Pretty racy, even for the pre-code era. Greta’s Christine kisses the pretty Ebba full on the lips and later flies into a jealous rage when she learns of her plan to marrying a man. All is forgiven later when Christine herself later falls for a man while dressed as a boy. No one in the tavern doubts that she is a young man, even for a minute, but it’s not very convincing to the viewer.
John Gilbert, Greta’s former fiancee, plays her Spanish lover. Laurence Olivier was originally cast but the notoriously difficult Garbo insisted they had no chemistry. Gilbert is a member of a club of big Hollywood stars that could not make the transition to talkies. His fall from grace appears is a little complicated but seems to include drink and a lack of friends among the studio executives. Solid in the role, Queen Christina should have revived his career but that didn’t happen. He appeared in only one more feature film and died from a heart attack three years later. He was only 38.
Everyone’s favorite elderly Englishman C. Aubrey Smith is Christina’s faithful man at arms. Her cousin and potential suitor was played by Reginald Owen, who would later play my third or fourth favorite Scrooge.
Whether it be women’s empowerment or lesbian subtext, Queen Christina is a fascinating watch. It is an engaging, progressive, and surprising story. Based on real events, but let’s not pester historians with any questions. AMRU 3.5.
“Of course. It has to be. I felt it. I felt it! The presence. Oh, life is so gloriously improbable.”
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