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poster of Queen Christina
Rating: 6.8/10 by 121 users

Queen Christina (1933)

The popular monarch, Queen Christina of Sweden, must choose between love and loyalty to her nation when she unexpectedly falls for a Spanish envoy.

Directing:
  • Rouben Mamoulian
  • Charles Dorian
Writing:
  • Margaret P. Levino
  • Salka Viertel
  • H.M. Harwood
  • Salka Viertel
  • S. N. Behrman
  • Claudine West
  • Rouben Mamoulian
  • Ben Hecht
Stars:
Release Date: Tue, Dec 26, 1933

Rating: 6.8/10 by 121 users

Alternative Title:
Rainha Christina - BR
Königin Christine - DE
クリスチナじょおう - JP
Dronning Christina - NO

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Español
Runtime: 01 hour 39 minutes
Budget: $1,114,000
Revenue: $2,610,000

Plot Keyword: ambassador, peace, queen, sweden, forbidden love, duty, biography, mobster, female protagonist, royal court, pre-code, inn, 17th century
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Lewis Stone
Oxenstierna
Georges Renavent
French Ambassador
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)
Gladden James
3rd Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
Frank McGlynn Jr.
2nd 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)
Paul Hurst
Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
Lawrence Grant
Bit part (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Nobleman (uncredited)
Fred Kohler
Member of the Court at Abdication (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)

CinemaSerf

Greta Garbo is great in this speculative depiction of the life of the famed Queen of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals! Acceding to the throne after the death of her warrior king father, she spends much of her reign engaged in the Thirty Years War that ended with Sweden being a pre-eminent power in a battle-torn Europe. The arrival of her army commanding cousin, Prince Charles (Reginald Owen) gives rise to hope amongst the population the she will soon marry him. She, on the other hand, has no plans to be bounced into matrimony. Indeed, she has no plans to keep the war going either, so despatching her chancellor (Lewis Stone) to peace talks, she invites a new Spanish Ambassador (John Gilbert) to her court. Meantime, her domestic suitor "Magnus" (Ian Keith) is pressing his own suit, her confidant "Ebba" (Elizabeth Young) earns her enmity with a clumsily delivered conversation with her own lover and so she sets off into the snow with her aide "Aage" (C. Aubrey Smith) where a chance encounter changes the course of not just her own destiny, but that of her country too. If you know a bit about the history, then you will have an inkling as to what happens - an epitome of politicking, romance and tragedy, and Garbo plays the part boldly and engagingly. It helps that the script gives her the latitude to play the role of a strong and forceful woman in what is undoubtedly a man's world. There's a strong chemistry between Both Garbo and Gilbert and also between her and her stalwart Aubrey Smith, with the latter introducing a little humour to the snow-bound proceedings. Much has been made of the supposed sexual ambiguity of both the character and the actor, and I suppose if that's the case you want to make it can be, but for me this is a classic biopic of a clever and shrewd women playing a game built for men - either on screen or behind it, and I really did enjoy it.


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