Austria's "Gone With the Wind" a trilogy of classic films called Sissi

The Sissi Collection

Have you ever been a tourist in Vienna, Austria? If so, then you have probably encountered its most famous historical icon, Elisabeth (Sissi) of Bavaria. At the young age of 16, she married her cousin Emperor Franz Joseph in 1860 and became Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia.

Sissi's mother-in-law along with the strict rules at Court did not mesh with Sissi’s bohemian upbringing and she was very unhappy. She quickly had three children, but was not allowed to raise them and so to soothe her sorrow she traveled.

Elisabeth was considered the most beautiful woman in Europe and she went to great lengths to preserve her looks. She followed a strict diet, performed gymnastics daily and even bathed in milk! Elisabeth was a fashion icon and reporters followed her every move. Truly she was like our modern Princess Diana.

Elisabeth, Empress of Austria

When Elisabeth’s son Rudolf, the crowned prince, committed suicide with his lover, Elisabeth's restlessness increased as she ran away from her grief. Her life ended tragically—she was murdered while on vacation in Geneva, Switzerland in 1898 at the age of 60 by an Italian anarchist, Luigi Lucheni. He stabbed her in the heart and she bled to death.

Elisabeth's romantic and intriguing life was immortalized by a trilogy of famous German films which play every Christmas on Austrian, German and French TV. They are: Sissi (1955), Sissi — die junge Kaiserin (1956) (Sissi — The Young Empress), Sissi — Schicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin (1957) (Sissi — Fateful Years of an Empress).

I first saw the movie Sissi while I was living in Austria in 1993. Some friends and I took a day trip from Vienna to visit one of Elisabeth's castles. Of course they were playing the movies there. We didn’t have time to stay and watch all three films so when I returned to the States, I searched everywhere for them, but they were no where to be found.

Scene from the movie Sissi

Two years later, my younger sister was living in the Netherlands and also introduced to Sissi. She too saw the first film and then madly searched for the others on her return to the States, but couldn't find them anywhere.

In 2006, I returned to Vienna for a few days of vacation with my Hubby and there in every gift shop were the films! Finally! But, they were European DVD format and without English subtitles (my German was a little rusty by then). Still, I purchased them and took them home to watch on my Mac.

So can you imagine my surprise when I was browsing Netflix a month ago and saw the entire trilogy available with English subtitles for instant enjoyment. I was thrilled beyond belief! Now everyone can enjoy the romance and fall in love with the classic Austrian movie trilogy Sissi! I highly recommend these films for the whole family; I only wish that they were dubbed so my daughter could watch them.

Now, they did condense the three movies into one in 1962 that was in English and called, Forever My Love. But, I can’t find a single positive thing about it on the Internet so take the time to enjoy the trilogy instead.

Romy Schneider as Sissi