"Give me a whisky, ginger ale on the side, and don't be stingy, baby." - Greta Garbo (as Anna Christie in 'Anna Christie') 'Anna Christie' is a 1930 drama directed by Clarence Brown and starring Greta Garbo, Charles Bickford, Marie Dressler and George F. Marion. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway play by Eugene O'Neill, the film is notable for being Greta Garbo's first sound film, with Garbo's first talking lines 16 mins into the film. Anna Christie (played by Garbo) returns home and is reunited with her sailor father Chris (played by O'Neill) who she has not seen in many years. Anna rescues and falls in love with another sailor, Matt Burke (played by Bickford), but neglects to tell him about her past career as a prostitute. Watch Greta Garbo talk on film for the first time:
Pre-code
'Anna Christie' is considered to be a "pre-code film", meaning it was released prior to the introduction of the strict Hollywood production code in 1934. It would have been difficult for 'Anna Christie' to have been filmed after the introduction of the code, due to the subplot of Anna being a prostitute.
Father-daughter relationship
In the film, we find out Chris was forced to give up Anna as a result of his being a sailor. Although Anna and Chris' relationship improves throughout the film, Anna has some hostility and resentment towards her father.
Did you know...
MGM also released a silent version of this film with subtitles
Greta Garbo filmed a German version of 'Anna Christie' immediately after filming was completed on this film - the German version was directed by Jacques Feyder and features a different supporting cast
George F. Marion (as Chris) and James T. Mack (as Johnny) originated their roles in the original Broadway production in 1921
George F. Marion previously starred as Chris in the silent film version of 'Anna Christie'
Award nominations
Academy Award nomination for Best Actress (Greta Garbo)
Academy Award nomination for Best Director (Clarence Brown)
Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography (William H. Daniels)
Closing remarks
Despite it's historical significance of being Greta Garbo's first talking film, it is a rather dull and boring film to watch. Garbo's acting is awful and George G. Marion's broken English is annoying. The good news is Marie Dressler, fantastic as always as drunk Marthy. Overall, I found the German version to be far superior.
'Queen Christina' is a 1933 pre-code costume drama directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and starring the divine Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. It was the fourth and last time Garbo and Gilbert starred together in a film. In my opinion it is Greta Garbo's best film and best performance.
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina resting her head against a pillow
Christina of Sweden (played by Garbo) becomes Queen as at the age of 6 following the death of her father King Gustavus Adolphus in battle. As a young woman, Christina's court and council wish her to marry her hero-cousin Karl Gustav (played by Owen) and produce an heir to the throne.
Fed up with being told what to do, she sneaks out of the palace disguised as a man, where she meets Antonio, a stranded Spaniard. After revealing herself to be a woman, the two spend the night together and fall in love, without Antonio knowing she is the Queen. Christina eventually relinquishes her throne to marry Antonio, however their love is cut short after he is killed in battle
Greta Garbo in the film's final scene - Possibly the most iconic image of Garbo
Two iconic scenes
'Queen Christina' features two iconic scenes:
The first is where Christina is shown walking around the room, following her night with Antonio - Christina touches various artefacts in the room to imprint the space on her memory
The second is the closing frame, showing Christina standing as a silent figurehead at the bow of the ship headed towards Spain - the camera zooms in for a close up as the wind blows through her hair
Watch the final image in the film here:
Queen Christina
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina
Queen Christina of Sweden is one of the two great Queens of the middle ages, the other being Queen Elizabeth I.
What I like most about Queen Christina is a woman of integrity and has the guts and confidence to stand up against her court and do what is right. For example, understanding the loss of life and negative impacts of war, she ends the thirty year war, and demands peace:
"Spoils, glory, flags and trumpets! What is behind these high-sounding words? Death and destruction, triumphals of crippled men, Sweden victorious in a ravaged Europe, an island in a dead sea. I tell you, I want no more if it. I want for my people security and happiness. I want to cultivate the arts of peace, the arts of life. I want peace and peace I will have!"
Precode elements
'Queen Christina' is considered to be what is called a Pre-Code film - films made before 1934 which were not subject to strict censorship of the Hollywood Production Code. We are forunate the film was made in 1933, as had it been a year later, the end result would have been quite different.
Some of the notable events in the film which would not have been permitted in 1934 include:
Queen Christina's bisexuality - the scene where Garbo passionately kisses Countess Ebba Sparre is one of the earliest lesbian kisses in Hollywood history
Queen Christina cross-dressing disguised as a man
Queen Christina's line "I should die a bachelor!", as this presents the Queen identifying herself as a man
Queen Christina and Antonio sleeping in the same bed
Queen Christina bragging about having 12 lovers in the past month
Did you know...
