Catherine the Great (1995)
Release Year: 1995
Nation: United States of America, Austria, Germany
Alternative Title: Katharina die Große
Director: John Goldsmith, Marvin J. Chomsky
Writer: Frank Tudisco, John Goldsmith
Production & Genre
Producer(s):
Companies: N/A
Genre: Biographical Film, Biography, Drama, History, Romance, Tv Movie
Awards & Similar
Awards:
Similar: N/A
Story
Catherine, a young German princess, marries Peter, the immature heir to the Russian throne, in an arranged marriage. Despite her loveless marriage and Peter's abusive nature, Catherine proves herself to be a skilled political infighter, learning the ropes of imperial power from Czarina Elizabeth. Catherine becomes pregnant by her lover, Guards officer Saltykov, but is forced to send him abroad after giving birth to Paul I to secure her position as regent when Elizabeth dies. After ascending to power, Catherine works to modernize and enlarge the empire, prioritizing statesmanship over her personal relationships.
Summary
Catherine the Great (1995) is a romanticized biographical film directed by Marvin J. Chomsky and John Goldsmith. The movie follows the life of Catherine, who rises from being a young German princess to becoming one of history's most powerful female rulers. Despite its historical inaccuracies, as noted on MUBI, the film offers a compelling narrative of political intrigue, romance, and ambition set against the backdrop of 18th-century Russia.
