Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Romy Schneider is "Sissi" in this 1955 film, the first of a trilogy about Empress Elisabeth of Austria.Sissi is not someone we are very familiar with in the United States, but in Europe, she enjoys a popularity similar to Princess Diana's. She is everywhere - candy boxes, dolls, you name it.This first film tells the story of the 15-year-old Sissi and her meeting with the man who would become her husband, Emperor Franz Josef, who was intended to be her sister Helene's husband; however, Josef fell for Sissi instead.Sissi fortunately lived at a time when there were no tabloids or tell-all books. She was a complicated woman who is seen as a romantic figure. In truth she was either bulimic or anorexic, though the latter appears to be the case, she had psychosomatic illnesses related to being at court - whenever she got away from the court, she recovered. She was incredibly vain, obsessed with her appearance to the extent that she never allowed anyone to paint her after the age of 30.Sissi also was a free spirit who had difficulty handling the constraints of court. We see in the film that she was raised by a father who was very gemutlichkeit, fun-loving, and he encouraged his children to play and enjoy life. She was responsible for the good relations between Austria and Hungary -- in fact, Sissi is even more idolized in Hungary than in Austria, if that's possible. Her son, Rudolf, was found dead with his lover at Mayerling, a hunting lodge, a story which has been told in film and books often. And her cousin was Mad Prince Ludwig.This film covers the time up to her marriage, and Romy Schneider is both beautiful and charming in the role. The film is so pretty, with gorgeous scenery and costumes, as well as some beautiful classical music. Schneider went on to play Sissi in the two other films.These movies are shown in Europe at Christmas.Sissi has been the subject of a musical and an operetta (that I know of), several plays, two ballets, countless films, TV mini-series, several books, and is the subject of a song. This film is like something Disney would produce, very lovely, and more a fairy tale than the real story.

I am well familiar with the story of the Empress Elizabeth. While the basic facts are all here, the story may have been both simplified and sweetened to present it in a movie. However, the end result is a thoroughly delightful and strongly idealized version of historical events. Both Sissi and the emperor are presented as extremely likable, visually appealing characters, interacting in a fairly-like story. The entire movie plays like a fairy tale and is visually very appealing. The majestic beauty of the Bavarian scenery contrasts with the opulent setting of the Viennese court. The costumes, manners, music, dances - all true to the period. I did not expect to like it as much as I did and would recommend it to all lovers of historical drama and 19th century Austrian history in particular.

Sissi is sometimes thought to be a rather silly name but that'sen quite besides the point-en jar? We have to bear in mind-en that this was the 19th centurion dafter they didn't quite think these things out. People then were too busy trying to invent electricity rather than thinking about decent names to call their children. And what about Franz? "Sissi and Franz" sounds a bit like "Tom and Jerry", except that they love each other and drink a lot of alcohol. In fact, I know some people who have heard that Sissi and Franz used to go for their holiday-sen in Ibiza and party hard over there. They used to go crazy. Luckily in the movie they cut out all the "inedaquate" parts and instead installed bits of schmooze over-romanticized mushy gaily plots such as "Oh dear, Herr Franz, please pick up a flower for me and I will be yours forever! Herr Franz, stop playing with Nintendo!". That is why I gave it a rather low vote. Siis was very inspiring - we will go hunting very soon, but we are hippies so we would rather kiss the deer instead of shooting it jar? - the grass was too green. For the next time, let's get back from this movie meant a lot to me. it left a permanent mark in my heart. it opened up a rivulet of fresh steaming passion that has been like a guiding light throughout my humble life. this movie set out my role models, revealing their most intimate thoughts and behaviors jar? when i met my wife, the love of my life, the light of my eyes, i was a Franz to my Sissi. And we went to Ibiza, and I picked up the flower, and we lived happily forever in the green hills of Vienna. i recommend every Bozen to watch this film.

A very young and innocent girl marries the powerful ruler of the most powerful empire on earth. Why? Because she loves him dearly. If that is not sweet. And it is also not far from the truth. Of course it helps that she was a little princess - only of Bavaria but of royal blood (I think). Of course everybody loved her - well, she got killed by someone eventually, but that is not in the film and it does not prove anything anyway. If you know Romy Schneider only from her later (mostly French) films do not even try to imagine how beautiful and charming, well sweet she was. She made two sequels. All three films will be valued as the highest art in the million years to come by anyone who can enjoy a fairy tale.