Maria Theresia (film)
Maria Theresia is an Austrian fiction film from 1951 with Paula Wessely in the lead role and directed by Emil E. Reinert . Alternative title: Maria Theresia - A woman wears the crown .
action
In 1762 the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa was asked by a fire letter from the front how to proceed in the war against Prussia . She opts for an end to the war and peace , even if she finds it difficult to concentrate on her affairs of state. She has private worries, so she suspects her husband Franz I Stephan once again with his lover, Countess Aliano. Maria Theresa spends the night alone. The next morning, her son brings her a locket that the father lost. The portrait in the jewel shows Countess Aliano.
Maria Theresa withdraws to the uninhabited part of the Hofburg and loses herself in memories. She met the beautiful Countess Aliano at a masked ball in Schönbrunn Palace and shortly afterwards made her her youngest lady-in-waiting . When she suspected a relationship between the countess and the emperor, she married her to Prince Trautperg, who a little later had a fatal accident while hunting . Maria Theresa felt guilty and therefore gave the widowed Countess Aliano to understand that she was always happy to be seen at court.
When a secret despatch for the Empress arrives at the Hofburg , Count Kaunitz searches in vain for her. During the night the emperor did not stay with the countess but at the gaming table. He learns that his wife cannot be found and discovers the medallion with the portrait of the Countess on her desk. His search leads him to the uninhabited part of the Hofburg, where he meets Maria Theresa. Both speak out and realize that they still love each other. Together they return to the official part of the castle. Maria Theresa opens the secret message - it is the news that the war with Prussia has officially ended and peace is now reigning.
Production and Background
The Filmbauten designed Werner Schlichting , the costumes come from the hand Gerdagos . Otto Dürer took over the production management. The Paula Wessely Filmproduktion GmbH released the film. Paula Wessely usually took on the leading role in her productions. The film was shot in Schönbrunn Palace , the Hofburg , Hetzendorf Palace and in the studios of the Vienna Film .
The film ran in the Federal Republic of Germany on December 18, 1951 and in Austria on December 19, 1951. The film premiered in France on May 25, 1954. The French title was L'impératrice Marie-Thérèse . The film was shown in Australia, Belgium and Canada under the English title: Empress Marie Therese
Historical reference: Maria Theresa (1717–1780) had to endure the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) immediately after assuming her rule . The conflict grew into a global war. The Seven Years' War began in 1756 and ended with the Peace of Hubertusburg in 1763 . Although it lost Silesia to Prussia, it was able to preserve all other Habsburg possessions. "Better a mediocre peace than a glorious war," the Empress is said to have said when signing the peace treaty.
With no domestic power of his own and no significant military or political talent, Maria Theresa's husband Franz I Stephan (1708–1765) devoted himself primarily to the financial security of the imperial family - with which he was very successful; the affairs of state were conducted by his wife alone. The couple shared a deep affection, also because they valued each other even before marriage. The marriage was quite happy, although Franz Stephan had various affairs. The two had 16 children together.
criticism
“In real kuk building splendor, in the halls of the Hofburg and in Schönbrunn, Paula Wessely indulges herself between regent duties and marital grief with her Franzl, sometimes pathetically majestic, sometimes liab weanerisch. Some of the dialogues are taken from the received documents. The Empress and her surroundings speak as if their mouths were corsetted just like their upper body. The film gets stuck between a historical flashback and a belittled rococo idyll. But reconcile castles, costumes and excellent photography. "
"The film with a nostalgic touch tries to hit the historical milieu, but mind and words triumph over the drama of the story."
Web links
- Maria Theresa in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Maria Theresia at filmportal.de
- More films about Maria Theresia
Individual evidence
- ↑ Maria Theresia In: Der Spiegel, issue 52/1951 of December 26, 1951
- ↑ Maria Theresia 1951 films.pierre-marteau.com