MovieChat Forums > Queen Christina (1934) Discussion > I can't believe no one has posted aboutt...

I can't believe no one has posted aboutthe open bisexuality in this film

posted 11 years ago by Local Hero
5 replies | jump to latest

There is a thread here about "gender bending" and it only discusses when Christina dresses as a man. But there is no mention so far in this forum of one of the most notorious, legendary moments in early Hollywood? Christina has a female lover among her paramours, and the film is quite open about it! Even in the pre-code days, this is a rarity in a mainstream Hollywood film, and we would not see anything like it again for another half a century at least.

Weren't there any first-time viewers who were staggered to see this in a 1933 film, or was it so unexpected that you glossed over it, not believing what you were seeing and just assuming they are kissing, hideaway-vacation-taking, jealousy-and-hurt-feelings-inducing friends? :-)

[–] HijodelCid 11 years ago

Have you watched the two versions of MADCHEN IN UNIFORM? Therese Giehse, the Headmistress in the 1958 version, was gay in real life, and Lilli Palmer and Romy Schneider at the time of the filming were engaged in a very passionate affair.
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)

[–] mawalker-54-360633 10 years ago

I actually assessed this film as part of my research about portrayals of LGBTQI people in media. This film is fantastic I really thought there were some strides made with her character but in the US it was not welcomed it did terrible in theatres here sadly.

I really enjoyed the fact that she looks nothing like a man (IMO) but everyone mistakes her for one because of mans clothing. Very interesting film to say the least.

Did you also notice that almost EVERY woman in the film (the few that we saw, that's another issue entirely) were all attracted to her? Minus her countess.

[–] Popcorngal (4347) 6 years ago

I watched it for the first time yesterday. Wow I can imagine how shocked the audiences were in the 1930's. I read Greta was bi as well. Unfortunately my library DVD was flawed and I have to order another one.

[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

Yes, she was bisexual with her best friend Ebba. Yes, considering the year, 1933, it was pre-code days in Hollywood.

[–] Cherubino1 (101) 2 years ago

Unfortunately, I don’t know how the audience of the time reacted to these scenes (maybe there’s secondary literature that says something about it?), but I suspect that they didn’t see it so strictly back then and were more used to it, since pre-code films were generally freer.

Wikipedia says:

As a result, some films in the late 1920s and early 1930s depicted or implied sexual innuendo, romantic and sexual relationships between white and black people, mild profanity, illegal drug use, promiscuity, prostitution, infidelity, abortion, intense violence, and homosexuality.