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.The cold, calculating, recognition-hungry, jealous Salieri seemed obsessed with trying to write music for God.Film Notables (Awards, Facts, etc.)Nominated for one Academy Award (with no win): Best Art Direction.With a production budget of $150 million, and gross revenue of $290 million (domestic) and almost $896 million (worldwide).The lonely, self-destructive and pathetic Rink mumbled, sobbed and ultimately collapsed in the empty banquet room, after rambling about his unrequited, covetous love for Leslie.Suddenly, a chunk of the ceiling dropped and crashed to the floor - Evelyn exclaimed: "It""s a sarcophagus buried at the base of Anubis.