How did The Scarlet Empress portray Catherine the Great?

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Josef von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg editing a film.

In The Scarlet Empress (1934), director Josef von Sternberg portrayed Catherine the Great by immersing the character in a production defined by ornate art direction and a myriad of stylistic flourishes.1

While the film was noted for its obvious expense and elaborate visual style, it was not a commercial success at the box office. The portrayal served as another chapter in the carefully crafted femme fatale image that von Sternberg cultivated for Marlene Dietrich throughout their professional collaborations.1