QUEEN CHRISTINA – Greta Garbo, John Gilbert
Queen Christina (1933)
Direction: Rouben Mamoulian
Screenplay: H. M. Harwood and S. N. Behrman
Cast: Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Young, C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, David Torrence
One of the most ambitious productions of the early 1930s, Queen Christina remains surprisingly modern in its execution thanks in large part to Rouben Mamoulian’s assured hand. Those looking for historical accuracy in the film, however, will be greatly disappointed, for credited screenwriters H. M. Harwood and S. N. Behrman kept themselves busy concocting a highly fictionalized version of the Swedish queen; one who experiences an all-consuming and ultimately tragic love affair with a Spanish envoy. (Garbo biographer Mark Vieira explains [see below] that credited screenwriter — and close Garbo friend — Salka Viertel did not in any way help in the writing of the Queen Christina screenplay.)
The unusual Swedish monarch is played with passionate determination by the equally unusual Swedish star Greta Garbo, who delivers one of the seminal performances not only of her career but of Hollywood history as well. Silent-screen superstar John Gilbert, by 1933 an alcoholic has-been, plays the role of the doomed envoy — and, though not actually bad, he is the weak link in this otherwise flawless romantic masterpiece.
Missing from Gilbert’s dashing, passionate envoy are both dashingness and passion, qualities the actor had displayed a-plenty during his glory days in the 1920s. Out of loyalty to her old friend and former lover, Garbo had demanded that MGM hire Gilbert for the part (the studio had wanted relative newcomer Laurence Olivier). Yet, although Queen Christina would turn out to be a personal triumph for Garbo, Gilbert’s career continued its downhill slide. (Gilbert would die of heart failure at the age of 38 in January of 1936.)
But as the title implies, Queen Christina is a Garbo vehicle. And though at times a mannered performer (see Anna Christie, Romance, Grand Hotel), Garbo is perfect in this particular role. In fact, never before had the elusive actress exuded as much mystery as in her portrayal of the androgynous queen. Perhaps it was that all-encompassing — and at the same time unsettling — mix of male and female, yin and yang, in one single character that allowed the actress to manifest a transcendental form of romantic passion the likes of which have rarely been seen on screen. Or, dare I say, in life.
Pictured above (top photo) is the film’s final scene. Her lover dead, Queen Christina looks straight ahead, but sees only nothingness as William H. Daniels‘ camera slowly approaches her face to capture what may well be the most awe-inspiring closeup ever recorded on film.
MY KID COULD PAINT THAT – Part II
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Tags: C. Aubrey Smith, Classic Movies, Crossdressing, David Torrence, Elizabeth Young, Film Reviews, Five-Star Movies, Gay Interest, Greta Garbo, H. M. Harwood, Historical Movies, Ian Keith, John Gilbert, Laurence Olivier, Lewis Stone, Mark Vieira, Queen Christina, Reginald Owen, Romantic Movies, Rouben Mamoulian, S. N. Behrman, Salka Viertel
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4 Responses to “QUEEN CHRISTINA – Greta Garbo, John Gilbert”
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The Great Garbo is my favorite actress. Such beauty.
DearAndre:
I hate to burst your bubble, but Salka Viertel did not write one word of Queen Christina or of any film for which she received credit. Her credits were a payoff for acting a a liaison to Garbo. I have documented this sad fact in my book Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy.
Bye,
Mark
You didn’t burst my bubble, Mark!
You’d have burst my bubble had you said that the closeup at the end wasn’t Garbo’s, but of some Garbo impersonator or other.
Now, thanks for letting me know. I have your book here, though I must admit I haven’t read it, yet.
So, that’s gonna be my next one.
By the way, looking forward to your upcoming Irving Thalberg bio.
The whole thing sounds very unethical. I’m assuming that sort of thing continues to this day despite the WGA. Perhaps if the payoff is high enough the real writers keep their mouths shut.