The Scarlet Empress (1934)

The Scarlet Empress (1934) tells the story of Catherine the Great, a woman who dresses as a man in order to join the army and rise to power. She faces manipulation, politics, and intrigue as she navigates the Russian court and eventually becomes Empress. The film explores her tumultuous relationship with her domineering mother, her mental illness, and her struggles to maintain her power in a decadent and oppressive society.