico Toeplitz
Producer
Georges Périnal
Director of Photography
Paul Czinner
Director
Muir Mathieson
Original Music Composer
Ernst Toch
Original Music Composer
Stephen Harrison
Editor
John Armstrong
Costume Design
B.J. Simmons
Costume Design
Marjorie Deans
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Rise of Catherine the Great.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Rise of Catherine the Great.
Period Dramas
(Movies) Classic Hollywood
Films from Hollywood's Golden Age (roughly 1927-1969).
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rise of Catherine the Great
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Rise of Catherine the Great about?
The woman who will become Catherine the Great marries into the Russian royal family when she weds Grand Duke Peter, the nephew of Empress Elizabeth. Although the couple has moments of contentment, Peter's cruel and erratic behavior causes a rift between him and Catherine. Mere months after Peter succeeds his aunt as the ruler of Russia, a revolt is brewing, and Catherine is poised to ascend to the throne as the country's new empress.
Who directed The Rise of Catherine the Great?
The Rise of Catherine the Great was directed by Paul Czinner.
Who stars in The Rise of Catherine the Great?
The principal cast of The Rise of Catherine the Great includes Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Elisabeth Bergner, Flora Robson, Gerald du Maurier, Irene Vanbrugh.
When was The Rise of Catherine the Great released and how long is it?
The Rise of Catherine the Great was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 35m.
Who composed the musical score for The Rise of Catherine the Great?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Rise of Catherine the Great was composed by Muir Mathieson, Ernst Toch.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Rise of Catherine the Great?
The Rise of Catherine the Great holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).



















