Queen Christina
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Movie Reviews of Queen Christina
Movie Review: Garbo's Gift to Us
Summary: 5 Stars
In my view Garbo's greatest film, and her most personal. Among my other favorites are Camille and Ninotchka, but Queen Christina is her stand-out classic above all others. I have read that Garbo was personally exicted by and involved in this production to an extent unparalled for her, motivated by the Swedish (her homeland) history and the opportunity to play one of history's most enigmatic figures, the queen who "abdicated her throne for love" (though this portrayal is, of course, largely "Hollywoodized"--you can probably throw most expectations of historical accuracy out the window, just set back and behold).
Here is every aspect of the legendary Garbo in one film: the breathtakingly beautiful woman, the amibiguous sexuality, the great tragienne, the aloofness, the boyish playfulness, the restless longing to escape any enforced tableaux or expectations of others and live her own life by her own terms, all things she had in common with Queen Christina. Here also is her warm, memorable final pairing with her former real-life amor and frequent co-star John Gilbert.
Two legendary scenes stand out: Garbo walking about, as if in a daze, memorizing the inn room in which she and Gilbert have just spent the night (a scene almost lost due to censors), and of course the final, unforgettable closeup, the greatest closeup in the history of cinema--simply stunning, as is the heartbreaking farewell to the dying Gilbert moments before. Not to be missed scenes also are Garbo running out of the castle into the bitter cold, rubbing snow in her face like a child, and the warm relationship with her elderly attendant, C. Aubrey Smith, who dotes on her like a daughter, combing her hair, tending to her every need with tender love and protectiveness. --One of the overlooked subtexts in the film is the parentless Christina's relationships with two major father figures, Lewis Milestone (another frequent co-star) as a palace official, who vehemently protests Christina's decision to step down from the throne, along with the personal attendant, C. Aubrey Smith, with his benevolent, Mark Twain face, caring for Christina in a motherly fashion, wanting only her happiness, wherever that takes her....
In life Garbo indeed appeared reclusive and aloof, though I suspect she was simply a very shy person who perhaps never fully comprehended what it was we all wanted from her. But here, in Queen Christina, actress and woman merge. Garbo opened up for us in a way she had never before and would never again, fully showing us both her great strength and acute vulnerability, and the result is spellbinding, a treasure forever, Garbo's gift to us all, and we are all the beneficiaries.
Movie Review: Garbo's Gift To Us...
Summary: 5 Stars
In my view Garbo's greatest film, and her most personal. Among my other favorites are Camille, Grand Hotel and Ninotcka, but Queen Christina is her stand-out classic above all others. I have read that she was deeply excited by and involved in this production to an extent unparalled for her, motivated by the Swedish (her homeland) history and the opportunity to play one of history's most enigmatic figures, the queen who "abdicated her throne for love" (though this portrayal is, of course, largely "Hollywoodized"--wonderfully so--you can probably throw most historical accuracy out the window, just sit back and enjoy).
Here is every aspect of the legendary Garbo in one film: the breathtakingly beautiful woman, the ambiguous sexuality, the great tragienne, the aloofness, the boyish playfulness, the restless longing to escape any public tableaux or expectations and live her own life by her own terms, all things she had in common with the real Queen Christina. Here also her warm, memorable final pairing with her former real-life amor John Gilbert. Two legendary scenes stand out: Garbo walking about, as if in a daze, memorizing the room in which she and Gilbert spent the night in (a scene almost lost due to censors), and of course the final, unforgettable closeup, the greatest closup in the history of cinema--simply stunning, as is the heartbreaking "goodbye" to the dying Gilbert moments before. Not to be missed scenes also are Garbo running out of the castle into the winter cold and rubbing the snow in her face like a child, and the warm relationship with her elderly male attendant, who dotes on her like a daughter, combing her hair, etc.
In life Garbo indeed appeared reclusive and aloof, though I suspect she was simply a very shy and private person who perhaps never fully comprehended what it was we all wanted from her. But here, in Queen Christina actress and woman merge, she opened up for us in a way she had never before and would never again, fully showing us her great strength and acute vulnerability, and the result is spellbinding. A classic forever, Garbo's gift to us all, and we are all the beneficiaries.
Movie Review: GARBO AND GILBERT FOR THE LAST TIME
Summary: 5 Stars
.....The picture got better when pressure was put upon the Queen to send her Latin lover home and to marry a Swede who would give her an heir to the throne. Garbo turned in some fine acting as she agonized over her final decision to abdicate and to leave with her lover.
.....The movie is interesting to movie buffs because Garbo and Gilbert had been real life lovers. They met on the set of Flesh and the Devil when Gilbert was a Silent Film star and Garbo an unknown newcomer. They lived together for three years but Gilbert wanted marriage and children and Garbo just wanted them to live together. Finally when she refused his final marriage proposal, Gilbert broke off the relationship and married another actress.
.....When sound movies became popular some actors like Gilbert had their careers destroyed while others like Garbo were instant hits and became mega stars. Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM had originally signed Lawrence Olivier to play the part of Antonio in Queen Christiana but Garbo, in an attempt to help Gilbert's sagging career, told Mayer that she would make the movie with Gilbert and nobody else. Mayer, who hated Gilbert and had vowed to destroy his career, gave in to Garbo's demands and cast them together for the last time. Two years later Gilbert was dead at the age of 36.
.....Garbo led a twisted and tormented life and was most likely AC/DC but she probably loved Gilbert as much as she was capable of loving any man and he came the closest to getting her to the altar.
Movie Review: Pre-code gem!
Summary: 5 Stars
Oh, what a naughtly little treat this is! Garbo as Queen Christina does all sorts of stuff that could not have been depicted on screen just one year later, after the Production Code began to be enforced. She appears to be bisexual: there is an implication of a lesbian affair with one of her maids-in-waiting, and she is clearly having a non-marital affair with her treasurer (male). On a trip to the country, when she is disguised as a wealthy young man, an innkeeper offers to procure a young lady for her--and does so. Then she spends several debauched days in a room at the Inn making love to the Spanish ambassador, etc. etc.
Who would have thought that a 1933 B&W film would be so racy!
Movie Review: Queen Christina
Summary: 5 Stars
Mamoulian's film creaks a bit with some broad playing from secondary actors, but Garbo's luminosity more than makes up for it. She is not only ravishing, but her persona is tailor-made for the strong, mannish role of Christina. Former fiancé Gilbert is also fine as Antonio, which places the subsequent demise of this actor's career squarely at the feet of studio boss L.B. Mayer, who didn't like him. Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, and C. Aubrey Smith lend skilled support in this, one of the screen's crowning early biopics.