Queen Christina (1933) - Star of the month... Greta Garbo

'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

The supporting cast includes Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Young, C. Aubrey Smith and Reginald Owen. Look out for Akim Tamiroff who appears uncredited as Pedro.

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.

DuBarry was a Lady (1943) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

"...and if Lana Turner doesn't set your brain a whirl, then you don't love an Esquire girl..." - Red Skelton (as Louis Blore in 'DuBarry Was A Lady')

Lana Turner winks at the audience during her
brief walk on appearance as herself

DuBarry Was A Lady is a 1943 MGM musical starring Lucille Ball, Red Skelton and Gene Kelly. It is based on the 1939 Broadway musical.  Directed by Roy Del Ruth and produced by Arthur Freed, the supporting cast features Virginia O'Brien, Rags Ragland, Zero Mostel, Donald Meek and Tommy Dorsey with his Orchestra. If you look closely you will see a young Buddy Rich as the drummer in Dorsey's Orchestra, and a very quick walk on appearance by Lana Turner.

Lucille Ball as Madame DuBarry during Louis'
dream sequence

Louis Blore (played by Skelton) and Alec Howe (played by Kelly) are both in love with vaudeville performer May Daly. Louis' friend Charlie (played by Ragland) suggests Louis slips Alec a Mickey Finn. In a moment of confusion, Louis unintentionally drinks the Mickey Finn, and dreams he is King Louis XV of France, with May as Madame DuBarry and Alec as The Black Arrow.

Although based on the Broadway show, the film version has quite a few differences. Firstly, very few of Cole Porter's songs from the original show are included. Many of the character names were changed, and some new characters were added. The dream sequence was delayed a lot longer in the film, with the first half of the film becoming a sort of a vaudeville revue.

Musical highlights

Lucille Ball first died her hair red for this film

The film version uses very little of the original songs from the show - unfortunately one casualty was "Well, Did You Evah?", which was later used in the MGM film 'High Society' (1956).

Three musical highlights in this film include "DuBarry Was A Lady", "I Love An Esquire Girl" and the Cole Porter standard "Friendship".

Lucille Ball's singing voice was dubbed by Martha Mears for most of her songs, but her real voice can be heard in "Friendship".

Song: "Friendship" - Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Red Skelton and Virginia O'Brien

Song: "DuBarry Was A Lady" - Lucille Ball (dubbed by Martha Mears)

Did you know...

• Lucille Ball first dyed her natural brunette hair it's trademark red for this film

Closing remarks

Lucille Ball is one of her most glamourous roles is unfortunately not as great or funny as she usually is in this film. I don't think she was quite right for this role, as I find she doesn't have the command, assertiveness or the nastiness to play May or Madame DuBarry.

Overall the film is very slow and barely watchable. In my opinion this is one of MGMs weaker musicals... even with Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball and Red Skelton. 

Queen Christina (1933) - Spotlight on... Trailblazers

'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

The supporting cast includes Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Young, C. Aubrey Smith and Reginald Owen. Look out for Akim Tamiroff who appears uncredited as Pedro.

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.

Princess O'Rourke (1943)

Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

'Princess O'Rourke' is a 1943 romantic comedy starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings, Jane Wyman, Jack Carson, Charles Coburn, Gladys Cooper and Harry Davenport.

Written and directed by Norman Krasna, the film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Olivia De Havilland and Robert Cummings
enjoying a cherry cola in one of the
film's scenes

Princess Maria (played by De Havilland) and her uncle Holman (played by Coburn) travel to America during the nazi invasion of their native country. Maria is pushed into an arranged marriage with Count Peter de Candome (played by Curt Bois), whom she is not interested in.

On an aeroplane flight, Maria travels under the name Mary Williams, and with the help of the flight attendants and pilot, takes too many sleeping pills. When the plane is suddenly forced to return to New York, the cabin crew are unable to wake Maria due to the quantity of sleeping tablets she has taken. The plane's captain Eddie O'Rourke (played by Cummings), agrees to take care of Mary until she wakes  up. To cut a long story short, the two fall in love,  unbeknownst to Eddie that Mary is really a Princess.

