An absolute waste of money

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.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

"Sissi" is an Austrian German-language movie that is having its 60th anniversary this year. And it is not only the defining film in Romy Schneider (too short) career, but often also considered one of the best and most known period pieces that do not come from the United States. Here in Germany, everybody knows this movie, even younger generations, at least by name. The writer and director is Ernst Marischka, who has already made films for over 40 years when he made "Sissi". And he was also an Academy award nominee for writing the screenplay "A Song to Remember". There's 2 more Sissi films by Marischka and this trilogy is certainly his most known legacy. All 3 films star Romy Schneider, her mother Magda and Karlheinz Böhm as the male lead.I must say Romy Schneider is absolutely stunning and in terms of costumes, sets and basically all kinds of visuals, this is a very decent watch. Too bad, the story is not even close to that level of quality. It is cheesy, predictable and does not include convincing character elaborations. Sadly, the acting is not exactly that good either. But in all fairness, the material is so weak at times that it would be pretty much impossible for any actor to make this work, or even make it a compelling watch. The ending of the film obviously indicated that there would be a sequel, but to me another "Sissi" movie was not necessary judging from the first. The characters are all so stereotypical, all good or bad, but really hardly any shades at all. And the way you will inevitable feel for Sissi is not enough to make up for everything that's wrong with this movie. Apart from that, it also comes somewhat short on the emotional side compared to what it could have been. The humor (mostly about Böhm's character's assistant) is bearable at best, rarely funny, occasionally cringeworthy. The political aspects are references at times, but never really elaborated on, which makes this movie pointless in terms of history. A disappointing film that does not deserve its cult status. Not recommended.

I have seen this movie 3 years ago from the SBS TV channel in Australia. I really like this movie and also the other 2 movies Sissi 2 & Sissi 3. This story covers love, the obstacles to becoming Empress, the stumbles of the relationship with her mother-in-law and there are also some comedy scenes and funny conversations in all of the movies Sissi 1-3. Lucky me, I have seen this movie (3 of them) with English subtitles and German language, so for me this presentation is a more valuable experience to see. The DVD box set of the movie Sissi can be bought online from www.ezydvd.com.au. The presentation of the movie from that DVD box set includes original German language and English subtitles.

I certainly love the Sissi saga :everytime it's broadcast,I find myself watching for the umpteenth time these three films which the highbrows despise so much.I read several biographies of the empress and it's stating the obvious to say it's fictionalized history (the right term would be "fairytaled" history for this first episode strongly recalls Cinderella).Romy Schneider did not think much of her part and she used to approve of Visconti's Elisabeth she played in "Ludwig" (1973)."Sissi" is pure entertainment ;all the characters are endearing :the colonel provides a good comic relief ,Sophie is a perfect villainess,the witch, ,Ludovica the good fairy,Max the bon vivant,the swarm of children a foretaste of the "sound of music" -the Trapp were Austrian,weren't they?-and the lovers ,Franz and Sissi are as close as fairytale prince and princess as they can be.I certainly love the Sissi saga.Down with the highbrows!

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.