Great Catherine (1968)
A gloriously unruly British comedy in which an uptight English captain stumbles into Catherine the Great's chaotic imperial court — and can't seem to escape it.
Great Catherine - Movie Information
- Original Title: Great Catherine
- Release Year: 1968
- Directed by: Gordon Flemyng
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy
- Runtime: 1h 39m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 29, 1968 (Germany), December 6, 1968 (United Kingdom)
- Alternative Titles: La grande Catherine (FR)
- Production Companies: Keep Films, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
Great Catherine - Plot
When British Capt. Charles Edstaston arrives at the court of Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg, Russia, he is stunned by the palace's disorderly condition. The severely intoxicated Prince Potemkin concludes that the handsome Edstaston would be a suitable lover for Catherine, and he coerces the bewildered visitor into her bedchamber. Edstaston manages to escape, but he is repeatedly recaptured and delivered to the mischievous Catherine.
Great Catherine - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the imperial chaos unfold:
By day she was Catherine the Queen. By night she was Catherine the Great.
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Great Catherine - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Gordon Flemyng
Main Cast
- Peter O'Toole
- Zero Mostel
- Jeanne Moreau
- Jack Hawkins
- Akim Tamiroff
- Marie Lohr
- Marie Kean
- Kenneth Griffith
- Angela Scoular
- Kate O'Mara
Writers
- Hugh Leonard
Producers
- Jules Buck
Great Catherine - FAQs
Who are the main actors in Great Catherine?
Great Catherine boasts a wonderfully eccentric cast. Peter O'Toole plays the hapless British captain Edstaston, Jeanne Moreau portrays the mischievous Catherine the Great, and Zero Mostel steals scenes as the perpetually drunk Prince Potemkin. Jack Hawkins, Akim Tamiroff, Angela Scoular, and Kate O'Mara round out the ensemble.
Is Great Catherine based on a true story?
Not exactly. The film is a comedic adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's 1913 one-act play of the same name. While Catherine the Great and Potemkin were real historical figures, Shaw's play — and by extension this film — takes enormous liberties with history for satirical and farcical effect.
What is Great Catherine about?
A prim British captain named Edstaston arrives at Catherine the Great's chaotic St. Petersburg court and is promptly earmarked as a royal lover by the inebriated Potemkin. What follows is a slapstick chase comedy as the bewildered Englishman repeatedly escapes — and is repeatedly recaptured — by the amorous empress.
Is Great Catherine a Shaw adaptation?
Yes! The film is based on George Bernard Shaw's short play 'Great Catherine,' written in 1913. Screenwriter Hugh Leonard expanded Shaw's witty, satirical one-act into a full feature, preserving the playwright's sharp comic sensibility while adding the visual flair and slapstick energy suited to cinema.
Who directed Great Catherine?
Great Catherine was directed by Gordon Flemyng, a Scottish filmmaker best known for his work on the Dalek films of the 1960s. The film was produced by Jules Buck under Keep Films, the production company co-founded by Peter O'Toole himself.
When was Great Catherine released?
Great Catherine had its first release on November 29, 1968, in Germany, followed by its United Kingdom release on December 6, 1968. The film arrived at the tail end of a remarkable decade for British cinema, featuring a cast of major international stars.
How long is Great Catherine?
Great Catherine runs for 99 minutes — just under an hour and forty minutes. It's a brisk, energetic comedy that keeps the farce moving at a lively pace, giving its stellar cast plenty of room to deliver their comedic performances without overstaying its welcome.
What are some movies similar to Great Catherine?
If you enjoy Great Catherine's brand of period slapstick and satirical comedy, you might also love Casino Royale (1967), Delusions of Grandeur (1971), Forbidden Paradise (1924), or Almost Heroes (1998). For modern comedies with a similarly irreverent spirit, Poor Things (2023) and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) are great picks.
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