RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS (1932)
RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS (1932)
   
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Irving Thalberg is credited for casting all three Barrymores in a single film. John's close friend, CHARLES MACARTHUR, wrote and rewrote the screenplay throughout the shooting, which was very rushed because ETHEL had previous theatrical commitments.

Perhaps due to this rush, the studio's legal department was lax.






The publicity department placed great emphasis on the film's historical accuracy. One press release boasted that ETHEL, who plays the Czarina, had actually met her at the funeral of Queen Alexandra, and that JOHN, who played a character based on Prince Yosopov, had met the prince in Paris and was his close friend!!

Yet scores of Russian aristocrats, headed by Prince Yosopov, later sued the studio and eventually won financial settlements. In addition the court demanded many deletions in the final release print.




True to THALBERG'S conviction that JOHN was most popular as a sophisticated gentleman, he was cast as the loyal prince. He is usually costumed in full dress military uniform. Looking middle-aged and paunchy, he is not expected to act the part of a dashing young cavalier. He was, and looked, 50 years old.

The part is one dimensional, yet in all of his scenes, particularly those with Lionel, he is an engaged, active listener. Unfortunately, his one potentially emotional sequence is unexploited by the camera. His response at being fired by the Czar, begs for a close-up observation, but there is none forthcoming.




The task of quickly writing a large, important scenario was impossible to fulfill, even by MACARTHUR. The movie lumbers grandly on. RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS is redeemed by all three Barrymores. Imperious throughout, ETHEL in the farewell scene is deeply affecting. LIONEL has a lark playing the mad monk. Though certainly envious, JOHN, contrary to studio publicity about the royal family's sibling rivalry, does little but relish their performances.