The Sissi Collection

I’ve known the original, three part version from my childhood. I was delighted to get a hold of the DVD version. I love that there is an English dubbed version, although it is the one where they combined the three and took out several scenes (side stories). This way we have one version that is a reasonable length and English speaking.The storyline, the actors and actresses are extremely lovable. There is humor, kindness, beauty and history through and through. As a Hungarian descendant I love the way Sissi is portrayed. My daughters (6-7) enjoy the princess story and I don’t have to skip any scenes. Perfectly family friendly!

This delightful trilogy tells the story of Elisabeth of Bavaria (nicknamed Sisi) who ascended to the Austrian throne at the age of 16 upon marrying her cousin Franz-Josef. In doing so, she became Empress of Austria and beloved Queen of Hungary.Elisabeth's beauty was legendary. 17-year old Romy Schneider was perfect in the role of the enchanting, outgoing, free-spirit. She plays Sisi from the age of 15 to her mid-20s when the last film ends.The films were made between 1955 and 1957 as an Austro-German co-production under the helm of Austrian director Ernst Marischka. They are not historically accurate. They are in the style of mid-50s romantic comedies, good-natured and innocent and with a large dose of cornball humour. To modern viewers they may appear dated, schmaltzy and yes corny.The first film "Sissi" is my favourite. It has the most pageantry and is the archetypal romance with the fairy-tale ending. It begins with Elisabeth's chance meeting with the young Franz-Josef, literally "hooking" him while out fishing in the lakes around Austria's picturesque Salzkammergut. It chronicles their secret whirlwind romance against the wishes of their parents and ends with the lavish Royal Wedding in Vienna amidst general rejoicing."Sissi: Die Junge Kaiserin" (The Young Empress) charts the first year of her marriage to Franz-Josef, her unhappiness at court, the meddling of her mother-in-law, her championing of Hungarian rights and ends with the Hungarian coronation."Sissi: Der Shicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin" (The Fateful Years of an Empress) chronicles her estrangement from the Austrian court, her diagnosis with a severe lung disease, presumably tuberculosis and her moving to warmer climes; her travels to Madeira, Corfu, Athens, Milan and Venice. The third film takes the most liberties in conflating fact and fiction. All the sad parts of her life have been removed or altered. The film ends with the Imperial Family meeting the Pope at St Mark's Basilica in Venice. The final lingering shot is of the happy family waving at their loyal Italian subjects in the Piazza San Marco as the band strikes up Haydn's rousing Kaiserhymne one last time.Each of the 3 films is presented on its own individual disc. Disc 4 contains the 139min abridged version shown in America. It is recut with scenes reordered and dubbed into English and contains a new title song "Forever My Love" sung in English. In doing so it omits the original Sissi theme music. It is too truncated for my liking though American viewers averse to reading subtitles and not wanting to spend 5-plus hours on the originals may find this a worthwhile substitute.Disc 5 contains the 1954 film "Mädchenjahre einer Königin" (Youthful Years of a Queen). 15-year old Romy Schneider plays Britain's newly crowned Queen Victoria. Amidst the scheming to get her married off to one or other of the royal houses of Europe, she travels to Dover and falls madly in love with a dashing young man who turns out to be the love of her life, Prince Albert of the German House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Like the Sissi films this is also a light-hearted romance with humour provided in the form of the 3-stooges-like ladies-in-waiting and the young Queen's bumbling old manservant. Nice costumes and sets but not on the scale of the Sissi films. And the lovely Miss Schneider is much too beautiful to be believable as the stumpy, dour-faced Queen. Still it is a nice change from the Austrian court. And after 4 films filled with the Kaiserhymne (Deutschlandslied), it's actually a pleasure to hear "God Save The Queen" once again. The film is in German with optional English subtitles.Picture quality is excellent in the main Sissi Trilogy. The entire trilogy has been restored and remastered. A few scattered instances of damaged and off-colour segments can be found but they are thankfully rare. All 3 films are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio (fullscreen). Sound quality is clear 1.0 mono, although it tends to be very bright, noticeable especially when the children come screeching onto the screen. Overall, very pleasing picture and acceptable sound. Optional English subtitles are provided. The 139min American version has NOT been restored. Contrast is set pretty high, the image looks a lot brighter, washed out at times, and colours are slightly off - Franz's blue uniform looks almost green at times. "Mädchenjahre einer Königin" has similarly not been restored and suffers from the same deficiencies. Still they are watchable, about comparable to a TV broadcast of vintage 50s material. Extras are pretty limited: A trailer each for the first and last Sissi films and a vintage 18-minute "Behind the Scenes" featurette for "Die Junge Kaiserin" on Disc 2. Romy Schneider takes us through the filming at the Schönbrunn Summer Palace, the honeymoon in the Tyrolean Alps, and Fuchsl Castle which stands in for Sisi's childhood home of Possenhofen. Three truly delightful gems from the past, beautifully restored. The price though should be a little lower.