A different kind of 'Cinderella' story

A question which always baffled me as a child was why are Cinderella stories always about peasant girls meeting and marrying a Prince. Are woman really that helpless and need of rescuing? Why are there never any stories about young peasant men marrying their Princess. 

Anyone else sharing these thoughts can rejoice as Princess O'Rourke is exactly about that. An aeroplane pilot meeting and marrying a Princess.

Closing remarks

Princess O'Rourke is an enjoyable feel good romantic tale which gives a new meaning to the Cinderella story. Olivia de Havilland is perfectly cast at Princess Maria. The film does get a little slow towards the end, but overall a good film.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) is the historically inaccurate but very powerful and elaborate costume drama telling the story of Queen Elizabeth I and her complicated and furious love affair with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. The title characters played by screen legends Bette Davis and Errol Flynn. 

Olivia de Havilland as Lady Penelope Gray

They are complimented with a first rate supporting cast including Olivia de Havilland, Vincent Price (in his breakthrough performance), Alan Hale, Donald Crisp and Nanette Fabray (credited as Nanette Fabares in her first adult film role).  As of June 2012, Olivia de Havilland and Nanette Fabray are the only two cast members in the film still alive at ages 95 and 91, respectively.

This was the first of two films where Bette Davis starred as Queen Elizabeth I - Davis later played the Elizabeth in the inferior film The Virgin Queen (1955), which tells of how the Queen met Sir. Walter Raleigh. Although not a sequel nor a prequel, it makes for an interesting parallel.

Bette vs. Errol

Bette & Errol did not like each other

This was the second time Bette Davis and Errol Flynn had starred together in a film, following their pairing in The Sisters (1938), a year prior. Davis and Flynn despised each other, and were both unhappy about working together for the second time. Bette Davis did not like Errol Flynn's drinking problem, and Errol did not like Bette's diva like attitude. Bette Davis had wanted Laurence Olivier for the role of Essex, who I feel would have been a more superior choice for this particular film.

Their off-screen antics were the result of the film's title. The original play the film is based on was called "Elizabeth the Queen". Flynn did not like this title, as he was a co-star, and felt his role should also appear in the title. The film was then going to be called "The Knight and the Lady". Bette Davis did not approve of this title, as she felt Elizabeth should be billed first, thus the eventual title of "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex".

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth stars at herself in a fragment of broken

mirror after smashing no less than 3 mirrors 

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII (the one who beheaded his 6 wives), and Anne Boleyn, who her father had beheaded when Elizabeth was just two years old. Elizabeth was known as The Virgin Queen, due to her never being married or having children. Despite her inability to bare children, I would question how virginal she really was considering the number of young men she had floating around her palace. She was one of the first powerful female leaders, and is even referred to in the film as "a king in petticoats".

The role of Queen Elizabeth is one of the most sought after roles for an actress to play, having also been played by actresses including Cate Blanchett, Dame Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson, Agnes Moorehead, Jean Simmons,  Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave, just to name a few. Despite being played by such brilliant and celebrated actors, no one in my opinion has played her quite like Bette Davis.   

Bette Davis has a natural commanding presence, which presents an assertive, powerful and authentic portrayal. She plays a tough Queen, yet compassionate towards those showing her compassion. In this film, Bette smashes no less than 3 mirrors, which calculates to 21 years bad luck.

Olivia de Havilland as Lady Penelope Gray

Concluding Remarks

This was one of the first classic films I ever saw when I was about 14 years old.  I loved it from the first time I saw it, and having seen it a number of times over the past 14 years, I still love it. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys good drama or tragic love stories.

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

The supporting cast includes Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Young, C. Aubrey Smith and Reginald Owen. Look out for Akim Tamiroff who appears uncredited as Pedro.

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.

