Sissi - Die junge Kaiserin (1956)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ernst Marischka

Writer:

Ernst Marischka (writer)

Release Date:

December 1956 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

Sissi is slowly adapting to life as empress of Austria but finds it hard to live with her mother-in-law...

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Mother In Law | Motherhood | Local Blockbuster | Dissatisfaction

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Romy Schneider	...	Empress Elisabeth / Sissi
Karlheinz Böhm	...	Kaiser Franz Josef
Magda Schneider	...	Duchess Ludovika / Vickie
Gustav Knuth	...	Duke Max of Bavaria
Vilma Degischer	...	Archduchess Sophie, Franz Josef's mother
Walter Reyer	...	Count Andrassy (as Walther Reyer)
Senta Wengraf	...	Gräfin Bellegarde
Josef Meinrad	...	Major Böckl
Iván Petrovich	...	Dr. Max Falk
Helene Lauterböck	...	Gräfin Esterhazy
Erich Nikowitz	...	Erzherzog Franz-Karl
Hans Ziegler	...	Dr. Seeburger
Karl Fochler	...	Graf Grünne
Franz Böheim
Hilde Wagener

Also Known As:

Sissi: The Young Empress (International: English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Austria

Language:

German | Hungarian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perfectone Klangfilm)

Certification:

Germany:6 (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:6 (f)

Filming Locations:

Atelier Rosenhügel, Vienna, Austria

Company:

Erma-Film

Trivia:

This movie begins a couple of weeks after Franz Joseph and Sissi got married, which was in 1854. In 1855, Sissi gave birth to their first child. Also, Franz Joseph later references the Crimean War, which lasted from 1853 to 1856. But the coronation in Hungary did not take place until 1867. So about a decade is minimized to a couple of minutes, while a couple of years form the biggest part of the movie.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Sissi and Franz Joseph waltz in the beginning of the ball Sissi has organized for the Hungarian exiles, the song played is the Kaiser-Walzer. However, Strauss didn't write this Waltz until 1889, while this ball is at least before 1867, the year in which Franz Joseph became the King of Hungaria.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Lissi und der wilde Kaiser (2007)

Second part of Sissi with a profound message!!!

Whenever I see this part, it seems to me that Ernst Marischka wanted to show Sissi as a gentle woman who is exposed to the hardship of royal life. In spite of the fact that the film is full of sweet images (like other parts) which may seem to some people "out of date", it has a certain message conveyed.

In fact, this part's content is built upon two issues: politics and the family life in imperial palace. Sissi, as a young empress, has to get used to the lifestyle in the palace. She finds it difficult, especially due to the attitude of her mother in law, archduchess Sophie. The problems grow when Sissi gives birth to her daughter and the baby is taken from her. Sophie thinks that Sissi is too young to be a good mother. She has to choose: be an empress and forget about mother's feelings or escape from the golden cage...

Another interesting fact about the movie is the political situation of Hungary. Sissi loves this nation and aims at uniting it with Austria. Obstacles, however, are huge. Nevertheless, she does not give in and, in the long run, her goals are achieved.

I loved the scene when she thinks of leaving Vienna due to family problems, but the Hungarians are waiting for the meeting. She decides to take part in it. Here, Marischka shows the price she had to pay. The duty of an empress is more important than the family, the beloved baby and personal happiness. As her mother Ludovika says to her that she has a duty and has to be strong to fight her emotions.

At the end, I must admit that I cried when Sissi becomes the queen of Hungary, swears to fulfill her duties and the Hungarian anthem is being sung (so much forbidden in the time when this nation was persecuted): "Isten, Aldd Meg A Magyart, Jo Kedvvel Boeseggel..." Sissi cries. This is the love for the nation. This is the right attitude of a queen. Sacrifice even her happiness for the sake of fulfilling her duties.

I love this part of Sissi. It has much to say to our times, in which the feeling of duty and a good motherhood have been distorted and lost. Especially, young mothers should see it. Marischka shows the love of a mother to her child and the love of a queen or empress to her nation.

WORTH WATCHING. CLASSIC!!!