The Scarlet Empress Reviews

This fast-paced historical drama feels like an origin story for Marlene Dietrich's screen persona. In it, she evolves plausibly from wide-eyed innocent to the self-assured stately presence of her later films. The extravagant costumes, sets, and direction compliment fun broad performances from a brash and flirtatious John Lodge and Sam Jaffe, seething with resentment behind his Cheshire cat grin.