reviewed by: Charity Bishop
              

Before Catherine Zeta-Jones' career took off with her critically-acclaimed performance in The Mask of Zorro, she performed in a number of small television productions for Hallmark and A&E. Catherine the Great is one of them, based on the life of the young woman who was forced into a marriage of alliance with the Emperor of Russia, but eventually became one of the most powerful female monarchs in history. The story of how she got there is corrupted and often immoral, but the result of her determination and courage make it an epic adventure of passion, scandal, and politics.

Married at fifteen, Catherine and her husband are ill-suited. Due to a medical condition he is unable to consummate the marriage despite his aunt's desires for an heir. In turn, the High Empress (Jeanne Moreau) hires one of the men of the court, known to be a playboy to seduce Catherine in the hopes that a child will result from the union. Catherine believes that this member of the court is truly and honestly in love with her, and is crushed when the truth comes out... that he was merely paid to woo and romance her. Catherine has learned at a young age that politics is a cruel game in which many of the players are often wounded. The lesson becomes even more poignant when she bears a son and the Empress takes him away without ever allowing her to hold or see him. From that moment on, Catherine determines her eventual place in Russia will be as the sole ruler. She is powerless to do anything until her mother-in-law's death but begins to plot her way to the throne. 

Catherine realizes her husband loathes her and she knows once he is empowered he will have her ostracized in the favor of his mistress. Behind the back of the Empress' adviser Vorontzoy (Ian Richardson) Catherine creates an alliance at the front through their womanizing general. With the power of the troops, Catherine has the power to seize the throne at the Empress' death. Opportunity strikes and Catherine takes it...  but there is political unrest, thousands of years of corruption, and backstabbing officials to contend with. And then she didn't reckon with falling in love.... This time it's for real, and with a young Colonel who would seek the service of the church rather than fight. But Catherine will forge through it all, and in the end will be known throughout the world as "Catherine Le Grande." Catherine... the Great.

This little-known production by A&E has become far more popular since Catherine Zeta-Jones has become a household name. Originally produced abroad, it's been shortened by A&E but still contains enough of the beautiful and beguiling Catherine Zeta-Jones to make fans happy. Many will want to see her in this role, since she plays it with a mixture of the innocence and manipulation needed to fulfill the real Catherine's shoes. But they should be warned that Catherine the Great's history was far from ideal. In truth, she did build her empire on passion... by using high-ranking and influential men to her advantage, much as Cleopatra did in ancient Egypt. The result is that the film starts off on a rocky trail of immorality, lies, seduction, and political revenge but smoothes out after twenty minutes into a more balanced and worthy plot. If you can forge the innuendo, discussion on the young Emperor's "condition," and can turn a blind eye to Catherine's first indiscretions (two of them), after that point on the film becomes unproblematic and looses much of the sexual air. It becomes more of a game of politics. But due to the adulterous nature of these encounters, I would advise against it. Twice Catherine's full bare back and most of her side are seen; in one stomach-turning scene, her husband takes her by force.

The costuming is gorgeous but far too low, and cleavage is used as eye candy on many occasions. Vorontzoy pushes his niece to become the Emperor's mistress by having her wear low-cut and revealing gowns. Catherine often displays unnecessarily immodest amounts of cleavage when winning men to her favor. The Emperor tells a dirty rhyme in a party setting. Catherine is undressed once by a lover; sex is implied at least four times. The side of a nude woman is seen as a man is snatched from his tent. The miniseries-turned-video is unrated but the sexual content warrants a PG13. Violence is also apparent but not overly gory; several battle scenes with explosions, knifings, and guns fired. Men are seen bloodied and wounded. Several brawls erupt, one including a stomach-turning plot turn when a man's eye is nearly put out. One man is attacked in his home and strangled with wire; another in a prison, but the latter manages to escape. He is later beheaded (implied). There's some mild language. 

Although your conscience demands you loathe Catherine for her dirty dealings, you cannot help but emphasize with her... a girl taken by force at fifteen and married to the future king. The innocent little girl swiftly becomes a woman of the world, but still shows fear, sorrow, and pity. The Colonel is likable right off. A man of faith, he is horrified by war and seeks to avoid conflict. Ian Richardson is ideal... part cynical, part mental, part conniving little lair, he makes an excellent groveling  chancellor who on occasion steals the scenes. It is only after her rise to power that I truly began to enjoy the rest of the film as I watched Catherine battle the Turks and love from afar a young military officer. I was disappointed their romance did eventually wind up between the sheets (only gentle kissing seen) despite his present religious beliefs. At one point he even seeks out a monastery and becomes a novice. Therefore, their rapid progression into bed seems unlikely, superficial, and unfortunate, and in turn the film looses any possible moral stronghold. Catherine the Great is more a story of scandal than anything. The Bible warns us against adultery, wielding power too easily, and using people to our own advantage. And although Catherine has a few attributes to admire, her ill deeds cannot be overlooked in the grand scale of things.