"The Sissi Collection" is an absolute cinematic treasure, featuring the timeless talent of Romy Schneider and the visionary direction of Ernst Marischka. This box set, which includes the beloved Sissi trilogy and Schneider's earlier film, "Victoria in Dover," is a five-star gem that showcases the beauty of classic cinema.Romy Schneider's portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria is nothing short of iconic. Her grace, charm, and emotional depth bring the character to life in a way that has left an indelible mark on film history. Schneider's performance is a testament to her acting prowess, making it impossible not to fall in love with the enchanting world of Sissi.Ernst Marischka's direction in the Sissi trilogy is a masterclass in storytelling and cinematography. He transports the audience to a bygone era of grandeur and romance, with stunning visuals and a captivating narrative that unfolds over the course of the three films. The box set allows viewers to immerse themselves fully in the captivating world of Sissi and appreciate Schneider's evolution as an actress."Victoria in Dover," a precursor to the Sissi films, offers a unique glimpse into Schneider's early career and her ability to shine even in her formative years. Her portrayal of Britain's Princess Victoria foreshadows the greatness that was to come in her iconic role as Empress Elisabeth.The Sissi Collection is not just a box set; it's a cinematic journey through time, offering a glimpse into the golden age of film. Whether you're a long-time admirer of Romy Schneider's work or discovering it for the first time, this collection is a must-have. It's a celebration of classic cinema and the enduring appeal of romance and royalty. "The Sissi Collection" is a five-star masterpiece that deserves a place in every film lover's collection.

Very satisfied!

初めてのブルーレイのSiSiシリーズ、外国ウェブサイトのコメントの通り、SiSiシリーズの4:3と16:9の二つの映像バージョンを再生できますが、16:9の映像は4:3の上下を切り抜いたものです。画質はDVD版より明るくなってきました。音声はドイツ語、字幕は英語だけです。またVictoria in DoverのDVDはなかなかないので、この際に一緒に購入しました。BonusディスクはDVDの総集編ですので、減点です。

This is a set of 5 DVD 's. Considering the age of the origional film in 1957, the picture is incredibly smooth & clear.This story is of Elizabeth (Sissie) Princess of Bavaria who married into the Austrian Empire. Her whole life story is retold in great detail with style. The costumes, acting and details are awesome. This is a film the whole family will enjoy.It has a very contagious, feel good factor with watching this very long set of 5 DVD's. Worth every penny & more.!

Coming Europe I have been so happy to found this collection. It has subtitle, but you can turn them off... very happy

A beautiful restoration of the three Sissi films, plus the first proper version with English subtitles. After so many years with only the rather heavily edited (three films into one film!!) and quite awful dubbed version available, finally the three films are available. Plus, the DVD boxed set has some great extras, including the dubbed version, which is quite interesting to compare with the newly restored subtitled films.