A Royal Scandal (1945)

Tallulah Bankhead: Catherine the Great

Photos 

Quotes 

• Catherine the Great : However much you may hate me at this moment I'm sure you don't want to see me killed. They're going to do it Alexei.

  Lt. Alexei Chernoff : Oh no Madame - I have their promise. They wanted to, but when we were discussing the loot, I claimed you. I could have had an old sofa, a genuine antique, the mother of all the sofas, but I preferred the Mother of All the Russias.

• [last lines] 

  Catherine the Great : I'm lonely Marquis.

  Marquis de Fleury : I do not dare to compare myself to Your Majesty but me, I'm lonely too...

• Catherine the Great : Of course I don't believe a word you said but I'm awfully glad you said it.

• Lt. Alexei Chernoff : I don't believe his excellency has a very high opinion of me. Frankly, he seems to think I'm something of a fool.

  Catherine the Great : That's a lot of nonsense. You're brilliant... and you look simply divine in that uniform.

• Lt. Alexei Chernoff : I didn't think you listened.

  Catherine the Great : I remember every word, every syllable.

  Lt. Alexei Chernoff : Then you heard what I said about the peasants?

  Catherine the Great : Did I hear? How can you ask? I've been thinking of nothing else but peasants, peasants, peasants, and peasants.

• Marquis de Fleury : I have seen portraits, many many of Your Majesty and I have heard glowing reports of the beauties and charms of Your Majesty. But the palette of the painter has not colours enough to paint and the lyre of the poet has strings not tender enough to sing about the beauty which my eyes have the good fortune to dazzle at.

  Catherine the Great : Thank you Monsieur Le Marquis, but I want you to know that compliments of that kind don't mean very much in Russia.

  Marquis de Fleury : Your Majesty - they don't mean anything in France - it's just our French way of saying hello.

• Lt. Alexei Chernoff : Your majesty, I'm ready to die for you.

  Catherine the Great : That's no news either. I expect that from my soldiers.

• Catherine the Great : Anna, my mind is made up. You lack pride. Definitely pride. Now where would you like to go?