Queen Christina Overview:

Queen Christina (1933) was a Biographical - Drama Film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and produced by Walter Wanger.

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Pre-Code Crazy: Queen Christina (1933)

By shadowsandsatin on Jul 7, 2016 From Shadows and Satin

Catch the luminous Garbo on TCM July 21st. Thanks to a glut of Westerns on TCM this month, there?s not a whole lot of pre-Codin? going on right now. Still, out of the handful of pre-Code films airing in July, I did manage to find one for my pre-Code pick: Queen Christina (1933). Starring Greta Garbo... Read full article


QUEEN CHRISTINA ( 1933 )

By Crystal Kalyana on Sep 5, 2015 From In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood

“I’m tired of being a symbol, Chancellor, I long to be a human being! This longing I cannot suppress.”. Greta Garbo as Queen Christina states victoriously to Chancellor. Just the title itself is regal, but when you combine it with the mystique charm and sexual allure of Greta Garb... Read full article


TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL DAY 1: Meet TCM, So You Think You Know Movies?, QUEEN CHRISTINA, My Man Godfrey

By Lara on Mar 27, 2015 From Backlots

Exhausted but beyond excited, I arrived in Los Angeles?last night for the kickoff of the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival, taking place in Hollywood this weekend for its sixth year. The theme this year is “History According to the Movies,” which leaves plenty of room for interpretationR... Read full article


Queen Christina, Happy Anniversary! Premiered December 26th, 1933 in New York City. (4)

By C. S. Williams on Dec 26, 2013 From Classic Film Aficionados

... Read full article


Queen Christina, Happy Anniversary! Premiered December 26th, 1933 in New York City. (3)

By C. S. Williams on Dec 26, 2013 From Classic Film Aficionados

Originally posted on Classic Film Aficionados: View original... Read full article


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Quotes from

Antonio: It's all a question of climate. You cannot serenade a woman in a snowstorm. All the graces in the art of love - elaborate approches that will make the game amusing - can only be practiced in those countries that quiver in the heat of the sun.


Antonio: Of course. It has to be. I felt it. I felt it! The presence. Oh, life is so gloriously improbable.


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Facts about

For the famous closing shot of Greta Garbo at the prow of the ship, director Rouben Mamoulian had wanted the camera to begin with a long shot, and then, in one unbroken take, gradually dolly in on a two-thirds close-up of Garbo's face, holding on her at the end of the shot. Unfortunately, with the camera's 48mm lens that close to the human face, pores tend to resemble craters on the surface of the moon. Borrowing on aspects of the magic lantern, Mamoulian devised a large, ruler-shaped, glass filter strip that was clear at one end, becoming increasingly more diffused along its length. With this glass filter mounted in front of the lens, as the camera moved in on Garbo, the glass strip was gradually drawn through the filter holder, beginning with the clear end, and ending with the diffused end (close-up), softening Garbo's facial features with more flattering results
Queen Christina and The Painted Veil, which were both huge hits in Europe (making twice their budget in the UK alone), were underwhelming US successes.
Greta Garbo initially requested that Laurence Olivier play the lead, Don Antonio, since she was impressed by his performance in Westward Passage. In July 1933, the press announced that Olivier would take the part. However, when they did the rehearsals in August, Garbo and Olivier had no chemistry, and he was released, although MGM Studios honored his negotiated salary of $1,500 a week for four weeks minimum. Garbo requested that John Gilbert be cast in the role instead.
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Also directed by Rouben Mamoulian




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Also produced by Walter Wanger




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Also released in 1933




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