Queen Christina (1934)

February 9, 1934 (US) • Romance, History, Drama • 99m

Overview

Popular monarch Queen Christina of Sweden must choose between love and loyalty to her nation when she unexpectedly falls for a Spanish envoy.

Director

H.M. Harwood, Salka Viertel, Salka Viertel, Margaret P. Levino, Rouben Mamoulian, Claudine West, Ben Hecht

Top Billed

Greta Garbo

Keywords

ambassador peace queen sweden forbidden love duty biography mobster female protagonist royal court pre-code inn 17th century

Where to watch

Free / Included

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Hooper Atchley

Antonio's Companion in Coach (uncredited)

James Burke

Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)

Carrie Daumery

Woman at Court when Antonio arrive at Christines Throne (uncredited)

Paul Hurst

Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)

Fred Kohler

Member of the Court at Abdication (uncredited)

Crew

Reviews

CinemaSerf

⭐ 7/10

March 9, 2024

Greta Garbo is great in this speculative depiction of the life of the famed Queen of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals! Acceding to the throne after the death of her warrior king father, she spends much of her reign engaged in the Thirty Years War that ended with Sweden being a pre-eminent power in a battle-torn Europe. The arrival of her army commanding cousin, Prince Charles (Reginald Owen) gives rise to hope amongst the population the she will soon marry him. She, on the other hand, has no plans to be bounced into matrimony. Indeed, she has no plans to keep the war going either, so despatching her chancellor (Lewis Stone) to peace talks, she invites a new Spanish Ambassador (John Gilbert) to her court. Meantime, her domestic suitor "Magnus" (Ian Keith) is pressing his own suit, her confidant "Ebba" (Elizabeth Young) earns her enmity with a clumsily delivered conversation with her own lover and so she sets off into the snow with her aide "Aage" (C. Aubrey Smith) where a chance encounter changes the course of not just her own destiny, but that of her country too. If you know a bit about the history, then you will have an inkling as to what happens - an epitome of politicking, romance and tragedy, and Garbo plays the part boldly and engagingly. It helps that the script gives her the latitude to play the role of a strong and forceful woman in what is undoubtedly a man's world. There's a strong chemistry between Both Garbo and Gilbert and also between her and her stalwart Aubrey Smith, with the latter introducing a little humour to the snow-bound proceedings. Much has been made of the supposed sexual ambiguity of both the character and the actor, and I suppose if that's the case you want to make it can be, but for me this is a classic biopic of a clever and shrewd women playing a game built for men - either on screen or behind it, and I really did enjoy it.

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$1,114,000

Revenue

$2,610,000

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