I wonder how much of Queen Christina would have made it past the censors had it been released one year later under the watchful eye of the Hays Code. There are some pretty steamy bedroom scenes between Greta Garbo and John Gilbert that communicate a great deal, even by today's standards. Greta, the queen of Sweden, often traverses the countryside dressed as a man, since she was raised as a boy by her father. She hunts, wears pants, wears her hair short, has a male valet-played by the sweet C. Aubrey Smith-and refuses to marry. "I'm going to die a bachelor!" she proclaims, correcting her aide who asked if she wanted to become an old maid. When she spends the night at an inn, she's assumed to be a man, and John Gilbert is asked to bunk up with her because all the other rooms are full. As they undress to get ready for bed, Greta's gender is revealed. They spend the night together, and in the morning, the innkeeper enters the room and observes the curtains drawn on the four-poster bed. John Gilbert calls out that neither of them will be coming downstairs for breakfast but instead want it served up in their room. The innkeeper looks uncomfortable but obeys and leaves them alone.
For those of you who don't know about the Hays Code, that scene was a really big deal. Men and women would never be shown to have spent the night together in that way, with their voices emanating from behind the curtains of a bed. Twin beds were preferable, and at least one person's feet had to be seen touching the floor, if one of them was lying down. Queen Christina was a very dirty movie for 1933. Following their breakfast in bed, John lounges by the fireplace and Greta returns to bed, hugging her pillow and very obviously reminiscing about their night together. She's transformed, and for the rest of the movie, she wears gowns and acts as feminine as she can.
While most of you probably want to hop right out and rent this movie for your next date night, a word of caution: the rest of the movie is incredibly boring. Greta Garbo's famous "face that launched a thousand ships" scene is in this movie, but when she's carrying out her royal duties and conversing with her advisors, Lewis Stone, Reginald Owen, and Ian Keith, you'll struggle to stay awake. Her acting chops are not shown off in this movie, as she vacillates from overdramatic antics leftover from her silent movies to stern, boring, royal monologues. Unless you really, really love her, you'll probably be bored to tears.
For those of you who don't know about the Hays Code, that scene was a really big deal. Men and women would never be shown to have spent the night together in that way, with their voices emanating from behind the curtains of a bed. Twin beds were preferable, and at least one person's feet had to be seen touching the floor, if one of them was lying down. Queen Christina was a very dirty movie for 1933. Following their breakfast in bed, John lounges by the fireplace and Greta returns to bed, hugging her pillow and very obviously reminiscing about their night together. She's transformed, and for the rest of the movie, she wears gowns and acts as feminine as she can.
While most of you probably want to hop right out and rent this movie for your next date night, a word of caution: the rest of the movie is incredibly boring. Greta Garbo's famous "face that launched a thousand ships" scene is in this movie, but when she's carrying out her royal duties and conversing with her advisors, Lewis Stone, Reginald Owen, and Ian Keith, you'll struggle to stay awake. Her acting chops are not shown off in this movie, as she vacillates from overdramatic antics leftover from her silent movies to stern, boring, royal monologues. Unless you really, really love her, you'll probably be bored to tears.