Early Hollywood Depictions of Cross Dressing and Queer Identity Greta Garbo Film Stills

LGBTQ Film History Greta Garbo

Photograph

Mamoulian, Rouben, Queen Christina, 1933, documenting early Hollywood engagement with gender nonconformity and queer-coded historical narrative through the portrayal of Queen Christina of Sweden. The material reflects LGBTQ cultural expression within pre-Code American cinema, illustrating themes of cross-dressing, same-sex intimacy, and female autonomy, and offering insight into how studio productions navigated historically grounded narratives of gender and sexuality prior to strict enforcement of the Hays Code. It supports research into queer film history, gender performance in cinema, and the adaptation of historical figures associated with non-normative identities.

Archive of five original black and white silver gelatin photographs, measuring approximately 7 x 9 inches to 8 x 10 inches, depicting Greta Garbo in costume as Queen Christina. The images show Garbo dressed in masculine attire including trousers, structured shirts with stiff collars, and wide-brimmed hats, emphasizing the character’s cross-dressed presentation within the film. As studio-issued stills, the photographs capture staged moments highlighting Christina’s movement between masculine and feminine modes of appearance. The visual material reflects key narrative elements, including courtly settings and interpersonal interactions, and corresponds to well-known scenes in which gender ambiguity and same-sex intimacy are implied, including a moment of physical closeness between Christina and a female companion that drew attention from censors. Three photographs date to the original 1933 release, while two later prints from the 1940s indicate continued circulation and promotional use.

Five photographs. The historical Queen Christina (1626–1689), known for rejecting conventional gender roles and for documented intimate relationships with women, provided a foundation for cinematic exploration of gender fluidity in this production. Released during the pre-Code era, Queen Christina occupies a period when Hollywood films could engage more openly with themes of sexuality and identity before regulatory constraints intensified. Minor folds to borders and corners, light surface wear, and verso stamps and markings present; images remain clear; overall very good condition. A focused visual archive documenting early large-scale cinematic representation of gender nonconformity and queer-coded identity.

Item #19346

Price: $485.00