Queen Christina (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Queen Christina


caption = theatical poster
director = Rouben Mamoulian
producer = Walter Wanger
writer = Story:
Margaret P. Levino
Salka Viertel
Screnplay:
S.N. Behrman
H.M. Harwood
starring = Greta Garbo
John Gilbert
music = Herbert Stothart
cinematography = William H. Daniels
editing = Blanche Sewell
distributor = MGM
released = December 26, fy|1933 "(US)"
runtime = 97 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget = $1,114,000 (est.)
gross = $2,610,000 (world)
imdb_id = 0024481

"Queen Christina" is a fy|1933 American pre-code historical drama film directed by Rouben Mamoulian. [imdb title|id=0024481|title=Queen Christina.] The film was written by Viertel LeVino and Margaret "Peg" LeVino, with dialogue by S. N. Behrman, based on a story by Salka Vierted and Margaret P. Levino. It stars Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Ian Keith and Lewis Stone.

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.

Plot

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 a romance. Yet, 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 the 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." [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?_r=1&title1=Queen%20Christina&title2=&reviewer=MORDAUNT%20HALL%2e&pdate=19331227&v_id=39808&oref=slogin 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.]

Currently, the film has a 100% "Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on ten reviews. [rotten-tomatoes|id=queen_christina|title=Queen Christina Last accessed: March 27, 2007.]

Cast

* Greta Garbo as Queen Christina
* John Gilbert as Antonio
* Ian Keith as Magnus
* Lewis Stone as Oxenstierna
* Elizabeth Young as Countess Ebba Sparre
* C. Aubrey Smith as Aage
* Reginald Owen as Charles
* Georges Renavent as Chanut
* David Torrence as Archbishop
* Gustav von Seyffertitz as General
* Ferdinand Munier as Innkeeper
* Akim Tamiroff as Pedro (uncredited)

Awards

Nominations
* Venice Film Festival: Mussolini Cup, Rouben Mamoulian; 1934.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.filmsite.org/quee.html "Queen Christina"] at "Film Site" by Tim Dirks
* [http://www.windweaver.com/christina/movie.htm "Queen Christina"] informational site.
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