Skandal bei Hofe

If you're looking for an example of a movie that really throws everything at you, "A Royal Scandal" is it. The movie focuses on Catherine the Great's romance with a young officer amid all manner of intrigue in 1700s Russia. Of course, since the movie is Ernst Lubitsch's brainchild, there's lots of comedy and the occasional violation of social propriety. Lubitsch fell ill, so Otto Preminger took over the task of directing, but the movie is no less enjoyable.

Scholars of Russia will probably object to the comical tone, as well as the screwy transliterations and the repeated mispronunciation of Alexei Chernoff's name. But if one accepts the movie as simply an excuse for Talullah Bankhead to overact to the fullest extent, then there's a great time to be had watching it. I recommend it.

I saw this movie over 30 years ago on late night television. I was expecting a dry costume drama, but ended up laughing my head off at one of the classiest comedies I have ever seen. And unfortunately that was it. I have never seen it again, on TV or on video. In fact I don't think it has ever been released on video. Talullah's film appearances were few, and this showed her at her forte, comedy.

Granted, she was also one of the great dramatic actresses of her day (her performance in The Little Foxes on Broadway is considered to be one of the finest of the 20th century), but more marketable actresses always won out over her in Hollywood (she never forgave Bette Davis for stealing the Foxes role from her).

When can a larger audience expect to see this comic gem? (and when can I find out if my childhood memories can stand up to my adult tastes?)

"A Royal Scandal" from 1945 smacks of its original director, Ernst Lubitsch, and not much of the director who took over for him when he became ill, Otto Preminger. Since Lubitsch had rehearsed the actors and prepared the script, I assume they retained much of what Lubitsch had in mind for this film. At any rate, it's a wonderfully funny film.

Tallulah Bankhead plays Catherine the Great, who was notorious for taking lovers and elevating them to great heights while they were in favor. They did all right when they fell out of favor, too, because apparently she pensioned them off and they lived quite handsomely. In this film, she takes a fancy to the Countess Anna's (Anne Baxter) fiancée, Alexei Chernoff (William Eythe), so much so that she puts off a Marquis from France (Vincent Price). The Countess Anna is devastated, and Alexei is thrilled as he becomes in charge of the palace guards. Meanwhile, Chancellor Nikolai (Charles Coburn) has to tolerate him.

Some of this film is laugh out loud funny, particularly the scene where Catherine, fearing she has lost Alexei, collapses on the floor and Alexei tries to pick her up. Hilarious. Tallulah's line delivery is great, and she and Coburn have wonderful chemistry as they spar. Anne Baxter was only 22 when she made this film, and she's lovely. The handsome Eythe was a type that 20th Century Fox loved, but for a variety of reasons, he never hit stardom. Darryl Zanuck, who was so furious with Tyrone Power for marrying Annabella that he quashed her career and gave Power a bad film, Daytime Wife, as punishment, pushed Eythe into a marriage to quell rumors about him, but it didn't help, and Zanuck lost interest in him. (I mention Power because supposedly he refused to do this movie - it seems unlikely, because he wasn't back from the war when this film was made; also, Zanuck would never have put him in a film where he wasn't the main star.) Eythe was a charming actor, but to my mind, anyway, not really star material.

Bankhead's costumes and jewelry are to die for. Very good movie, and, as others have pointed out, a real buried treasure.

This movie is so hilarious! Normally I don't like modern dialogue attached to a period piece, but I was laughing so hard, I didn't bother with the details. In a highly fictionalized account of Catherine the Great, the audience sees how she manipulates, seduces, wages war, and takes more interest in her champagne than affairs of state.

Tallulah Bankhead plays Mother Russia, a term she hates to hear, since it reflects on her age, and she has a weakness for handsome, young men. She's demanding and wants what she wants when she wants it. Just before she's to meet with the French ambassador, Vincent Price, she meets a devoted soldier William Eythe and prioritizes his youth, handsomeness, and enthusiasm over French-Russian relations. William is engaged to Anne Baxter, and he has no romantic interest in Tallulah, but Mother Russia won't take no for an answer. While her chancellor, Charles Coburn, tries to quietly fix her mistakes behind her back, she rages on in her pursuit of William. Tallulah's timing is impeccable, and as she rattles off one-liners faster than she blinks, you wonder why she retired after such a success. It's such a delight to see her in this movie: selfish, impulsive, calculating, and merciless. "Tell me everything. That's enough."

Sig Ruman costars as one of the empress's generals, secretly planning a revolution. He gets to rattle off just as many one-liners as Tallulah, and it's easy to see why he was so employed as a character actor in the silver screen. He's so funny! "Psst! Don't talk to me," he whispers to one of his co-conspirators.

If you like that type of humor, you'll love this movie. You won't have to keep up with any political issues, and you don't have to remember your history. Just sit back and enjoy the fast-flying barbs!

The history of this film has been documented well,and its failure, at the time, has taken its toll on its reputation. Perhaps, it was made at the wrong time; perhaps Tallulah Bankhead was not the 'darling' of the film critics as she had been by theater critics; perhaps it was an easy target because Lubitsch had been ill and Peminger substituted - a simple target to call a film 'not of a piece'. I do have a copy of it, though, and, today, it stands as a comedy of wit, charm, and delicious mischief. Bankhead is 'mahvelous' playing it to the hilt and offering superb takes on all of her lines. Her reaction shots are among the funniest yet capture on film. No, it is not Catherine -- it is Tallulah--but this is a satirical romp and not meant to be faithful to Russian history. William Eythe, forever underrated, is perfection.A stellar comedic force (he was equally fine in more serious roles e.g. TheHouse on 92nd Street). Coburn is in the right frame of mind and action; Anne Baxter does not quite capture the spirit of the madness, but she is not bad. It is probably insane to think that 'A Royal Scandal' finally can get the credit it deserved. But it is a tasty and wonderful cinematic morsel to enjoy again and again.