as Drinker Betting on 9 Paul Hurst as Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 Hooper Atchley as Antonio's Companion in Coach James Burke as Blacksmith Rabble Rouser Wade Boteler as Magnus' Rabble Rouser Gladden James as Rabble Rouser Richard Alexander as Peasant Edward Norris as Count Jacob Carrie Daumery as Woman at Court Fred Kohler as Member of Court Production The film was released in December 1933. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and written by H. M. Harwood and Salka Viertel, with dialogue by S. N. Behrman, based on a story by Viertel and Margaret P. Levino. The leading roles are played by Greta Garbo as Christina and John Gilbert as Don Antonio, an emissary from Spain. Laurence Olivier originally was cast as Antonio, but was fired during rehearsals. It was billed as Garbo's return to cinema after an eighteen-month hiatus. While on holiday in Sweden, the actress read a treatment by Viertel about the life of Christina and became interested in the story. At the time of shooting the film, Garbo was 28, the same age as her character. Garbo herself insisted on having Gilbert as her co-star. It was the fourth and last time that they were in a film together, and it was Gilbert's penultimate film. He had been a huge star in the silent era, but the enmity of studio head Louis B. Mayer cast a pall over his career, and he died in January 1936 from heart attacks exacerbated by alcoholism. The film is remembered for two iconic moments. The first is a scene in which, having spent two nights with Antonio in her room at the inn, Christina spends over three minutes walking around and examining and caressing various objects to imprint the space on her memory. The second, and arguably the most famous image in the film, is the closing shot, in which Christina stands as a silent figurehead at the bow of the ship bound for Spain, the wind blowing through her hair, while the camera moves into a tight close-up on her face. Prior to shooting the final scene, Mamoulian suggested that Garbo should think about nothing and avoid blinking her eyes so her face could be a "blank sheet of paper" and every member of the audience could write the ending of the film themselves. Critical reception and box office The film premiered in New York City on December 26,