Sissi (1955)

Director:

Ernst Marischka

Writer:

Ernst Marischka (writer)

Release Date:

22 December 1955 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

First of a trilogy of movies about the Austrian princess Sissi.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Princess | Emperor | Marriage | Costume Drama

Cast

Romy Schneider	...	Princess Elisabeth in Bavaria / Kaiserin Elisabeth / Sissi
Karlheinz Böhm	...	Kaiser Franz Joseph
Magda Schneider	...	Duchess Ludovika in Bayern / Vickie
Uta Franz	...	Princess Helene in Bayern / Nene
Gustav Knuth	...	Duke Max in Bavaria
Vilma Degischer	...	Archduchess Sophie, Franz Josef's mother
Josef Meinrad	...	Gendarmerie-Major Böckl
Erich Nikowitz	...	Archduke Franz Karl
Karl Fochler	...	Graf Grünne
Franz Böheim	...	Johann Petzmacher
Peter Weck	...	Archduke Carl-Ludwig
Hilde Wagener	...	Baronin Wulffen
Egon von Jordan	...	Graf Arco, Prime Minister
Richard Eybner	...	Postmeister von Ischl
Otto Treßler	...	Feldmaerschall Radetzky

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Austria

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Atelier Sievering, Vienna, Austria

Company:

Erma-Film

Trivia:

Magda Schneider, playing Sissi's mother Ludovika in all three parts of the Sissi trilogy, is 'Romy Schneider''s (Sissi's) real life mother.

Movie Connections:

Featured in FC Venus (2006)

Soundtrack:

Polonaise in a major

Charm all around

I know these films are considered by some purported high-brows to be of low popular-art form and saccharine emotions. They have historical inaccuracies and pander to the idea of what should-have-been, rather than perhaps quite what was. But-man oh man-they are extremely well-made and extremely enjoyable. There is nothing wrong with these films on a visceral or visual level.

The production values in the sets and costumes and the magnificent outdoor locales makes these films really spectacular. But the very rich and cohesive performances by the cast are what keep these films alive. Above all Romy Schneider and Vilma Degischer as Sissi and Sofia playing the tension between the young empress and her formidable mother-in-law, are great to watch. Each has their own humanity and, actually, rich human qualities shine through in all of the other characters quite beautifully.

Karl-Heinz Boehm is excellent as the young emperor torn between his love for the fresh and lively Sissi and duty to his by-the-book mother. And Magda Schneider and Gustav Knuth are warm and sympathetic as Sissi's parents.

The restoration, recently performed on these films, has left them looking incredibly beautiful (on par with "Gone With the Wind"). And people are now able to enjoy these films in the U.S., as they have recently been sub-titled in English and given deluxe DVD transfers with bonus features. Apparently there was an assembled version made of all 3 films and dubbed-horribly-into English included in the set. But above all it is great to see them released here with a good translation and anexcellent DVD presentation.