Why did the Sissi myth come about? When were the Sissi films shot and who were the two main actors in the film trilogy? How was their life?
The Life of Empress Elisabeth was filmed in 1955 , starring Romy Schneider and Karlheinz Böhm . The premiere was on December 21, 1955 in Vienna, directed by Ernst Marischka. The first film was called Sissi . When the film proved a huge hit at the box office , the sequels were made. Sissi – the young empress (1956) and Sissi – fateful years of an empress (1957) . The film series is one of the most successful German-language film productions and made both actors famous. Millions of visitors flocked to the cinemas, everyone wanted to see Sissi.
Through the portrayal of the young and lovely empress by Romy Schneider, a romanticized image of Elisabeth was created, which did not correspond to reality. It was the post-WWII era and people were starving for an idyllic setting like the one featured in this trilogy. In reality, Sisi was aloof and did not want to be portrayed or photographed from the age of 30. She rarely appeared in public, and this precisely sparked great interest and curiosity among people.
Romy Schneider was born on September 23, 1938 in Vienna. Her mother was the German actress Magda Schneider, who also played her mother in the Sissi trilogy. Her father was the Viennese actor Wolf Albach-Retty. Romy later distanced herself from the role. Throughout her life, she was “reduced” to the Sissi films, which, however, also brought her great breakthrough worldwide. At 20 years old, she filmed Liebelei by Arthur Schnitzler with Alain Delon. She went to Paris because of him, and they became a couple. In 1969, she filmed La Piscine with Alain Delon. This film was also very successful. When the relationship with Alain broke up after a few years because of another woman, Romy Schneider went back to Germany heartbroken. She was married twice and had two children. Her son died in a tragic accident while climbing over a fence. Romy Schneider was found dead over her desk at the age of 43 . To this day, the rumors about suicide will not be silenced.
Karlheinz Böhm, who was born on March 16, 1928 in Darmstadt, had a father from Graz and a mother from Munich. He had Austrian citizenship and was a successful actor, appearing in around 45 films. Karlheinz became known and famous primarily for his project “Menschen für Menschen.” With this, he helped needy people in Ethiopia to have a better life. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 86 years. Karlheinz Boehm was married four times and left behind ten children.
To this day, it is a tradition to show the Sissi film trilogy at Christmas on Austrian television. In numerous other films, musicals and books , Elisabeth was memorialized. The myth of Sissi has lost none of its topicality to this day and shows a woman who became a legend due to her unusual lifestyle . She was way ahead of her time and would sure be a successful influencer on Instagram these days. Many also compared Princess Diana to Empress Elisabeth. Both of their lives came to a tragic end, and perhaps that is exactly why they remain in our memory forever.
Tip from Sisi’s Amazing Journey: The Sissi trilogy is worth watching and a must for every Sissi fan.
