Queen Christina (1933)

Director:

Rouben Mamoulian

Writers:

H.M. Harwood (screen play) and
Salka Viertel (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 February 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

Queen Christina of Sweden is a popular monarch who is loyal to her country. However, when she falls in love with a Spanish envoy, she must choose between the throne and the man she loves.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Queen | Sweden | Inn | Envoy

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Greta Garbo	...	Christina
John Gilbert	...	Antonio
Ian Keith	...	Magnus
Lewis Stone	...	Oxenstierna
Elizabeth Young	...	Ebba
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Aage
Reginald Owen	...	Charles
Georges Renavent	...	French Ambassador
David Torrence	...	Archbishop
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	General (as Gustav Von Seyffertitz)
Ferdinand Munier	...	Innkeeper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Alexander	...	Peasant in Crowd (uncredited)
Hooper Atchley	...	Antonio's Companion in Coach (uncredited)
Barbara Barondess	...	Elsa (uncredited)
Wade Boteler	...	Magnus' Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
James Burke	...	Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
Cora Sue Collins	...	Christina as a Child (uncredited)
Carrie Daumery	...	Woman at Court when Antonio arrive at Christines Throne (uncredited)
Muriel Evans	...	Barmaid at Inn (uncredited)
Edward Gargan	...	Drinker Betting on 9 (uncredited)
Lawrence Grant	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Nobleman (uncredited)
Paul Hurst	...	Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
Gladden James	...	3rd Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
Fred Kohler	...	Member of the Court at Abdication (uncredited)
Frank McGlynn Jr.	...	2nd Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
Edward Norris	...	Count Jacob (uncredited)
Bodil Rosing	...	Innkeeper's Wife (uncredited)
Tiny Sandford	...	Cook at the Inn (uncredited)
C. Montague Shaw	...	King Gustavus Adolphus (uncredited)
Akim Tamiroff	...	Pedro (uncredited)

Directed by
Rouben Mamoulian

Writing credits
H.M. Harwood		(screen play) and
Salka Viertel		(screen play)
Salka Viertel		(from the original story by) and
Margaret P. Levino		(from the original story by)
S.N. Behrman		(dialogue)
Ben Hecht		uncredited

Produced by
Walter Wanger	....	producer

Original Music by
Herbert Stothart

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(photographed by) (as William Daniels)

Film Editing by
Blanche Sewell		(film editor)

Production Design by
Edgar G. Ulmer		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Alexander Toluboff

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis		(interior decoration)

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Dorian	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
Art Wilson	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Harry Froboess	....	stunts (uncredited)
Audrey Scott	....	riding double: Greta Garbo (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Milton Brown	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert Stothart	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Fred Cavens	....	stager: sword fight (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (A Rouben Mamoulian Production)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Loew's (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (uncredited)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1934) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1934) (France) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1952) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• United Costumers Inc.  costumes supplied by (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved | UK:U (re-rating) (2005) (uncut) | UK:U (re-rating) (2005) | Australia:G (TV rating) | Sweden:11 (re-rating) (1964) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1934) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

For the famous closing shot of Greta Garbo at the prow of the ship, director Rouben Mamoulian had wanted the camera to begin with a long shot, and then, in one unbroken take, gradually dolly in on a two-thirds close-up of Garbo's face, holding on her at the end of the shot. Unfortunately, with the camera's 48mm lens that close to the human face, pores tend to resemble craters on the surface of the moon. Borrowing on aspects of the magic lantern, Mamoulian devised a large, ruler-shaped, glass filter strip that was clear at one end, becoming increasingly more diffused along its length. With this glass filter mounted in front of the lens, as the camera moved in on Garbo, the glass strip was gradually drawn through the filter holder, beginning with the clear end, and ending with the diffused end (close-up), softening Garbo's facial features with more flattering results

Goofs:

Continuity: Christina signs some reports, moves a stack to her right, then hands a stack to the treasurer. The first stack disappeared.

Quotes:

Antonio:Of course. It has to be. I felt it. I felt it! The presence. Oh, life is so gloriously improbable.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Titanic (1997)

Garbo and Gilbert Together Again

One of silent cinema's greatest pairings, Greta Garbo and John Gilbert starred together one last time in Queen Christina. Gilbert's career was in tatters by 1933 after a string on failures, and Laurence Olivier had already bailed from the role, but Garbo insisted on Gilbert. And he is wonderful as the Spanish envoy. He looks great and gives a sly performance with plenty of wit. This is also one of Garbo's best talkies. Together they light up the screen. This film also boasts some of the most gorgeous close ups of Garbo you've ever seen. Solid historical drama of Swedish queen who abdicates for love. Good supporting cast includes Lewis Stone, Reginald Owen, Akim Tamiroff, Ian Keith as the slimy Magnus, C. Aubrey Smith, Elizabeth Young, and David Torrence. Beautiful film with solid performances and, dare I say, very feminist in its view. Gilbert's performance in this film and Downstairs (1932) should have put him back on top. What a shame. Norma Desmond was right when she said, "They took the idols and they smashed them. The The Gilberts, the Fairbankses, the Valentinos."