Queen Christine (film)

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Movie
German title Queen Christine
Original title Queen Christina
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1933
length 97 minutes
Rod
Director Rouben Mamoulian
script SN Behrman ,
Salka district ,
Ben Hecht
production Walter Wanger for MGM
music Herbert Stothart
camera William H. Daniels
cut Blanche Sewell
occupation

Queen Christine (OT: Queen Christina ) is an American film about Queen Christine of Sweden . The main role in the fictional biography is played by Greta Garbo , directed by Rouben Mamoulian . The film was the last of four joint films by Greta Garbo with John Gilbert . It was brought into rental on December 26, 1933.

action

After Gustav Adolf's death in the Battle of Lützen , his little daughter Christine becomes his successor and Queen of Sweden. The affairs of state are conducted by Chancellor Oxenstierna , who tries early to find a suitable husband for the regent. The ideal partner would be her cousin Karl , who could make inheritance claims on the throne himself. The queen, who lives her life as a blue stocking in men's clothing, has an enthusiastic affection for her lady-in-waiting Ebba, with whom she spends a lot of time in confidential conversations. One day the queen, disguised as a page, meets the new ambassador of Spain, who feels an immediate affection for the attractive young man . Finally, the two spend a night of love without revealing their true identity to each other. A few days later, at the court in Stockholm , the lovers meet again. As a Protestant ruler, Christine has no way of marrying a man of Catholic faith. After much torment of conscience, the queen is ready to renounce her throne. Deeply moved, she returns the royal regalia and entrusts her cousin Karl Gustav with government affairs so that he can accompany the ambassador to Spain. Intrigues, however, lead to Don Antonio being killed in a duel before Magnus' departure. Christine travels to an uncertain future.

background

At the end of 1932, Greta Garbo's contract, which had been amended several times since 1925, finally expired. The actress, who was never very happy in Hollywood, had been talking about retiring to Sweden for some time and the entire industry was speculating as to whether she would actually make use of her I will go home threat . At the same time, the star was at the peak of its popularity. Garbo was voted fifth of the top 10 box office stars in the United States in 1932, and her films made several times the US results worldwide. In this respect, the studio left no stone unturned to keep its prestigious star under contract. Finally, it was agreed to give Garbo the right to have his own production company, Canyon Productions, and to give her a minimum fee of 250,000 US dollars per film as well as a say in all the essentials such as director, co-stars and script. Garbo was entitled to compensation of US $ 10,000 for each day that the respective production exceeded the contractually agreed shooting time. After a good twelve months that the star spent in Sweden, planning for her come back began . Choosing the script was difficult. Projects about the hetaires of Thaïs were discussed, a romantic melodrama against a Swiss backdrop ( The Sun of Sankt Moritz ) and a film adaptation of the life of the Maid of Orleans . Under the influence of her mentor Salka Viertel , all parties finally agreed on the life of Queen Christine of Sweden.

After Ernst Lubitsch , who had already filmed several historical films in Germany and America, was initially discussed as a director, Rouben Mamoulian was finally engaged. Aware of the unorthodox way of life of the ruler of Sweden, who was not completely averse to relationships with her own sex, one problem with the script was to reproduce certain aspects of the queen's character without becoming vulgar or tactless. Irving Thalberg was impressed by the sensitive treatment of a comparable topic in the German film Girls in Uniform , so he agreed to a correspondingly subtle representation of female affection in the prestigious production, which was Garbo's comeback after more than a year and a half of abstinence from the screen. At the beginning of the film, Greta Garbo kisses her maid directly on the mouth, with whom she seems to be in more or less intimate relationships. The entire presentation is free, but reserved and sensitive. Later, a lover in the form of the Spanish ambassador, with whom she has an unhappy relationship, is unconvincingly imputed to her. After his death, the queen is shaken and abdicates. It had little to do with the actual events, but at no point did the film claim.

John Gilbert played the ambassador after the Garbo had rejected Laurence Olivier originally intended for the part . Two scenes from the film are very well known: first the scene in which Garbo slowly moves through a room as if to the beat of a metronome and tenderly touches all objects that remind her of the previous night with her lover. However, the film's final shot is particularly famous, in which only the completely calm and empty face of the actress occupies the screen.

Theatrical release

The production costs were 1,144,000 US dollars, making the film a prestige production. People in the hotel compared it cost $ 700,000. Queen Christine proved unpopular in the United States despite MGM's publicity battle and the return of Greta Garbo to the big screen. Income was only $ 767,000, which was well below the actress's previous results. Abroad, however, the film achieved a far more positive result at 1,843,000 US dollars. Total box office income of $ 2,610,000 resulted in a profit of $ 632,000. Queen Christine was one of the most successful productions of the actress. Given the Great Depression , which peaked in 1933, the film played a key role in MGM's profitability that year as well. At the same time, there was a growing trend that Greta Garbo's films became increasingly dependent on foreign income.

criticism

The contemporary reviews have been benevolent with express praise for the leading lady.

In the New York Times , Mordaunt Hall wrote on December 27, 1933:

"The current offering, known as" Queen Christine ", is an intelligent mix of story and fiction, in which the Nordic star, as beautiful as ever, delivers a portrayal that deserves nothing but the utmost respect. She appears every inch as queen. As Queen Christine she is powerful, while she portrays the private person Christine charmingly. "

The lexicon of international film is located at a distance of decades :

“The story of Queen Christine of Sweden, which is not always based on historical facts. Sentimental and full of pathos, thanks to Greta Garbo's art of representation, however, still captivating. "

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The current offering, known as "Queen Christina," is a skillful blend of history and fiction in which the Nordic star, looking as alluring as ever, gives a performance which merits nothing but the highest price. She appears every inch a queen. [...]. She is forceful as Her Majesty and charming as Christina the woman.
  2. ↑ Mordaunt Hall : Greta Garbo Appears as Queen Christina of Sweden in Her First Film in More Than Eighteen Months . In: The New York Times . December 27, 1933 (English, online [accessed February 18, 2017]).
  3. ↑ Queen Christine. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed February 18, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used