BackgroundThe Scarlet Empress (1934)is director Josef von Sternberg""s startling, dark, visually opulent, hauntingly expressionistic, semi-erotic and mostly fictional biopic of one of 18th century Russia""s most illustrious historical figures - Catherine II (the Great), during the years 1744 to 1762.Kent was complimentary about Bea""s houghtful, super-efficient, quick-thinking suggestions, while ignorant and oblivious to the bright-eyed and caring Nan who was completely responsive to his every need, although lovelorn:Kent: "There""s a girl for ya.Bannion.Why, Tom wouldn""t kill himself.He wasn""t worried about his health, not for a single minute."Lucy describes the unsavory details of how she had a thing for Tom ("he was a real wonderful guy...nice and gentle") and he was never happier, especially since Bertha had recently agreed o divorce him.In the film""s climax, Harry and others were lured o the Department of Mysteries to save Harry""s godfather Sirius Black, who was trapped there.He then purchased an elaborate set of cookware, place settings, and crystal, robbed a hospital""s morgue of various pieces of equipment (including a bone saw), and took everything to a wooded, private lakefront house.