Sissi: The Fateful Years Of An Empress (1957)

Sissi: The Fateful Years Of An Empress - 1957

Today we finish our trilogy about Empress Elisabeth "Sissi" of Austria with 1957's "Sissi: The Fateful Years Of An Empress".  In this final installment, we find Sissi continuing to use her influence to diffuse tense political situations.  She also battles an illness that threatens to end her life.

The film's cast includes Romy Schneider, Karlheinz Bohm, Magda Schneider, Uta Franz, Gustav Knuth, Vilma Degischer, Josef Meinrad, Erich Nikowitz, Walther Reyer, Senta Wengraf, Sonia Sorel, Klaus Knuth, and Albert Rueprecht.

After being crowned Queen of Hungary, Sissi spends the majority of her time there.  She enjoys the freedom she finds in the country.  She spends hours riding through the countryside.

Back in Vienna, Archduchess Sophie tells her son, Emperor Franz Josef, that Sissi spends a great deal of time with Count Andrassy, and he fancies himself in love with her.  Franz Josef tells his mother that he trusts Sissi implicitly.

Aside from riding, Sissi enjoys spending unlimited time with her daughter.  The two have tea parties and play with the little girl's dolls for hours on end.

But Sissi must also play the part of Queen.  She is asked by Count Andrassy to help and break the ice with a rebellious Hungarian count who refuses to acknowledge any member of the House of Habsburg.  With her grace and charm, Sissi wins over the count and gains a new friend.

During the evening reception, Sissi is seized by a pain in her side.  Count Andrassy attempts to help her.  Eventually, the pain subsides.

After she makes a recovery, Count Andrassy takes the opportunity to tell Sissi that he is in love with her.

Sissi reminds him of her position as Queen of Hungary and Empress of Austria.  When he isn't dissuaded, Sissi is forced to break the friendly relationship entirely.

She makes plans to return to Vienna.  However, she is saddened at the thought of giving up her more free life in Hungary.

On the way back to Vienna, Sissi crosses paths with Franz Josef, who was on his way to Hungary to get her.  He tells her that they shouldn't be apart anymore, and that they aren't going back to Vienna.  He has planned a few weeks of solitude at Ischl.

While picking wildflowers in the fields, Sissi has a recurrence of the pain she felt in Hungary.  Understandably alarmed, Franz Josef announces plans to return to Vienna so she can be seen by the best doctors.

The doctor's examinations reveal that Sissi is suffering from tuberculosis, and she is highly contagious.

Sissi's family is desolate at the news.  Even her mother-in-law is saddened at the prospect that Sissi may never recover.

Sissi comforts Franz Josef.  She vows to recover so that she can return to his side and produce a healthy heir for Austria.

She is sent to the milder climate of Madeira.  However, a depression sets in, which sends Sissi even further from the path of recovery.  Daily flowers and presents from Franz Josef can't alter her mood or induce her to focus on getting well.

When her mother arrives from Bavaria, Sissi starts to come alive again.  Princess Ludovika's incurable optimism works wonders on her daughter.

With her mother's help, Sissi gets stronger every day.  Soon she's exploring the length and breadth of Madeira.

Sissi remarks to her mother how wonderful everything looks.  She even starts to make travel plans for the future.

Eventually, Sissi is well enough to make a trip to Greece, where she explores the architectural wonders on offer there.

Her recovery seems complete as she makes arrangements to travel between Corfu and Athens.

While her mother waits on the terrace, Sissi submits to another examination by the doctor, who pronounces her cured.

Excitedly, Sissi runs to her mother and tells her that she is well.  The two women embrace with the happy news.

In Vienna, Archduchess Sophie brings her son the good news.  He makes plans to meet her halfway and return with her to Vienna.  However, his ministers say that in order to do so, he must make an official visit with Sissi to Italy, where relations have deteriorated considerably.

In Milan, all the Italian nobility sends their servants to an opera performance in their place.  When the Imperial couple enters, the servants show them no courtesy.  Instead, they begin singing "Va, pensiero", which is the chorus of the Hebrew slaves from Nabucco.  The servants sing it in protest of their Austrian overlords.

Stunned, Sissi and Franz Josef calmly sit for the duration of the song, watching as they are disrespected.

At the song's conclusion, Sissi surprises all in attendance by applauding the singers.  Not knowing what to do, they sit and the opera continues.

Franz Josef smiles at Sissi as the lights dim, knowing her tact has diffused yet another potentially explosive situation.

Sissi insists on holding the traditional reception afterwards for the invited guests.  The maids, cooks, grooms, and butlers are all out of their element as they are presented to the Emperor and Empress of Austria.  They are introduced under their employers' names, which is horribly embarrassing for the real nobility.

The next stop on the itinerary is Venice.  Sissi and Franz Josef are shocked to see shuttered windows and completely silent crowds as their gondola passes on its way to St. Mark's Square for a church service.  The two monarchs comfort each other as they head towards the church.

At St. Mark's Square, the silence from the crowd is deafening as Sissi and Franz Josef make their way up the red carpet.

Franz Josef has organized a surprise.  Sissi is delighted when she sees her daughter rushing towards her.  Sissi runs and meets her daughter, embracing her and showering her with kisses.

The crowds erupt with shouts and cheers when they see Sissi and her daughter embrace.  Sissi's mother, Ludovika, looks on with tears in her eyes.

Sissi and Franz Josef continue on to the church.  Before entering, they turn and warmly wave to acknowledge the crowds' cheers.

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

   Walther Reyer................................Count Andrassy

   Senta Wengraf...............................Countess Bellegarde

   Sonia Sorel....................................Henriette Mendel

   Klaus Knuth...................................Prince Ludwig

   Albert Rueprecht.............................Archduke Maximilian

And that's it for Sissi: The Fateful Years Of An Empress.  In 1962, this trilogy was edited into a single film.  The voices were dubbed by English speaking actors, and the film was released to American audiences as "Forever My Love".  Apparently, a fourth Sissi film was planned.  However, Romy Schneider categorically refused to play Sissi again.  She did, however, return to the role in 1972, when she played Sissi for the film "Ludwig", which told the story of her cousin King Ludwig II of Bavaria.  For this film, Schneider portrayed Sissi as an older, more cynical version of the empress.

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