The Abdication (1974)

Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) abdicates and travels to Rome to embrace the Catholic church. Today, she is mostly known for the rumors that she was lesbian.

Director:

Anthony Harvey

Writers:

Ruth Wolff (play), Ruth Wolff (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, Cyril Cusack

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Finch	...	Cardinal Azzolino
Liv Ullmann	...	Queen Kristina
Cyril Cusack	...	Oxenstierna
Paul Rogers	...	Altieri
Graham Crowden	...	Cardinal Barberini
Michael Dunn	...	The Dwarf
Kathleen Byron	...	Queen Mother
Lewis Fiander	...	Father Dominic
Harold Goldblatt	...	Pinamonti
Tony Steedman	...	Carranza
Noel Trevarthen	...	Ginetti
Richard Cornish	...	Charles
James Faulkner	...	Magnus de la Gardie
Edward Underdown	...	Gustaf II Adolf, Christina's father
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Franz Drago	...	Birgito

Storyline

Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) abdicates and travels to Rome to embrace the Catholic church. Today, she is mostly known for the rumors that she was lesbian.

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Plot Keywords:

catholic | queen | sweden | queen christina of sweden | catholic church | 

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Taglines:

A woman with a profane love... for a man of God.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Abdicação de uma Rainha

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Dunn's final film.

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Connections

Follows Queen Christina (1933)

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Soundtracks

"Christmas Song"
(uncredited)
Written by Nino Rota

User Reviews

A Quiet Passion

A film of suppressed emotions about suppressed sexuality, but more than that, about the nature of love and the power of giving oneself to another, and the tragedy of being unable to. This is a beautiful film, both in how it looks, and how it thinks, it is unrelentingly heartbreaking. Ullman is somehow mesmeric, you can't take your eyes off her, you feel her pain in all its rawness and wonder how one human being can endure so much. Finch's character is a support to hers, it is almost like you care for him only inasmuch as his actions affect her.

This is a movie that will take your breath away, it is profoundly moving (I know what that sounds like but it is).