SISSI: THE FATEFUL YEARS OF AN EMPRESS

Franz (Boehm) and Sissi (Schneider) at La scala 

SISSI: THE FATEFUL YEARS OF AN EMPRESS (aka Sissi - Schicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin/1957). Director: Ernest Marischka. 

The third and final installment in the Sissi trilogy continues the story of the beautiful young Austrian empress (Romy Schneider) and her husband, the Emperor Franz Josef (Karl Boehm). Sissi develops a serious lung infection  which has her doctor predicting that she will die unless she goes to a warmer climate, and that even then the outcome is not certain. The film turns into a type of travelogue as Sissi travels to other lands such as Portugal and Greece with her mother (Magda Schneider) and Major Bockl (Joseph Meinrad), whose romantic adventures with different women are briefly explored. The travelogue continues as the empress accompanies the emperor on a goodwill tour to Naples and Venice, where the Italian citizenry, still smarting over past unpleasantries and Austria's occupation, do their best to snub and ignore them. An interesting scene has everyone at the La scala opera house singing one of Verdi's patriotic choruses from Nabucco as the royal Austrians take their seat in their box. There are some attempts at drama when Sissi tries to make friends with one Hungarian, Count Batthyani (Peter Neusser)  who is not thrilled with Austria, and is told by handsome Hungarian Count Andrassy (Walter Meyer), whom she charmed in the last picture, that he is in love with her. Anton Profes' musical score is richly romantic and memorable, as is Bruno Mondi's photography, especially his exquisite shots of Venice. The opening credits feature a flock of birds actually spelling out the name "Sissi" before taking to flight -- marvelous. The leads and supporting players are fine and Vilma Degischer continues her wonderful portrait of the stern, if loving, mother-in-law Sophie. 

Verdict: Entertaining and nice to look at if you take it with a grain of salt. ***.  

SISSI: THE YOUNG EMPRESS

A ball at the palace

SISSI: THE YOUNG EMPRESS (aka Sissi - Die junge Kaiserin/1956). Director: Ernst Marischka. 

This is the second film in the trilogy that began with Sissi. Sissi (Romy Schneider) and Franz Josef (Karl Boehm) are married and living in the beautiful Schonbrunn palace. As Empress of Austria, Sissi is instrumental in creating new understanding between the Austrians and Hungarians when she importunes Franz to offer amnesty to former enemies. Naturally, her termagant mother-in-law, Sophie (Vilma Degischer), a conservative with old, rigid ways, disagrees with Sissi, then goes too far when she decides to simply take over the raising of Sissi's baby daughter without even talking it over with the mother. This causes a brief separation between the emperor and his wife. This is an entertaining movie, even if it gets to be a little cloying at times, and there seem to be more kids [in the scenes when Sissi goes home to her family] than in The Sound of Music, adorable as they may be. Although this has the same cinematographer as Sissi, Bruno Mondi, the film and its glamorous, magnificent settings are photographed and displayed with much more care than in the first film, making this a treat to look at. Anton Profes has contributed a beautiful opening theme as well. The silly bodyguard, Major Bockl (Joseph Meinrad) is back and now in love with Sissi. Schneider, Boehm, Degischer and the other actors all give fine performances. 

Verdict: Not exactly heavy drama, but lovely in many ways, and well-acted. ***. 

SISSI

Karl[heinz] Boehm and Romy Schneider

SISSI (1955). Director: Ernst Marischka.

The Austrian Archduchess Sophie (Vilma Degischer) has decided that her son, Emperor Franz Josef (Karlheinz Boehm) should take a wife, and she has decided upon her Bavarian niece Helene, known as "Nene" (Uta Franz). Unfortunately, while Nene is in town with her mother (Magda Schneider) and sister Elizabeth, nicknamed "Sissi" (Romy Schneider), Sissi accidentally encounters Franz, who doesn't know who she is (not having seen the sisters since childhood) and is almost instantly smitten and vice versa. This causes a serious complication, as the last thing Sissi wants to do is hurt and humiliate her sister, who already thinks of herself as engaged to Franz. That's about all the real drama you get in this nonetheless entertaining and very well-acted Austrian film that makes full use of beautiful Austrian palaces and settings. (Unfortunately, these settings are not photographed with any particular elan; in fact recreations in a Hollywood film might have been more impressive because of it). A bone-headed alleged bodyguard who mistakes Sissi for an assassin is thrown in for some unfunny comedy relief. The Archduchess describes Sissi as "16, impudent, and ill-mannered," but she doesn't come off that way until after the old lady gets sharp with her. Schneider was 17 when she made this film and is lovely. Her real-life mother plays her mother in the film. Boehm was later known simply as Karl Boehm, wherein he appeared in such films as Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. His most famous movie is probably Peeping Tom, wherein he was billed as "Carl" Boehm. This is the first part of a trilogy about the beautiful young empress which was later dubbed in English, spliced together, and released in the US (especially television) as Forever, My Love. The basic facts about Karl Franz preferring Sissi to Helene are true although much of the rest is fanciful fabrication.

Verdict: Nothing spectacular, easy to take, but lacks that certain Hollywood panache. ***.