Sissi (1955)

Sissi - 1955

Our next film is the blog's first foreign language film.  1955's "Sissi" tells the story of the fabled Austrian Empress Elisabeth "Sissi" and her rise from a Bavarian duchy to one of the world's most powerful royal courts.  This story is the first in a trilogy of films and is a highly romanticized version of Empress Sissi's life, though it is a very sweet movie to watch.

The film's cast includes Romy Schneider, Karlheinz Bohm, Magda Schneider, Uta Franz, Gustav Knuth, Vilma Degischer, Josef Meinrad, Erich Nikowitz, and Peter Weck.

At Schloss Possenhofen on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria, free-spirited Princess Elisabeth "Sissi" lives with her large family.

Sissi is passionate about riding and taking care of her many animals.  She's much loved by everyone.

Sissi's mother, Princess Ludovika, Duchess in Bavaria, gets a letter from her sister, Archduchess Sophie, the mother of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria.  The archduchess wants Ludovika to bring her eldest daughter Helene to Austria as a prospective bride for the emperor.

In Austria, Archduchess Sophie talks with her son about his need to marry.  She tells him that she has the perfect candidate: Ludovika's daughter, Princess Helene.  Franz Josef agrees to meet her.

Sissi walks with her father in the woods near their home.  He tells her, "Always remember, my child, if you’re ever worried or upset, go through the woods with open eyes.  And in every tree, in every shrub, in every creature, and every flower, the Almighty God will reveal Himself to you and give you solace and strength."

Ludovika breaks the news to Sissi that they are to travel to Austria, ostensibly for Franz Josef's birthday celebrations.  Sissi is overjoyed at the prospect of going with her mother and sister, and she plans on spending a lot of time with her favorite cousin, Carl Ludwig.

They arrive at Franz Josef's hunting retreat at Ischl.  Archduchess Sophie is not pleased that Sissi is there, as she views Sissi as completely unsuitable for such a gathering.

With her mother and sister busy planning their visit with Franz Josef, Sissi has to sneak out of her room so that she can go fishing.  While she sneaks out, she's observed with a member of the emperor's security, who follows her all over Ischl.

While Sissi is out fishing, her hook accidentally gets caught on Emperor Franz Josef, who is passing in his carriage.  Sissi recognizes him, but he doesn't know who she is, as they haven't seen each other for many years.  Sissi is happy to be incognito around the Emperor.

And Franz Josef is completely charmed by her.  He gets out of his carriage and orders it to return to the villa while he walks along with Sissi.  They arrange to meet later in the afternoon on Franz Josef's private hunting grounds.

Archduchess Sophie is upset to find her son's carriage empty, and she is especially upset when she finds out he's been walking around Ischl with an unknown woman.

Sissi returns to her rooms and daydreams about meeting Franz Josef.  She reflects on how charming and kind he was.

Franz Josef, meanwhile, has to calm his mother's fears about this "unknown" woman, all the while she is extolling the virtues of Sissi's sister, Helene.

At the appointed time, Sissi and Franz Josef meet up in the woods and begin walking together.

They see deer along the way, and Franz Josef stops to shoot a particularly fine stag.

Sissi's love of animals ensures that she coughs at just the right moment so the stag can escape without being killed.  Franz Josef is cross for just a moment, but then laughs along with Sissi.

Sissi stops after a while and begins to play her zither for Franz Josef.  He finds himself falling in love with her.

As they chat, Sissi tells him that her name is "Liesl from Possenhofen", and it quickly becomes apparent that both are smitten with each other.

Franz Josef tells Sissi that he's envious of the man whom she'll marry.  The woman he marries must look like her, have eyes like her, and be like her.  He tells Sissi that he's to be engaged that very night.

When she presses him for the name of his intended, he tells her that he is to marry Princess Helene from Bavaria.  Sissi quickly pulls away and runs home without any explanation to Franz Josef.

Sissi returns to her mother and sister saddened, though she tries to be happy for Helene when she tells her that she's to be engaged.

Her mother tells Sissi that she has to hurry and get ready for the ball that evening.  An extra prince has arrived, which makes it necessary for Sissi to go to the party.  She pleads with her mother to let her stay in her room, but Ludovika won't budge.  Sissi must attend.

At his birthday celebration that night, Franz Josef greets his guests, who include his aunts the Queen of Prussia and the Queen of Saxony (sisters of Sophie and Ludovika).

When Ludovika and her daughters are announced, Franz Josef can't believe it when Sissi walks into the room and he instantly recognizes her.

The two stare at each other awkwardly for a few moments before Ludovika breaks the ice.

Franz Josef smiles and says he is glad to see "Liesl of Possenhofen" again so soon.

At dinner, Sissi and Franz Josef keep stealing glances at each other.  Franz Josef tells Helene that Sissi is very lovely, and Helene agrees.

During the dancing, Ludovika is asked by her sisters if Helene is going to be engaged to Franz Josef.  They tell her that they figure she will be the next Empress of Austria, because Franz Josef led her to the dining room despite there being two queens in the room.

Sissi leaves the dancing after she can stand the torment of hurting her sister no longer.  Franz Josef follows her and asks her to marry him.  She refuses on the grounds that she won't interfere with her sister's happiness and she won't steal a man from her.

When Franz Josef goes to his mother and tells him that he wants to marry Sissi instead of Helene, Archduchess Sophie is bewildered and more than a little upset.  In her opinion, Sissi is far from qualified to be the next Empress of Austria.  However, Franz Josef insists on marrying her.  "Sissi will be an Empress like no other before her," he tells her.  And he ends the conversation by saying, "Sissi is precious, and I’ll let no one take this treasure away from me."

Archduchess Sophie has a private chat with Sissi.  Her opinion of her doesn't improve on closer inspection.  Sissi is very free-spirited and does not wish to change to suit her aunt and future mother-in-law, though she still insists that she doesn't want to be the Empress.

Franz Josef forces her hand when he announces that she is his future bride.  When she asks him why he did announced it like that, he tells her it was because he knew she wouldn't say yes.

Ludovika and her sisters are shocked that Franz Josef chose Sissi instead of Helene.

However, the entire assemblage shouts three cheers for the future Empress of Austria.

Afterwards, Sissi and Franz Josef show themselves to the well-wishers from the balcony of the palace.

Months later (and after receiving Helene's blessing), Sissi makes her official entrance into Austria by way of a boat on the Danube River.  She enthusiastically waves at her future subjects.

Franz Josef meets the boat when it docks, and Sissi rushes to embrace him.

At the palace, Sissi and Sophie continue to clash, both having wills of iron.

Franz Josef diffuses the situation, and offers a moving toast to Sissi at their wedding breakfast.

Then they are married in a splendid ceremony that captures the imagination of the Austrian people.

Cast rundown:

   Romy Schneider.............................Empress Elisabeth "Sissi"

   Karlheinz Bohm..............................Emperor Franz Josef

   Magda Schneider............................Princess Ludovika

   Uta Franz......................................Princess Helene

   Gustav Knuth.................................Duke Max

   Vilma Degischer..............................Archduchess Sophie

   Josef Meinrad.................................Major Bockl

   Erich Nikowitz................................Archduke Franz Karl

   Peter Weck....................................Archduke Carl Ludwig

And that's it for Sissi.  It's really a very charming movie.  Real life mother and daughter Magda and Romy Schneider play mother and daughter in this trilogy as Ludovika and Sissi.  This series is a popular showing on television at Christmastime in German speaking countries.

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