Mädchen in Uniform

'It's a Romy Schneider film!', my mum said happily when she read the announcement in her TV guide. It is indeed, but I didn't quite dare inform my mum of the contents, seeing as she knew Romy only by the Sissi films. I love this film. I immediately fell in love with Lilli Palmer. Perhaps not as important or shocking as the 1931 version (yes, I have seen it) but still an interesting film. I especially like the outdoors shots in this film. The scene where Fräulein Von Bernburg gives Manuela one of her own shirts is lovely. I understood Romy Schneider was attempting to lose her Sissi image at the time. She succeeded in my opinion. My mum was somewhat surprised after watching it, but in the end she decided she liked it after all. So do I. Seven points out of ten.

Leontine Sagan's 1931 classic movie underwent some changes: the military side was sweetened and the patriotic hymns turned canticles ; the thirst of vengeance after WW1 was intense and girls were always remembered that they were soldiers ' daughters and future soldiers' mothers.The zeitgeist was different in the late fifties .

Yet Geza Radvanyi 's remake was useful because many people would never have watched the black and white version ;and thanks to the two principals ,this is a good remake ;Lili Palmer gives a restrained but extremely sensitive performance .As for Romy Schneider ,it was an act of self-renewal :sick and tired of her schmaltzy Sissi saga ,she wanted to get rid of this nice empress's clothes , her shirt of Nessus ,and the part of a girl who falls in love with her (female ) teacher was a godsend.She is extremely attractive ,in Romeo's clothes (Sagan 's Schiller was replaced by Shakespeare ,not a bad choice,because the English playwright's work depicts a doomed love )

Radvanyi would direct Schneider again ,this time in a mushy comedy " Ein Engel auf Erde" ;but it does not matter ; with "Mädchen " ,the actress had begun her move towards brighter horizons.

Before watching "Mädchen in Uniform" I knew Romy Schneider only as "Sissi" and had absolutely no clue who Lilli Palmer was. First, I was suspicious: A German movie from the fifties? Should be another ridiculous comedy with a lot of colourful pictures and "funny" music. But what a surprise the drama was!

First of all: It was very courageous. If you think at the time the movie was shot in I find it courageus to make a drama about homosexuality and furthermore about a forbidden passion between a teacher and a student.

And then of course: Romy Schneider. In her young years she is best known for such ridiculous films as "Sissi" or "Wenn der weiße Flieder wieder blüht". But "Mädchen in Uniform" is the most remarkable one. There she shows: I am much more and more serious than you think and I am not just a nice little girl always looking pretty, lovely and smiling into the camera. I think, after she made this movie it was clear that she would make a great career because she is a gifted, exceptional actress.

And of course Lilli Palmer: Beautiful, proud, very lady-like, elegant and full of seriousness but very young at the same time. I'm out of words if it comes to describing her talent. But I think, you all agree if I say that she is one of the greatest German actresses.

A great movie, definetely one of the most important German dramas od the fifties and always worth remembering and watching it over and over again. Besides: There is some good taste of humour in it.

Manuela (Romy Schneider) looks like an angel, like a being of unreal beauty, an alien lost among ugly, evil, false beings. The exception being Elisabeth von Bernburg (Lilli Palmer), whom you can't help but fall in love with, she's of divine beauty and goodness. Even the old scorpion Headmistress (Therese Giehse) finally gives in, giving her justice. But it's too late, too much injustice has already happened. Excellent film made by Géza von Radványi, without any male character, not even one male actor plays in this production.

I have no summary for the movie; I think the persons above me have already summarized it. I just wanted to say that this movie really touched me and that I disagree with some of the comments about Lily Palmer and Romy Schneider not doing a good job on this movie. I was really impressed by the way they acted and I was really pulled into the movie. There is no need for beautiful sets or great effects around it if the actors do such a good job! You could really see how Lily Palmer portrayed a woman who wanted to help but also had to be firm in a way to stay at the school. And also how Romy Schneider portrayed her role as such an innocent and vulnerable child who has just lost her mother and her struggles with this.