They might take place two centuries apart and on different continents, but that doesn’t mean these two new releases from Warner Archive can’t make a cute (royal) double feature.
Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton’s King Solomon’s Mines (1950)
Yeah, all kidding aside, the titles might complement each other superficially, but Queen Christina is all about Queen Christina (Greta Garbo). Getting to King Solomon’s mines, on the other hand, isn’t really the point of King Solomon’s Mines. It’s their final destination. That’s where Allan Quatermain (Stewart Granger) has been hired to take Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr) and her brother, John (Richard Carlson), but their real reason for going is to find Elizabeth’s husband, Henry. He’s the one who wanted to go treasure hunting for diamonds. Depending on how far he got, though, and whether he’s still alive, Elizabeth and John would probably be open to cutting their trip short.
Filmed in Africa, King Solomon’s Mines is a pretty solid, British adventure film, where Carlson is a glorified chaperone, Granger can’t seem to keep track of his shirt, and Kerr keeps getting targeted by animals (the result being that Kerr is made to look like she’s jumpier because she’s a woman, and not because animals are singling her out).
The wildlife presence in this film is definitely high, and while I’m (pretty) sure the actors weren’t put in actual danger (or at least I hope not), the editing is convincing to create the illusion that they’re in the same space with these wild beasts. It had to have been impressive for audiences at the time (especially kids) and I imagine there would’ve been a real crossover appeal for fans of Tarzan.
There are always two concerns with adventure movies. One is that the sole female character will be a damsel in distress, and Kerr’s wardrobe is on the ridiculous side. The first time she meets Granger is in a high society dress that feeds right into Allan’s assumptions, that she won’t be able to take the heat. Then she has to have her own lavender safari hat, instead of the tan variety. Still, while Elizabeth isn’t immune to the elements, and Helen Deutsch’s screenplay does put her in some damsel situations, Kerr never lets Elizabeth come across as weak. She’s a fighter who’s going to keep going no matter what, even if the only thing fueling her is spite.
The other concern with adventure movies is how crude and/or racist the film will be when it comes to portraying native tribes. This is where a real “making of featurette,” and not the one that comes with this disc (that’s just an excuse to advertise Dodge trucks and Coca Cola) might’ve been insightful, but King Solomon’s Mine does feel more thoughtful and considerate, when it comes to how it portrays local extras and supporting characters. When a Black tribesman is killed in one of the first scenes involving an elephant stampede, for example, there’s an initial feeling of “here we go,” but Qually has a name and a family. Allan doesn’t just talk about paying respects to his wife – we actually see him visit her. To be fair, the same isn’t true later when two tribesmen are killed in another stampede and it’s barely acknowledged, but Qually’s death is mourned by multiple characters.
Rouben Mamoulian’s Queen Christina (1933)
If you’ve never seen a Greta Garbo film (or have and are pretty sure her acting style isn’t for you), don’t count her out until you’ve seen Queen Christina, because Garbo? She slays in that movie (and that’s coming from someone who watched Ninotchka and Grand Hotel and was ready to call it quits).
Queen Christina is Garbo in all her gender bending, bisexual glory and the perfect film to watch for Pride (and since it’s a pre-code film, screenwriters, H.M. Harwood and Salka Viertel, actually were allowed to get saucy with some of the scenes).
When the film begins, Christina is already at odds with her advisors when it comes to whether or not Sweden should stay in the Great Thirty Years War. Christina is all for peace. Most of Sweden (besides the peasants) seems eager to stay in the war.
If there’s one thing Christina and her subjects disagree about more than fighting, though, it’s who she should marry. While everyone seems convinced that she would be mad not to marry her cousin (and war hero), Prince Charles (Reginald Owen), Christina isn’t so sure Sweden should get the last word.
It all results in her deciding to take a breather from politics, which is when she runs into the Spanish envoy that have come to visit her, except not only do they not realize she’s queen – they somehow mistake her for a boy.
Garbo’s command of a room is unmatched – she’s so boisterous and in control. What’s great about her scenes with Antonio (John Gilbert) is you get to see a completely different side of her – one where she’s suddenly unsure and awkward when they have to share a room together. Gilbert, for his part, is equally confused and unafraid to look silly, in his big, oversized fur coat. They make it easy to want to root for them.
Warner Archive’s Blu-ray comes with a 1956 episode of MGM Parade about Garbo hosted by Walter Pidgeon. It’s mostly some extended clips from her films and doesn’t get into Garbo’s personal life, but it does include an interview with George Cukor, who directed her in Camille and Two-Faced Woman.
In the same way that Christina’s subjects were fed false hope about her marrying Prince Charles, Garbo fans are given false hope at the end of the episode when it’s suggested that she might return to Hollywood if they send more fan mail. Two-Faced Woman was her last picture, so evidently the letters didn’t work.
King Solomon’s Mines and Queen Christina are available on Blu-ray now from Warner Archive.
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