The 1955 Austrian movie Sissy, starring Romy Schneider, Karlheinz Böhm, Magda Schneider, Uta Franz, Gustav Knuth, Vilma Degischer, and Josef Meinrad, was directed by Ernst Marischka. The first film in the trilogy on Empress Elisabeth of Austria, sometimes known as “Sisi” to her family, is titled Sissy. The Young Empress and Fateful Years of an Empress came after it.
Plot of Sissy
The second oldest child of Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria is Princess Elisabeth, also known as “Sissy.” She is an impetuous, carefree, and naturalist young girl. She grows up with her seven siblings in the family home, Possenhofen Castle, which is located in Bavaria on the shores of Lake Starnberg. She enjoys a pleasant childhood free from the restrictions that come with being a princess.
Sissy, 16, travels from Possenhofen to the spa town of Bad Ischl in Upper Austria with her mother and her reserved older sister Helene (referred to as “Néné”). The young Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I’s mother is Archduchess Sophie, a sister of Ludovika. Archduchess Sophie summons Helene to the imperial villa so that she can meet the young emperor Franz Joseph and they can get married right away. Sissy is not aware of the true purpose of the trip, and her aunt forbids her from attending any social gatherings because of her girlishly impetuous behaviour.
Franz Josef as a young emperor in Hungarian regalia, 1853, Miklós Barabás Sissy spends her time fishing in the forest, where she meets Franz Josef by chance. The girl is his cousin Sissy, although the emperor is unaware of this. She strikes up a friendship with him, and he asks her on an afternoon hunting expedition in the Alps. They meet as planned in the mountains and chat while getting to know one another. Sissy develops feelings for him but keeps her true identity a secret. Sissy discovers the impending nuptials between Franz Joseph and her sister when they are travelling. The Emperor acknowledges that he has no feelings for Néné and that he envies the man who will wed Sissy. Because of her devotion to Néné, Sissy is upset to hear his veiled proclamation of love. She abandons Franz Joseph and flees without giving a reason.
Néné confesses the purpose of the journey to Bad Ischl when Sissy gets back to their house: to propose to Franz Joseph. The Prince of Lippe unexpectedly joins the party, and the Archduchess asks Sissy to be his partner at the Emperor’s birthday celebration. Franz Joseph is abruptly confronted with Sissy’s arrival at his birthday party together with her mother and sister. As soon as he realises who Sissy is, he reaches out to her, boldly declaring his love for her and proposing marriage. Franz Joseph is rejected by Sissy so that she won’t betray her sister. To the amazement of his guests, he announces his engagement to Sissy in spite of his mother’s objections and Sissy’s resistance. Néné departs the gathering crying because she is heartbroken. Sissy, who is in shock, is made to comply with the Emperor’s instructions.
The wedding preparations have begun in Possenhofen. Sissy is not anticipating her upcoming wedding because Néné, who was hurt, has departed for good. For the sake of her sister, Sissy tries to call off the wedding, but Néné shows up with a new suitor: Maximilian Anton, the Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis. When the sisters get together again, Néné approves of Sissy’s engagement.
Sissy and her family take the riverboat “Franz Joseph” down the Danube to Vienna for the wedding ceremony. People throng the riverbank, supporting their future Empress while waving flags. Sissy arrives in a gilded carriage and enters the city as part of a magnificent parade. On April 24, 1854, the marriage takes place in the Augustinian Church.
Cast:
In the role of Sissy, or Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Romy Schneider
As Austria’s Emperor Franz Joseph I, Karlheinz Böhm
As Duchess Ludovika in Bavaria, the mother of Sissy and the sister of Sophie, Magda Schneider
Uta Franz as Sissy’s older sister, “Nené,” Princess Helene of Bavaria
Sissy’s father, Duke Maximilian Joseph, played by Gustav Knuth in Bavaria
As the Gendarmerie’s Major Böckl, Josef Meinrad
Hi! Saheli Banerji is a writer and novelist who has been featured on a variety of platforms for her distinct way of depicting real-life stories as well as the exotic and supernatural creatures of the earth. She likes to write poetry and sketch cartoons. You can contact her on LinkedIn. You can also follow her on https://xngrilaproductions.com