SISSI, THE YOUNG IMPRESS/ DIE JUNGE KAISERIN

Germany, 1956, 107 minutes, Colour.

Romy Schneider, Karlheinz Boehm, Magda Schneider, Gustav Knuth, Vilma Degischer Walther Reyer, Josef Meinrad.

Directed by Ernst MarIschka.

The second film in a series on the young impress, Elizabeth, from Bavaria, marrying the Grand Duke of Austria, called, affectionately, Sissi.

The three films, opening with her childhood and growing up, the second with her early years as empress, the third on her later years, are very much in the lavish colour style and recreation of period, costumes and decor, popular in the 1950s, especially with the arrival of Cinemascope. So, the audience is transported back into Vienna of the 19^th century.

The young Romy Schneider was at the beginning of her career and portrays the Empress in the three films. Karlheinz Boehm, popular in Germany and sometimes appearing in English-language films (Peeping Tom, Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm), is the enthusiastic young Emperor. While he is wildly in love with his empress, he is dominated by his powerful mother who spies on Sissi, takes her diary, reads excerpts to the Emperor – but is finally forced to accept her daughter-in-law.

There are various other officials around the court, a Hungarian soldier infatuated with Sissi, various delegations from Hungary highlighting the antagonism between Vienna and Budapest.

Old-fashioned but an opportunity to revisit some of the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

1. The second film of the trilogy? Relying on the information from the first, the introduction to the characters, audience sympathy for Elizabeth, Sissi, for friends Joseph, his mother? The political situation, Austria, relationships with Hungary? Europe in the middle of the 19^th century?
2. 1950s historical storytelling, traditional, pageantry, characters, interactions, at PG level?
3. Vienna, the Palace, lavish interiors, the office, private rooms, reception rooms and halls, the ballroom? The contrast with Sissy’s home, Bavaria, the countryside, the family residence? The visit to the mountains, climbing the mountains, the scenery, the small in, the couple staying anonymously? The musical score, 19^th-century Viennese music, the Strauss waltzes?
4. The couple newly married, loving each other, friends Joseph and his age, poise, governing, political situations, with Hungary, the delegations in meetings, he and sissy being eventually crowned in Hungary? The threat of war with Russia?
5. Sissi, her age, personality, charm, the official and his discussion with Telegraph sender, devotion to Sissi, his eventual audience with her, her smile? The courtiers? The ladies in waiting? Yet her mother-in-law, getting the women to spy on her, taking her diary, reading her son the poem and sissy is pining for Bavaria? Sissi arriving, Franz Joseph telling her about the poem, her love?
6. Her life in court, four weeks of marriage, horse riding? The reception, her mother-in-law and the insult to the Hungarians, the count and his decision to take the delegation away, Sissy and her intervention, offering the dance? Her collapse?
7. The doctor, announcing her pregnancy, her scurrying to meet her husband and tell in the news? The joy of the family in Bavaria, the children as uncles and aunts? The birth of the child, a daughter, the name? Sissi’s parents present? The dispute with her mother-in-law, the moving of the nursery, Sissi walking out, returning home? The diplomatic issues? Gossip? The political issues? Franz Joseph agreeing with his mother, Sissi and her political duties? The visit, the mountain climbing, the Edelweiss? The return, the ballet, attempts at reconciliation with her mother-in-law?
8. The counters visiting the Duchess, try to persuade her to let Sissi look after her child, the relating?
9. The finale, Franz Joseph pleading with Sissi to attend the Hungarians, her agreeing, the ceremony is in Hungary, the coronation?
10. And then the third film in the trilogy?