Laurence Olivier was originally intended to play Antonio, however Greta Garbo insisted the role be given to her former frequent co-star and lover John Gilbert, whose career was declining - the film failed to revive his career and Gilbert died a few years later
Closing remarks
Whenever I think of royalty on film, Queen Christina is always the first thing which comes to mind. I really like this film a lot, and have seen it a number of times. We are treated to Garbo's haunting performance as the 17th century Queen, as well as some of the most controversial images in 1930s Hollywood.
'Freaks' is a 1932 pre-code horror film directed and produced by Tod Browning. It is loosely based on Tod Robbins' 1923 short story 'Spurs', about a midget who falls in love with a full grown woman.
'Freaks' is a very unusual and unique cinema experience. Rather than using costume, make up and other special effects, Browning cast real people with deformities to play the "circus freaks.
Stirring controversy on its initial release, it sadly destroyed the brilliant directing career of Browning overnight. Fortunately in recent years the film has received the praise and acclaim it deserves.
Watch a trailer for this film:
The Siamese twins
'Freaks' is the love story of two dwarfed circus performers, Hans (played by Harry Earles) and Frieda (played by Daisy Earles)... well almost. Frida is in love with Hans, but Hans is in love with the "normal" Cleopatra (played by Olga Baclanova). Cleopatra is not genuinely in Hans, however conspires with her lover Hercules to marry and murder Hans in order to collect his inheritance.
In ancient times, deformity was considered to be evil, with families bearing deformed children believing they were cursed. This belief is a result of conditioning of their ancestors. Browning challenges this belief and presents a new paradigm. In this film it is the deformd "Freaks" who are the heroes of the film, with two "normal" members of the circus, who are the villains. Browning has also empowered Hans to be more intelligent than he looks. This is evident in the scene where Hans spits out the "medicine" (really poison) Cleopatra gives him.
Controversy
Hans & Frida
The release of 'Freaks' was a very controversial event which shocked and horrified movie goers. One woman even threatened to sue MGM, claiming the film had caused her a miscarriage. Due to the overwhelmingly negative reaction, the film was edited down from 90 minutes to 64 minutes. The film was even banned in the UK for 30 years. Despite this controversy, in 1994, 'Freaks' was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It is also considered to be a cult classic, with regular midnight movie screenings since the 1970s.
Did you know...
Myrna Loy was initially intended to star as Cleopatra, with Jean Harlow as Venus, however MGM decided to not cast any of their major stars in this controversial film
Closing remarks
The human torso lights his cigarette using his mouth
Despite it being a truly bizarre and confronting experience, I like this film a lot, and have seen it several times. Without giving too much away, I really like the way in which the deformed "freaks" use their disadvantages to their advantages by hiding in narrow nooks and crannies to protect a beloved friend and save the day. Another highlight for me is seeing the Human Torso (played by Prince Randian) light a match and cigarrette using only his mouth. A truly inspirational moment!
'Queen Christina' is a 1933 pre-code costume drama directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and starring the divine Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. It was the fourth and last time Garbo and Gilbert starred together in a film. In my opinion it is Greta Garbo's best film and best performance.
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina resting her head against a pillow
Christina of Sweden (played by Garbo) becomes Queen as at the age of 6 following the death of her father King Gustavus Adolphus in battle. As a young woman, Christina's court and council wish her to marry her hero-cousin Karl Gustav (played by Owen) and produce an heir to the throne.
Fed up with being told what to do, she sneaks out of the palace disguised as a man, where she meets Antonio, a stranded Spaniard. After revealing herself to be a woman, the two spend the night together and fall in love, without Antonio knowing she is the Queen. Christina eventually relinquishes her throne to marry Antonio, however their love is cut short after he is killed in battle
Greta Garbo in the film's final scene - Possibly the most iconic image of Garbo
Two iconic scenes
'Queen Christina' features two iconic scenes:
The first is where Christina is shown walking around the room, following her night with Antonio - Christina touches various artefacts in the room to imprint the space on her memory
The second is the closing frame, showing Christina standing as a silent figurehead at the bow of the ship headed towards Spain - the camera zooms in for a close up as the wind blows through her hair
Queen Christina
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina
Queen Christina of Sweden is one of the two great Queens of the middle ages, the other being Queen Elizabeth I.
What I like most about Queen Christina is a woman of integrity and has the guts and confidence to stand up against her court and do what is right. For example, understanding the loss of life and negative impacts of war, she ends the thirty year war, and demands peace:
"Spoils, glory, flags and trumpets! What is behind these high-sounding words? Death and destruction, triumphals of crippled men, Sweden victorious in a ravaged Europe, an island in a dead sea. I tell you, I want no more if it. I want for my people security and happiness. I want to cultivate the arts of peace, the arts of life. I want peace and peace I will have!"
