Queen Christina

Queen Christina was Garbo's brilliant comeback after a long contract dispute. It's the perfect film. A lovely tale of the legendary Queen Christina of Sweden, Garbo plays her role with intelligence and poise. Her performance as the androgynous Queen is a sterling accomplishment. But when the romantic angle develops between Garbo and John Gilbert, that's when the story really becomes tasty. Playing out as a comedy and comment about gender roles, the chemistry between Garbo and Gilbert is extraordinary. And the scene where Garbo marks each place in the bedroom where she spent her first night with Gilbert, is breathtakingly beautiful. Garbo commits the entire room as a lifetime memory. Garbo proves again and again in this wonderful scene that her face will live a thousand generations. Queen Christina was one of the last films to emerge from pre-code era Hollywood. We are fortunate that this brilliant movie survived intact. And the ending, Garbo standing at the bow of her ship, like Christina, voyaging in an uncertain world, is stunning. The camera slowly moves in close up of Garbo's amazing face. Beauty and brilliance all at once -- it's a thrilling moment.

I loved this film, the only talking picture of the great Gilbert/Garbo team. (You note I put his name first, because it appears like that in their three silent films!)
Contrary to the first review in this section, which states that Mr. Gilbert is almost "laughable" (?) in his role, I think his performance is excellent, like Ms. Garbo's, certainly better than Ian Keith's. You can actually see on screen the great love that once existed between the two during all their classic, great silent films, and the chemistry is still there. Makes one wish she had accepted one of his several (real) marriage proposals!
I am sick and tired of seeing Mr. Gilbert being maligned; he was one of the silent screen's best actors; his teaming with Ms. Garbo is timeless; and due to the machinations of a "person" named Louis B. Mayer, his career was deliberately ruined for several reasons, e.g. personal animosity between the two men (which twice led to blows), highest salaried contract, relationship w/Ms. Garbo, etc. Once and for all, let us finally put an end to the "voice" myth and realize the truth!
In summary, Ms. Garbo is perfect and she is here reunited with her perfect leading man. Just as in the three silent films they made together, this one is a classic which will be remembered forever. Never again did she have a co-star so "perfect" with her.
P.S. To the person who wrote "laughable": Ever hear about "The Big Parade" - maybe you should take a look at it to see how excellent an actor Mr. Gilbert was, and definitely view all of the Gilbert/Garbo silents. You'll learn a lot.

This is a vastly entertaining film about the enigmatic, cross dressing, 17th Century Queen of Sweden, who abdicated her throne for love of a Spaniard, the Spanish Envoy to the Swedish Court, Don Antonio De La Prada. The film follows their romance from their first chance meeting through their full blown love affair to its final tragic conclusion. Real life is often stranger than fiction.

Greta Garbo, a native of Sweden, is positively glorious as this most unusual of Queens, giving a performance that is intelligent, complex, and passionate, with a touch of whimsy interjected. John Gilbert, Garbo's real life, handsome ex-lover, is excellent in the part of Don Antonio, a man conflicted by his mission on behalf of his king and his passion for Christina.

Queen Christina, too, is conflicted, as she does not wish to enter into a political marriage of convenience with Swedish war hero, Prince Charles Gustavus (Reginald Owen). This is the marriage that the people of Sweden seem to want and one that is being fostered by both her Chancellor, Axel Oxenstierna (Lewis Stone), and her former lover, Count Magnus (Ian Keith). Nor does she wish to marry the Spanish King. Instead, she wishes to marry for love. So, she does the unthinkable. She abdicates for love, creating shock waves that reverberate throughout the courts of Europe, and arranges to leave her native Sweden with Don Antonio and head for Spain.

The best-laid plans, however, often go awry. Jealousy rears its ugly head, when Count Magnus realizes that his affair with Christina is over and that Don Antonio now has her affection. It is he who throws the final monkey wrench into their plans to live happily ever after. Who, having seen this film, can forget Garbo's last scene as Christina, the Queen who lost everything in the final analysis: her throne, her lover, and her future. Her last close-up in this film is unforgettable and one that will long linger in the memory of the viewer. Never was Garbo more luminous or soulful.

This is a movie classic that will be enjoyed and appreciated by those who love vintage films, as well as historical dramas.