A copying error by a military scribe turns the Russian words "the lieutenants, however" into what looks like "lieutenant Kizhe". The Tsar reads the error, and wants to meet this (non-existent) lieutenant. The courtiers, eager to avoid the wrath of the temperamental Tsar, create a Kizhe to serve as their royal scapegoat.
Михаил Яншин
as Tsar Pavel I
Boris Gorin-Goryainov
as Count von Pahlen
Nina Shaternikova
as Princess Gagarina
Софья Магарилл
as Princess Gagarina's companion
Эраст Гарин
as Adjutant
Михаил Ростовцев
as Fortress commandant
Леонид Кмит
as Scribe
Andrei Kostrichkin
as Lieutenant Sinyukhaev
Константин Гибшман
as Chief physician
Владимир Лепко
as Count Kutaysov (uncredited)
Фёдор Федоровский
as Grenadier (uncredited)