The Rise of Catherine the Great (1934)

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.

Directed by: Alexander Korda, Paul Czinner

Starring: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Elisabeth Bergner, Flora Robson, Gerald du Maurier, Irene Vanbrugh, Joan Gardner

Links: IMDb, Movie posters, Movie stills