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Queen Christina (1933)


The scene that stands out to me most is when Queen Christina (Greta Garbo) is dressed as a man and has secured the last room in the Inn. Antonio (John Gilbert), the Spanish ambassador, needs a room too. He's willing to share it with the "young man" he assumes Queen Christina to be. She tries to give him the room, but in the end, they do end up sharing it, and once she removes her hat and coat, he discovers she's all woman. It's funny how Garbo has eyelashes and make-up, breasts, and yet, she was able to fool everyone into thinking she was just a young man who couldn't yet grow a mustache...

The canapé bed has curtains, and so we assume that she and Antonio spend three full days in bed together during the snowstorm. That's pretty racy, but the curtains always remain closed. Even when the innkeeper comes in to offer them both chocolate, Antonio's is the only voice we hear invisibly respond. So we let ourselves logically imagine that both are in bed together, but we never actually see it. When we do next see them both together, they're lying in front of the fireplace, and she's eating his Spanish grapes with relish. 

It's funny how many reviewers want to make this movie into some notable LGBTQ landmark film. I mean, yes, I get it. The real Queen's sexuality is debated, but historians don't agree on what she "was." In the film itself, she does kiss Ebba (Elizabeth Young), a lady of the Court,  and the Queen does talk about going away with her for the weekend... so there's a romantic suggestion there, but she's also a Queen, and this just may be her closest friend. In any event, her only stated love interest in the movie is Antonio, and I'm fine with that. I don't need to make Garbo into a queer icon. I'm happy with her just being a film icon. 

Unfortunately, while the movie starts strong, I feel my interest drifting as the story moves along. Eventually, she abdicates and plans a life with Antonio in Spain. And when Antonio doesn't make it, she continues the journey without him. That last scene with her at the front of the ship, staring off into the distance... pretty powerful. But there's a lot of slow middle part between the Inn scene and the end scene.

Rating: 3.5/5 

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