The Age of Commercialism

Highly Overrated But Still Good

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Romy Schneider is "Sissi: The Young Empress," Empress Elisabeth of Austria, in this 1956 film, the second of the popular trilogy. Schneider was nearly 18 at the time, and absolutely beautiful and charming in the role.I need to say here, for anyone non-European or anyone who has not spent time in Austria, Germany, Hungary, etc., Sissi was the Princess Diana of her day and in fact, remains popular. Her face is on everything from candy wrappers to pins, pocket watches, necklaces - she's everywhere. She's been the subject of musicals, countless books, TV miniseries, plays, and films.As others have pointed out, this is an idealized story of Sissi, with lots of facts left out as well as the more negative aspects of Sissi's personality - her anorexia, for one. Here, she is still in the honeymoon phase with her husband, the Emperor Franz Josef; and she is also anxious to help to build a good relationship with Hungary.Sissi runs into problems when she becomes pregnant with her daughter Sophie, and her mother-in-law, convinced that Sissi is too young to be a good mother, takes the child from her in order to raise her. Angry that Franz will not stand up to his mother and instead, takes her side, Sissi leaves him and returns home to her family. It's pointed out to her that she has duties as a royal that must be fulfilled.In actuality, Sissi's mother-in-law was worse to her than shown in the film. Also, by the time she becomes Queen of Hungary, she has three children but the film only speaks of one, Sophie, who by then is deceased.These films are incredibly popular in Europe and I believe are shown at Christmas. The color is beautiful, the costumes and furnishings are gorgeous - these films are truly a treat for the eyes.Read up on Sissi to get the real story, and enjoy these romanticized films for what they are: Sissi-lite.

....and she will have them all on her side,says Duchess Ludovica (Magda Schneider) to her son-in -law who is none other than the Emperor of Austria Franz-Joseph.In real life ,Elisabeth was not as lucky as Romy Schneider's character:not only her first daughter died (the one we see in this part of the trilogy)at a very early age (two) but she was also estranged from her second one ,Gisèle (whom we see in the third "schicksal (sic)" segment.As for her only son,the doom-fated Rudolph,she was never allowed to take care of his education,although she intervened once to snatch him from the clutches of Gondrecourt -who fired several shots in the Kronprinz 's bedroom to gently wake him up.The only one she had for her was her last,Valerie.So we find Sissi battling against her sinister mother-in-law,a stickler for form.She has to strike back ,not only to get her child again ,but also for count Andrassy and his Hungarians the old lady will always consider her enemies.There is a charming moment when Sissi and Franz take a holiday in the mountains.And as always,in the last scenes,pomp and circumstance prove that the love you take is equal to the love you make.I will always love the Sissi saga.It's part of my childhood.Forever,my love.

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!!!

Loved it as a romantic teenager in Holland in 1956 - now I'm a senior in Australia and still love it. It brings back wonderful memories of my youth. Sure it is sweet and most probably not a completely true story, but who cares ? I'll see it anytime, it's a shame they don't make movies like this anymore.