I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I saw Queen Christina for the first time this week on a public television channel that runs old movies. What a treat! I agree with all the earlier reviews of Garbo - she is at the top of her form in this film, and she is believable in the role. I do have a bit of a problem believing such a down-to-earth woman, raised to rule in a culture that valued simplicity and the values of the masses that supported the royal family, could become infatuated and then fall in love with the overly elegant and foppish Spanish ambassador as depicted by Gilbert. He just isn't her type. One bit of production goof - has no one else noted that in the scene when Christina is riding in the forest and comes across the ambassador's coach stuck in the mire, she is riding an Appaloosa horse? The breed did not yet exist - it was developed by Native Americans of the Pacific northwest approximately 50 years after this film's setting.

Although this picture was one of the top ten at the U.S./Canadian box office for 1934, I think "Queen Christina" is somewhat over- rated. Garbo of course is magnificent. Superbly costumed and superbly set, like an ultra-polished jewel in a perfect surround. What is not so perfect is the script, which tends to be much given to verbose speeches. All this talk is wonderful when Garbo is doing the speaking, but somewhat less than entrancing when mouthed by such second-rate players as Lewis Stone, Ian Keith and John Gilbert, whose collective acting style in this movie can only be described as old-fashioned declamatory or even hammy. Stone, alas, is by far the worst offender. The way he pitches his voice so that it has an uncanny knack of hogging the mike, the way he beats up with much facial grimacing his repetitious and woefully predictable lines, the way he gestures with his hands, the patent insincerity and hallow shamming of his whole manner, betoken the true ham, the third-rate thespian who has nothing to offer but the most superficial vocal and histrionic "tricks". Gilbert is a lot better. He's obviously trying hard to please, but obviously receiving little help from his dialogue coach. Not only does his voice have that celebrated odd timbre which seems to mis-match his image, but he tends to deliver his lines in a stiff, unnatural manner. Oh yes, there are times, I know, when he's quite effective. But these, alas, are in the minority. He's also hampered by being unflatteringly photographed — Daniels reserves all his best efforts for Garbo, really pouring on the light in her close-ups — and none too attractively costumed. Oddly enough, it's young Elizabeth Young and old Sir C. Aubrey Smith (who appears at first sight to be miscast) who alone bring a bit of credit to the support cast (though we will give Reginald Owen the benefit of the doubt by saying he is the victim of inept direction). Mamoulian is a great pictorial stylist, no doubt of that. Many of the images and visuals in Queen Christina linger long in the memory. The famous final fade-out close-up is not alone in nostalgic elegance and atmosphere. Many of the long shots — particularly those with Garbo framed like a child — are equally beautiful, equally haunting. The music score, sad to say, is awful. Worse still, executive producer Irving Thalberg's brother-in-law has contributed his usual remarkably tinny sound recording. Fortunately, this problem has been rectified to some extent on the current Warner Archive DVD.

Greta Garbo Fans Love this Movie and it is Routinely Mentioned as One of Her Best. It is a Mesmerizing Performance and She Dominates the Screen in All Her Scenes. The Film Looks Extraordinary and Ahead of its Time Thanks to the Director's Keen Eye and Playful Style. It is One of those Period Costume Films that Most Times Linger on the Sets and Wardrobe to Boring Distraction, but not here.The Film is Haunting and Enjoyable in the Best Movie Tradition Combining all the Elements into a Seamless Entertainment that has Staying Power and Charisma. Garbo is the Star and all the Trimmings are Laid Upon Her with an Ease of Production. Her Co-Star John Gilbert seems to be in Awe of the Actress as is the Audience.The Much Talked About Bedroom Scene and Christina's Memorizing is a Metaphor for the Euphoria and Only Secondarily an Exercise. When She Opines about God and how He must have Felt after Creation it is Obvious She has had what now would be Called a Transcendental Encounter and has Become One with the Inanimate.Thus is the Motivation for the Remainder of Her Actions and the Romanticism is Full Blooded from here on. The Queen/Garbo Androgyny is also Up Front and Adds to the Film's Charm. Overall One of the Best Movies of a Decade Full of Good Movies and if You are New to Garbo there is No Better Place to Start. A Movie that is Unforgettable.

Despite the fact that the whole gender-bender element within this movie is just utterly ridicules and just totally unbelievable, basically because Greta Garbo looks even more feminine as a man than most women you'll ever meet do, you still sort of tend to forgive this all and all of the movie its other minor issues and flaws. It basically is a very charming and extremely well made movie, especially considering it got made back in 1933. The movie feels more like a mid-'40's made movie.In its core this movie basically is a romantic movie, disguised as an historical drama, to provide the movie with some extra flair. This combination works out very well and the movie most certainly does not feel like just any other ordinary love-story orientated movie from the same time period. The romantic story itself within this movie is also really good and effective. It feels non-forced and very natural and therefor of course also feels and looks very realistic on screen.In my opinion the movie is too start really to consider this really as a biopic of Swedish Queen Christina. It's also too much focused on one issue for that; Queen Christina's love life.It's a very well made and good looking movie. The story is set in the 1600's, so the movie uses lots of grand looking sets and costumes. It perhaps makes the movie a bit stagy looking, also due to its performances and overall style of story-telling but once you're accustomed to it, you can step over it and enjoy the movie for what it is, thanks to its fine constructed story and performances by the actors.A superior romantic historical movie from the early '30's.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/