Precode elements
'Queen Christina' is considered to be what is called a Pre-Code film - films made before 1934 which were not subject to strict censorship of the Hollywood Production Code. We are forunate the film was made in 1933, as had it been a year later, the end result would have been quite different.
Some of the notable events in the film which would not have been permitted in 1934 include:
Queen Christina's bisexuality - the scene where Garbo passionately kisses Countess Ebba Sparre is one of the earliest lesbian kisses in Hollywood history
Queen Christina cross-dressing disguised as a man
Queen Christina's line "I should die a bachelor!", as this presents the Queen identifying herself as a man
Queen Christina and Antonio sleeping in the same bed
Queen Christina bragging about having 12 lovers in the past month
Watch one of Hollywood's first ever lesbian kisses:
Did you know...
Laurence Olivier was originally intended to play Antonio, however Greta Garbo insisted the role be given to her former frequent co-star and lover John Gilbert, whose career was declining - the film failed to revive his career and Gilbert died a few years later
Closing remarks
Whenever I think of royalty on film, Queen Christina is always the first thing which comes to mind. I really like this film a lot, and have seen it a number of times. We are treated to Garbo's haunting performance as the 17th century Queen, as well as some of the most controversial images in 1930s Hollywood.
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Queen Christina (1933)
Spotlight on... Royalty on Film
'Queen Christina' is a 1933 pre-code costume drama directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and starring the divine Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. It was the fourth and last time Garbo and Gilbert starred together in a film. In my opinion it is Greta Garbo's best film and best performance.
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina resting her head against a pillow
Christina of Sweden (played by Garbo) becomes Queen as at the age of 6 following the death of her father King Gustavus Adolphus in battle. As a young woman, Christina's court and council wish her to marry her hero-cousin Karl Gustav (played by Owen) and produce an heir to the throne.
Fed up with being told what to do, she sneaks out of the palace disguised as a man, where she meets Antonio, a stranded Spaniard. After revealing herself to be a woman, the two spend the night together and fall in love, without Antonio knowing she is the Queen. Christina eventually relinquishes her throne to marry Antonio, however their love is cut short after he is killed in battle
Greta Garbo in the film's final scene - Possibly the most iconic image of Garbo
Two iconic scenes
'Queen Christina' features two iconic scenes:
The first is where Christina is shown walking around the room, following her night with Antonio - Christina touches various artefacts in the room to imprint the space on her memory
The second is the closing frame, showing Christina standing as a silent figurehead at the bow of the ship headed towards Spain - the camera zooms in for a close up as the wind blows through her hair
Watch the final image in the film here:
Queen Christina
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina
Queen Christina of Sweden is one of the two great Queens of the middle ages, the other being Queen Elizabeth I.
What I like most about Queen Christina is a woman of integrity and has the guts and confidence to stand up against her court and do what is right. For example, understanding the loss of life and negative impacts of war, she ends the thirty year war, and demands peace:
"Spoils, glory, flags and trumpets! What is behind these high-sounding words? Death and destruction, triumphals of crippled men, Sweden victorious in a ravaged Europe, an island in a dead sea. I tell you, I want no more if it. I want for my people security and happiness. I want to cultivate the arts of peace, the arts of life. I want peace and peace I will have!"
Precode elements
'Queen Christina' is considered to be what is called a Pre-Code film - films made before 1934 which were not subject to strict censorship of the Hollywood Production Code. We are forunate the film was made in 1933, as had it been a year later, the end result would have been quite different.
Some of the notable events in the film which would not have been permitted in 1934 include:
Queen Christina's bisexuality - the scene where Garbo passionately kisses Countess Ebba Sparre is one of the earliest lesbian kisses in Hollywood history
Queen Christina cross-dressing disguised as a man
Queen Christina's line "I should die a bachelor!", as this presents the Queen identifying herself as a man
Queen Christina and Antonio sleeping in the same bed
Queen Christina bragging about having 12 lovers in the past month
Did you know...
Laurence Olivier was originally intended to play Antonio, however Greta Garbo insisted the role be given to her former frequent co-star and lover John Gilbert, whose career was declining - the film failed to revive his career and Gilbert died a few years later
Closing remarks
Whenever I think of royalty on film, Queen Christina is always the first thing which comes to mind. I really like this film a lot, and have seen it a number of times. We are treated to Garbo's haunting performance as the 17th century Queen, as well as some of the most controversial images in 1930s Hollywood.
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