In 18th-century Russia, the Tsar, Paul, is surrounded by murderous plots and trusts only Count Pahlen. Pahlen wishes to protect his friend, the mad king, but because of the horror of the king's acts, he feels that he must remove him from the throne. Stefan, whipped by the tsar for not having the correct number of buttons on his gaiters, joins with the count in the plot. The crown prince is horrified by their plans and warns his father, who, having no love for his son, places him under arrest for his foolish accusations. Pahlen uses his mistress, the Countess Ostermann, to lure the tsar into the bedroom, where she tells him of the plot. The tsar summons Pahlen, who reassures him of his loyalty. Later that night the count and Stefan enter his bedroom, and presently the tsar is dead. But moments later Stefan turns a pistol on Pahlen. As the count lies dying on the floor, the countess appears and embraces Pahlen as he says, "I have been a bad friend and lover—but I have been a Patriot."
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== osoby ==			== profese ==
	Ernst Lubitsch		Režie
	Hanns Kräly		Námět
	Ernst Lubitsch		Producent
	Hans Dreier		Výprava

== osoby ==	== postava ==
Lewis Stone	hrabě Pahlen

cena	festival	ročník	osoba	nominace/cena
Nejlepší scénář- film	Oscar (Cena Akademie)	2 (1929)	Hanns Kräly	cena
Nejlepší výprava	Oscar (Cena Akademie)	2 (1929)	Hans Dreier	nominace
Nejlepší režisér	Oscar (Cena Akademie)	2 (1929)	Ernst Lubitsch	nominace
Nejlepší mužský herecký výkon v hlavní roli	Oscar (Cena Akademie)	2 (1929)	Lewis Stone	nominace
Nejlepší film	Oscar (Cena Akademie)	2 (1929)	Ernst Lubitsch	nominace