Moira, I must confess that I became interested in Elisabeth because of “The King Steps Out”. There is much information on the web about her, including many pictures of her. In some she looked incredibly beautiful, but mostly she looked very stern. All sources say she led a very unhappy life.moirafinnie wrote:I'd heard about The King Steps Out, Fossy, but now your description really makes me want to track down a copy (I have a fascination with Elisabeth of Austria too).
And btw, welcome to the website and thanks for sharing your enthusiasms.
As well as “The King Steps Out” I have in my collection “The Fall Of Eagles” (1974) and “Mayerling”(1936).
“The Fall Of Eagles” is a four disc, thirteen episode series made by BBC and relates to the fall of the Austro Hungarian, German And Russian Royal Houses. Chapter one relates the meeting of the young Franz Joseph and the princesses Helene and Elisabeth. Apparently special dispensation had already been given by the Pope for Franz Joseph to marry Helene. ( They were first cousins). A later episode relates in some detail the events at Mayerling.
“Mayerling” is based on the novel “Idylls End” by Claude Anet and is the tragic story of the adulterous love affair between 35 year old Crown Prince Rudolf (son of Elisabeth) and 17 year old Maria Vetsera. Rudolf was portrayed by Charles Boyer and Maria by the incredibly beautiful Danielle Darrieux. ( Danielle recently celebrated her 93rd birthday).
Having been refused a Papal annulment, banned from seeing Maria by the Emperor, and with Maria threatened with life imprisonment in a convent, the lovers chose murder/suicide rather than be separated.
An interesting aside about this movie is that I bought it through Ebay Australia from an American Company (Movie Mars). It is in French with English subtitles and sent to me from Germany.