The Rise of Catherine the Great stars Elizabeth Bergner as the future empress of Russia and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as her husband. Playing fast and loose with history, of course, this picture features direction by Hungarian director Paul Czinner. Korda produces this screwball look behind the scenes at the Saint Petersburg royal court and Catherine’s troubled marriage to Peter III, who in reality was quite a bit more insane than portrayed here. Still, it’s all in good fun and Czinner’s piece is engaging.
Douglas Fairbanks Sr. lights up the screen with his last film role in The Private Life of Don Juan. Directed by Korda, this rare Fairbanks Sr. talkie roars with wonderful satire and serves as a gripping myth-buster in its own right as it adds a tint of uncertainty and vulnerability to popular conceptions of Don Juan. The gorgeous Merle Oberon also stars.
Finishing up the set is Korda’s 1936 film Rembrandt. Starring Charles Laughton as the Dutch painter, this biopic features dazzling cinematography from Georges Périnal and another solid Laughton performance. Gertrude Lawrence also stars as Rembrandt’s model and lover Geertje Dircx.
The Eclipse Series 16: Alexander Korda’s Private Lives set is a marvellous way to get in touch with some lesser-known films. Korda’s charming humorous take on many of history’s greatest figures is entertaining and there are some truly great performances here. It is a barebones collection, to be sure, but the reasonable price makes it worth it in the end.
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