Review of Queen Christina (1934) by Andrew S — 07 May 2009

When her father is killed in battle, the five year old Christina assumes the throne of Sweden. Twentysomething years later, Queen Christina is being pressured into a marriage with her cousin for the good of the state.

Seeking some time away from the court, and disguised as a man, she runs into an emissary from Spain who is en route to see the queen. The two quickly become lovers, but must deal with the political ramifications of their union.

This should all be a bunch of Hollywood hokum -- and it is -- but the sure-handed direction from Rouben Mamoulian and the luminous performance from Greta Garbo (in the title role) turn the film into something quite memorable.

The final shot, in particular, is one of the most extraordinary in cinema history: a shot for the ages that guaranteed Garbo's immortality.