Main Cast: Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, Elisabeth Young
Release Year: 1933
Country: US
Run Time: 101 minutes
Plot
If Queen Christina is not the best of Greta Garbo's films (as many Garbo fanatics insist), it is certainly the most luxuriously romantic of her talkie features. The star is cast as 17th-century Swedish queen Christina, who feels that she can best function in a male-dominated world by adopting men's clothes and attitudes (this cross-dressing element adds a subliminally gay subtext which curiously makes the subsequent events all the more poignant). Fiercely devoted to her country and the welfare of her people, Christina has long since abandoned all thoughts of pursuing any kind of a romance -- but changes her mind when she meets and falls in love with Spanish envoy Antonio (John Gilbert). After an idyllic night together, Christina and Antonio are compelled to part, but the Queen vows then and there to relinquish her throne in favor of marriage to the envoy. Alas, the complex political machinations between their two countries permanently separate the two lovers, leaving Christina more alone in the world than ever. The chemistry between Garbo and Gilbert -- who as the whole world knew in 1933 had once been real-life lovers -- is positively mesmerizing, especially in the classic scene wherein Christina, after consummating their passion, walks dreamily around their room, touching and memorizing every detail (so persuasive is her pantomime in this scene that her last-minute explanation as to what she is doing is not only unnecessary, but downright jarring). Equally unforgettable is the final shot of Garbo staring enigmatically past the camera, allowing the viewer to "fill in" her thoughts (director Rouben Mamoulian always claimed that he ordered Garbo to think about "absolutely nothing," but one wonders). While some of Garbo's earliest talkies tend to creak a bit, Queen Christina is as fascinating today as it was nearly seven decades ago, and will undoubtedly continue to remain just as fascinating for the next seven decades. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Displaying the full range of Greta Garbo's mystique, Queen Christina (1933) is usually considered one of Garbo's best works, as well as her most erotically complex. Working from the true story of the 17th century Swedish queen who abdicated her throne for love, MGM surrounded Garbo with the kind of beautifully detailed period sets and costumes for which it was known in the 1930s, including Christina's preferred male drag. Gracefully directed by Rouben Mamoulian, Garbo silently yet powerfully communicates Christina's ill-fated love for John Gilbert's Spanish envoy as she moves around their room at a snowbound inn, "memorizing" every object. Despite Garbo's reunion with three-time silent movie romance partner Gilbert, Queen Christina is more renowned for its (relatively) clear treatment of Christina's bisexuality, as she declares that she'll "die a bachelor," kisses her favorite countess on the lips, and disguises herself as a man. The final shot of Christina's staring out to sea is a signature Garbo moment of secret emotions, hidden passions, and mysterious allure. (Mamoulian reportedly told her to think of nothing.) Even so, Queen Christina did not perform as well as MGM had expected, making it a rare disappointment for Garbo and the end of Gilbert's career. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
The movie is very loosely based on the life of the 17th century Queen Christina of Sweden, who, in the film, falls in love during her reign but has to deal with the political realities of her society. It was billed as Garbo's return to cinema after an eighteen-month hiatus.
Queen Christina of Sweden (Greta Garbo) is very devoted to her country and the welfare of her people, and she has long since abandoned all thoughts of pursuing any kind of romance. One day in an effort to escape the restrictions of her royal life, she rides away, disguised as a man, and is snowbound at an inn. There she meets and falls in love with Spanish envoy Antonio (John Gilbert). After a few idyllic nights together, Christina and Antonio are compelled to part, but the Queen vows that they will meet again – which they do, when the Spaniard presents his embassy to the Queen.
As Queen, Christina favours peace for Sweden. At one point in the film she argues an end to the Thirty Years' War, saying:
"Spoils, glory, flags and trumpets! What is behind these high-sounding words? Death and destruction, triumphals of crippled men, Sweden victorious in a ravaged Europe, an island in a dead sea. I tell you, I want no more of it. I want for my people security and happiness. I want to cultivate the arts of peace, the arts of life. I want peace and peace I will have!"
When Count Magnus (Ian Keith), who wants the Queen's affections for his own, riles up the Swedish people against the Spaniard, Christina abdicates the throne. She leaves Sweden to be with Don Antonio, but he is wounded by Magnus in a duel, and dies in her arms. In arguably the most famous shot of the film, Christina stands as a silent figurehead at the bow of a ship. With the wind blowing through her hair, the camera moves in to a tight close-up on her face.
Critical reception
The film received good reviews from contemporary film critics.
Critic Mordaunt Hall, writing for The New York Times, gave the film a positive review and liked the screenplay and Mamoulian's direction of the film. He wrote, "S. N. Behrman, the playwright, is responsible for the dialogue, which is a bright and smooth piece of writing, and Rouben Mamoulian did the direction. Mr. Mamoulian still has a penchant for asking the audience to fasten their gaze on his work with lights and shades rather than continuing the story, but here he does it less frequently than hitherto, and his scenes are, without a doubt, entrancing compositions."[2]
Currently, the film has a 100% "Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on ten reviews.[3]
^Hall, Mordaunt Hall. The New York Times, film review, "Greta Garbo Appears as Queen Christina of Sweden in Her First Film in More Than Eighteen Months," December 27, 1933.
