Queen Christina Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Queen Christina Blu-ray Movie Review

Swedish, meet balls.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III June 12, 2023

As its theatrical poster image -- which doubles as the cover to Warner Archive's new Blu-ray -- not-so-subtly implies, Rouben Mamoulian's Queen Christina was a major starring vehicle for Greta Garbo, already 13 years into a white-hot career that would be finished after six more films. Her name is three times as big as the title, and her portrait reveals nothing about the film's plot or setting. This build-up might normally mean that enjoyment of Queen Christina should hinge entirely on your love of the actress, but that's not the case here: I'm not a card-carrying member of the cult of Garbo but can certainly recognize this as a quality film with memorable characters and a story that trades in historical fact for fiction to make things more interesting. You want accuracy, people? Watch a documentary.

Very loosely based on the life of the 17th century Queen of Sweden (a title she inherited at age six after the death of her father, King Gustavus Adolphus, and relinquished less than 30 years later), the film depicts Christina as a well-educated but reticent leader whose reputation far outweighs her desire to keep the job. Her love of reading and of the people have left no time for romance, although Christina's inner circle pushes for her marriage to cousin Karl Gustav (Reginald Owen) and a future heir. Her desperate pursuit of "normal life" leads to an impulsive escape out of town on horseback, dressed in men's clothing with her hair worn short. She assists a traveler and his party stuck in the heavy snow and, during her overnight stay at a nearby inn (where she takes the last available room), Christine reconnects with the traveler, Antonio Pimentel de Prado of Spain (John Gilbert). Antonio, believing her to be male, asks to share the room and she reluctantly accepts. Of course, the truth eventually comes out. Intensely attracted to the mystery woman, Antonio shares a few snowbound nights with Christina before the two eventually part ways.

The impassioned rendezvous between Christine and Antonio is perhaps Queen Christina's most memorably enduring sequence; Garbo and Gilbert share undeniable on-screen chemistry, and it's certainly a good deal more interesting than the film's mostly bone-dry introduction. Yet it also contains perhaps my most nagging reservation with the film's plot: Greta Garbo is simply not at all convincing as a presumed man, which makes every initial interaction between her and the inn's staff/guests distractingly unbelievable. Clark Kent's glasses would've been a better disguise. This doesn't sink Queen Christina... and in any case, it's soon forgotten after the truth comes out, Christina and Antonio inadvertently reunite in her throne room (where the second truth about her identity is made known), and the film charges through its final act, when a deceitful act by her former lover Count Magnus (Ian Keith) leads to political turbulence.

This pre-Code historical drama -- which contains more than a few themes and interactions that would've been cut to ribbons if Queen Christina came out a year later -- is indeed a near-perfect starring vehicle for Garbo, from her home country to her sexual ambiguity and penchant for portraying tragic characters. While her unavoidable glamour has no choice but to stand directly in the way of a critical plot device, this is a small price to pay for everything else brought to the table: chemistry, conviction, and of course pure entertainment value, which is also aided by Mamoulian's steady direction and William Daniels' terrific cinematography. The latter gets its due via Warner Archive's welcome new Blu- ray, which features yet another top-tier A/V restoration that helps this 90 year-old film sparkle like new.

Queen Christina Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A major improvement over even their own 2020 DVD release -- which, like earlier home video editions, used fourth-generation source materials -- this dazzling new 1080p transfer was created from a recently-found nitrate duplicate negative, which was scanned in 4K and treated to a round of the boutique label's careful manual cleanup. The result will be revelatory for long-time fans of Queen Christina, as it features a substantially higher degree of fine detail and smooth contrast levels, not to mention much better handling of film grain and other native textures. Medium shots (above) and close-ups fare particularly well, with the film's excellent lighting and production design showcase a full range of whites, silvery grays, and deep blacks, all of it balanced more or less perfectly with no perceivable levels of blooming or crush. The excellent encoding likewise features virtually no signs of macro blocking or other compression artifacts, even in challenging environments like snow, fog, and busy wide shots. It's about as perfect as Queen Christina could ever hope to look on this format and likely exceeds original theatrical showings.

Queen Christina Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I'm not sure if Warner Archive's proprietary means of audio restoration has improved in recent months but, like their new release of King Solomon's Mines, this DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix sounds exceptionally good for a vintage mono track. Clarity is at times startling for a 90 year-old film, with excellent overall fidelity and balance that help to create a smooth and problem-free listening experience. Restored from the film's preservation safety optical track positive, it's overwhelmingly free from hissing, pops, crackle, and other age-related wear and tear and, like the video presentation, shows no tangible room for improvement. Die-hand fans will again be greatly pleased.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the main feature only... not the extras, unfortunately.

Queen Christina Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with vintage poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. Bonus features are minimal in number but are at least relative to the film and its star.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:16) - This gossipy promotional piece can also be seen here.

• MGM Parade: Episode 31 (29:22) - This installment of the studio's long-running weekly showcase series, which originally aired on April 11, 1956, takes a look at the later career of Greta Garbo. Hosted by actor Walter Pidgeon, it offers a fairly all-inclusive overview of her work from the mid to late 1930s, from Anna Karenina to Ninotchka, and also features a conversation with George Cukor who directed her in Camille.

Queen Christina Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In some respects, Rouben Mamoulian's Queen Christina might as well have been called Garbo: The Motion Picture, but this starring vehicle for the immensely popular actress has more to offer than just the name value of its leading lady. The solid supporting performances -- including that of John Gilbert, whom Gerbo shares excellent on-screen chemistry with -- are an easy standout, as well as excellent cinematography and much of the story's second half. (Only one rather unbelievable narrative elements holds it back, but it's somewhat forgivable under the circumstances.) Warner Archive's welcome Blu-ray is another top-tier release from the reliable boutique label, boasting a virtually flawless A/V restoration and a pair of appropriate bonus features. Firmly Recommended to fans and first-timers alike.