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IMDbPro

Queen Christina

  • 19331933
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
Greta Garbo in Queen Christina (1933)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:17
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaRomance
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
    • Rouben Mamoulian
  • Writers
    • H.M. Harwood(screen play)
    • Salka Viertel(screen play)
    • Margaret P. Levino(from the original story by)
  • Stars
    • Greta Garbo
    • John Gilbert
    • Ian Keith
    • Rouben Mamoulian
  • Writers
    • H.M. Harwood(screen play)
    • Salka Viertel(screen play)
    • Margaret P. Levino(from the original story by)
  • Stars
    • Greta Garbo
    • John Gilbert
    • Ian Keith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 78User reviews
    • 46Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Queen Christina
    Trailer 2:17
    Watch Queen Christina

    Photos122

    Greta Garbo and Reginald Owen in Queen Christina (1933)
    Greta Garbo in Queen Christina (1933)
    Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina," 1953/MGM.
    Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina," 1933/MGM.
    Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina," 1933/MGM.
    Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina," 1933/MGM.
    Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina," 1933/MGM.
    Greta Garbo in "Queen Christina," 1933/MGM.
    Greta Garbo and Lewis Stone in Queen Christina (1933)
    Greta Garbo and John Gilbert in Queen Christina (1933)
    Greta Garbo in Queen Christina (1933)
    Greta Garbo and John Gilbert in Queen Christina (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Greta Garbo
    Greta Garbo
    • Christina
    John Gilbert
    John Gilbert
    • Antonio
    Ian Keith
    Ian Keith
    • Magnus
    Lewis Stone
    Lewis Stone
    • Oxenstierna
    Elizabeth Young
    Elizabeth Young
    • Ebba
    C. Aubrey Smith
    C. Aubrey Smith
    • Aage
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Charles
    Georges Renavent
    Georges Renavent
    • French Ambassador
    David Torrence
    David Torrence
    • Archbishop
    Gustav von Seyffertitz
    Gustav von Seyffertitz
    • General
    • (as Gustav Von Seyffertitz)
    Ferdinand Munier
    Ferdinand Munier
    • Innkeeper
    Richard Alexander
    Richard Alexander
    • Peasant in Crowd
    • (uncredited)
    Hooper Atchley
    Hooper Atchley
    • Antonio's Companion in Coach
    • (uncredited)
    Barbara Barondess
    Barbara Barondess
    • Elsa
    • (uncredited)
    Wade Boteler
    Wade Boteler
    • Magnus' Rabble Rouser
    • (uncredited)
    James Burke
    James Burke
    • Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser
    • (uncredited)
    Cora Sue Collins
    Cora Sue Collins
    • Christina as a Child
    • (uncredited)
    Carrie Daumery
    Carrie Daumery
    • Woman at Court when Antonio arrive at Christines Throne
    • (uncredited)
      • Rouben Mamoulian
    • Writers
      • H.M. Harwood(screen play)
      • Salka Viertel(screen play) (from the original story by)
      • Margaret P. Levino(from the original story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • 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 closeup 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 (closeup), softening Garbo's facial features with more flattering results.
    • Goofs
      Christina is depicted as loved by her people. The real Christina, however, was, by the end of her reign, unpopular due to her arbitrary and wasteful ways, and having her royal historian and his son executed for accusing her of serious misbehavior and being a Jezebel.
    • Quotes

      Christina: I have been memorizing this room. In the future, in my memory, I shall live a great deal in this room.

    • Connections
      Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008)

    User reviews78

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Garbo at her peak
    I'm in the middle of "Wednesday Night is Greta Garbo Night" on TCM, and I am as happy as the proverbial pig. A whole month of Garbo -- 27 films! 1927-1941!!! Needless to say, I rushed right off to Target to stock up on blank videocassettes! I'm the King of the World! The dream of a lifetime fulfilled!

    "Queen Christina" is merely one of Garbo's greatest performances, but it's second to none. She imbues the role of the conflicted Swedish monarch with majesty and vulnerability, and also embodies the clarity, determination, assurance, and style of a great ruler. This Christina is no silly Mary Queen of Scots, thoughtlessly throwing everything away for love, and sowing the seeds of her own destruction. Garbo's queen sacrifices power for a man, true, but only because she understands that she can't have both and must have love, that Sweden will still flourish without her, and that to fulfill her deepest needs as a human being she must accept the inevitable cost. She is a lover of the arts, a reader of great books, curious about the entire world and thirsty to drink at the well of experience. She is a bohemian, and there's little satisfaction for her in wielding great power while being denied the opportunity to live fully.

    Whether this is an accurate portayal of the historical person is really beside the point. "Queen Christina" is an MGM costume spectacular with MGM's biggest star. And Lord, is she gorgeous!

    Watching John Gilbert as Antonio makes me wonder why he didn't last for long in talking pictures. His hairstyle here makes him look a bit goofy, but he's a handsome guy and his speaking voice is perfectly adequate. He doesn't come close to Garbo in charisma -- who does? He handles the role quite well, and the mutual affection of the pair is palpable.

    At least one poster has questioned whether the implied homoeroticism of several scenes in this film really exists -- the kiss between the queen and her lady-in-waiting, the "No Chancellor...I shall die a bachelor" line, the reaction of Antonio's servant about him staying in bed all day with "the other gentleman." S/he is wrong -- it's definitely there. But I think Ruben Mamoulian was just having a little fun with Christina's "masculine" eccentricity to add some spice to the story. She was hailed as a "king" at her coronation, and a king she endeavored to be.

    Some viewers might find "Queen Christina" dated. It's terribly romantic in the style of the 1930s, and if you can't buy into that you might have problems. Also, there's the characteristic cliche of all the old MGM period films dealing with royalty -- the ceremonial entrance of nobles into the court, accompanied by fanfares and stately music. I counted four of those in this movie -- oh, well, it goes with the genre.

    And that final scene? It really is unforgettable!
    helpful•23
    3
    • ms94801
    • Jun 22, 2002

    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 9, 1934 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 39 minutes
      • Black and White

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