I was sad to find myself largely unimpressed by
the aesthetics of this film.
I felt embarrassed by the sculptures commissioned for the film,
prominently featured in most of the sets.
Same for the wide-eyed eyelash whip-cracking from the star.
I tried to not look at them.
The final action sequence absolutely captivated me.
The quick-cut editing forced me to watch it a second time,
and finally to freeze frame in order to let all the gorgeousness sink in.
It was just like a fireworks display,
with all the brightest and loudest offerings saved for the finale
and set forth in an explosive burst of energy.
The Scarlet Empress (1934)
directed by Joseph von Sternberg
cinematography by Bert Glennon
5 comments:
The most difficult, most awkward and inconsistent, in many ways the greatest of directors. I have to admit that I was encouraged to try because Von Sternberg did, no comparison of stature implied.
That cross in the foreground of the first image is a specifically eastern Orthodox cross- the bar at the top is supposed to be the plaque that reads "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" and the tilted bar at the bottom, there are various theories what that represents, one thought is that it is a scale, symbolizing the repentant thief crucified on one side of Jesus and an unrepentant thief crucified on the other.
I bring this up because the designs in the background on the wall feature at the top a similar cross, but with all three bars slanted (though the one on the left seems to perhaps have two bars?). Kind of strange, not an image I'm familiar with. I wonder if it was intentional, meaning something, or just an eccentricity introduced by the set designer. (Not having seen the film I don't know any of the context for the scene.)
Marlowe:
Did you end up making films, a la von Sternberg or otherwise? And did you ever find another Marlene?
Lifting of the Veil:
Great observation!
Orthodox cross seems right, it is set in Russia. Perhaps the scales are uneven because her theft of the throne is considered justified in the eyes of God? Or perhaps her husband and mother-in-law are meant to tip the scales heavily towards the unrepentant side?
I tried to watch this film a few weeks ago but the wide-eyed naif to sultry-eyed woman transformation was too silly for me. The sets, also, were so close to being beautiful but simply ended up too cluttered. When I'm not in such an easily-distractable mood, I will try it again.
Our tastes are so similar.
You could just skip to the last act - that's where all the excitement is.
Seven Sinners is up next, if I can get my computer working soon.
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