The Prince and the Showgirl

Star of the month... Marilyn Monroe

Spotlight on... Royalty on Film

Marilyn Monroe as Elsie Marina

'The Prince and the Showgirl' is a 1957 royal romantic comedy directed by and starring Laurence Olivier with Marilyn Monroe and Sybil Thorndike.  The film was released by Marilyn's production company Marilyn Monroe Productions and is  written by Terence Rattigan, based on his 1953 play 'The Sleeping Prince'.


The film has recently received some attention in the film 'My Week with Marilyn' (2011) - this is the film Marilyn is making during the film.

Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe
as 'The Prince & the Showgirl'

King Nicholas of Capathia, and his father the Regent Prince Charles (played by Olivier) arrive in London in June 1911. Whilst the Regent is attending a musical performance of 'The Coconut Girl', he becomes interested in showgirl Elsie Marina (played by Monroe), and invites her to the embassy for "supper". The next day, the Queen Dowager (played by Thorndike) suggests Elsie should join her as a lady-in-waiting. Later that evening, the King invites Elsie to the Ball, as his partner.

Did you know...

• The film was originally meant to be a musical, however Marilyn's then husband Arthur Miller persuaded Marilyn to lose the songs
• This was the only film Marilyn made outside of the USA
• Olivier played the role of The Regent opposite his real life wife Vivien Leigh

Awards and nominations

• BAFTA nomination: Best British Actor (Laurence Olivier)
• BAFTA nomination: Best Foreign Actress (Marilyn Monroe)
• BAFTA nomination: Best British Film
• BAFTA nomination: Best British Screenplay (Terence Rattigan)
• BAFTA nomination: Best Film from any Source
• Italian Film Academy David Di Donatello Award winner: Best Foreign Actress (Marilyn Monroe)
• French Film Academy Crystal Star Award winner: Best Foreign Actress (Marilyn Monroe)
• National Board of Review Award Winner - Best Supporting Actress (Sybil Thorndike)

Closing remarks

The first hour of the film is very enjoyable to watch, however the second hour is rather slow and gets boring at times. The film was originally meant to be a musical, which may have sped up the pace a little.

Elegant production design of the embassy makes this film a visual feast, with Marilyn's dazzling and delightful portrayal of the blonde bombshell. The acting highlight goes to Sybil Thorndike in her role as the deaf and witty Queen Mother.

Princess O'Rourke (1943)

Spotlight on... Royalty on Film

'Princess O'Rourke' is a 1943 romantic comedy starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings, Jane Wyman, Jack Carson, Charles Coburn, Gladys Cooper and Harry Davenport.

Written and directed by Norman Krasna, the film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Olivia De Havilland and Robert Cummings
enjoying a cherry cola in one of the
film's scenes

Princess Maria (played by De Havilland) and her uncle Holman (played by Coburn) travel to America during the nazi invasion of their native country. Maria is pushed into an arranged marriage with Count Peter de Candome (played by Curt Bois), whom she is not interested in.

On an aeroplane flight, Maria travels under the name Mary Williams, and with the help of the flight attendants and pilot, takes too many sleeping pills. When the plane is suddenly forced to return to New York, the cabin crew are unable to wake Maria due to the quantity of sleeping tablets she has taken. The plane's captain Eddie O'Rourke (played by Cummings), agrees to take care of Mary until she wakes  up. To cut a long story short, the two fall in love,  unbeknownst to Eddie that Mary is really a Princess.

A different kind of 'Cinderella' story

A question which always baffled me as a child was why are Cinderella stories always about peasant girls meeting and marrying a Prince. Are woman really that helpless and need of rescuing? Why are there never any stories about young peasant men marrying their Princess. 

Anyone else sharing these thoughts can rejoice as Princess O'Rourke is exactly about that. An aeroplane pilot meeting and marrying a Princess.

Closing remarks

Princess O'Rourke is an enjoyable feel good romantic tale which gives a new meaning to the Cinderella story. Olivia de Havilland is perfectly cast at Princess Maria. The film does get a little slow towards the end, but overall a good film.