Cristina

There are a surprising number of movies called Christine- a John Carpenter horror movie about a car, a depressing TV movie from the 1980s, and a biographical film about an emotionally troubled newsreader and the dramatic end of her life from a few years ago (to date, I've only seen the second of those).

There's also 1958's Christine, which, to be honest, I mostly chose to watch because it has baby Alain Delon in it.

It's beautiful people in beautiful locations a wrapped up in a fairly straightforward romantic drama storyline with a period setting. I don't think there was a lot to it, but it was a decent enough watch... there are certainly worse ways to spend 100 minutes or so.

"Liebelei" was one of Max Ophuls's triumphs in the thirties .One should notice it was Romy's mother (Magda Schneider) who was the lead.The first thing to bear in mind is that "Liebelei" was BARELY a romantic story.A harsh tale,more like,where princes do not generally marry shepherdesses.For the young hero ,Christine is only a liebelei (passing fancy;amourette). A quarter of century later,the screenplay had been watered-down and cheapened.Romy Schneider taking on her mother's part was perhaps not a very good idea in the first place.Delon and Schneider met during the shoot and they became THE lovers of the late fifties/early sixties. As for "Christine" it's a tragedy ("liebelei" ) turning soap opera ,even if the ending was kept .Supporting cast includes Micheline Presles,Jean-Claude Brialy and Fernand Ledoux.Schneider's voice was dubbed in the original version ,for her French was not good enough at the time.With terrible results ,because the voice that dubs her (like in "Sissi" ) borders on silliness.

After "Christine" and a very small cameo of Romy in "Plein soleil" (the talented M.Ripley ,first version) ,Delon and Schneider would reunite twice :in "la piscine" (1968) and in "the assassination of Trotsky" (1971);they had planned to team up in a third one ,directed by Granier-Deferre circa 1981,but Romy died in 1982.

Romy Schneider (1938-1982), one of those actresses about whom you can still say "She was a true artist" constantly makes us think of her various roles that she played with genuine passion. Perhaps, what comes to our mind first are the most famous roles from both her German and French career. Here, however, we see Romy in a remake movie built upon a love story: so touching, so universal where two lovers swear each other endless love and keep their promise. At the same time, CHRISTINE by Pierre Gaspard Huit, is a historic movie for Romy herself because it was here she met the "love of her life" - Alain Delon. But let me skip all of the background information now, including the remake nature of the film, and focus purely on the movie itself.

50 years have passed since its premiere and a typical question arises: Is CHRISTINE still a movie that you will at least consider "watchable"?

Let me make myself clear: CHRISTINE is nothing of a thought provoking film, no sort of ambitious content, no masterwork whatsoever. If you await something educational, intellectual or entertaining, this one will rather disappoint you. CHRISTINE's strong point, I think, is the beauty and emotions it conveys. It is not only the story that reminds many people of classic love dramas (some even overrated it as a German version of ROMEO AND JULIET), but the way the story is executed. It's a very romantic picture filled with moments of affection, nostalgia, subtleness and mystery. The action takes place in Vienna in 1906 at the very twilight of the Habsburgian reign. However, that historical aspect constitutes a significant background for all the rest. The cameraman very well managed to combine this picture with the focus of our attention, the couple: Christine (Romy Schneider) and Fritz (Alain Delon). Such images remained in my memory as the opera in the theater where the emperor Franz Joseph takes part; little charming cafés that the couple visit; sweet balls of aristocracy and an "outdoor picnic". What a peaceful life in the monarchy, which is, of course, partly illusive!

There are some lovely scenes in the movie that we should not ignore. First of all, it is Fritz's visit to Christine's house and his meeting with her father, a musician. The moment they talk about music is interrupted by the picture of Christine singing "Ave Maria" on rehearsals. Besides, a significant moment is their voyage which gives us an insight into a very nice mood. Another beautiful moment is the echo "I love you". The final closeup on Christine's face appears to be a very memorable moment of the whole movie. I am aware that you may find this sweet and unnatural - such a chocolate with sugar, like WENN DER WEISSE FLIEDER, MONPTI, MAEDCHENJAHRE EINER KOENIGIN, etc. Yet, it all directs our thinking towards something positive. That is, in my opinion, what makes these movies pleasant to watch.

However, I don't think that I have already encouraged many movie buffs to watch CHRISTINE. In fact, a lot of modern people do not like sentimentality, tragic stories of love with duels and vows. Yet, I insist saying that you should see it. It's due to one more aspect: performances! In such love stories, the most important focus is the couple, if they are genuine in their performances, if viewers do not notice anything fake. Romy Schneider and Alain Delon perfectly meet these requirements! Schneider's buffs will find her performance exceptional. Others will find it marvelous. It seems clear that she was feeling very comfortable at Alain Delon's side. There is a chemistry between them and they both do very good jobs. The supporting cast are, of course, in the shadow but it does not lower anything.

A nice film far from masterpiece, yet very worth watching as a sentimental, nice movie about gentle love. Yes, after all this half century, there is still something valuable to discover. It is a pity that CHRISTINE has not become an important part of Romy's filmography because it is clearly Schneider-Delon's moment in the history of cinema. 7/10

At the beginning of the 20-th century, the tragic history of love among an Austrian officer and a girl of modest condition. The beauty of decorations and suits and the charm of the couple Romy Schneider-Alain Delon is the main attractions of this romantic drama.

This dramatic romance on the Austria in the turn of last century displays the romantic life of the official of the Austro-Hungarian empire and a fully portrait of an era where they was feared by their enemies nearby, before WWI, also the picture target on aristocracy and barracks where the army officers meanwhile the training, getting affairs with naïve ladies at Vienna in an idyllic lifestyle, on those gala events sponsored by the wealthy nobility, the picture exposes an awful truth, no military officials of the majestic Franz Joseph I weren't allowed marry no lady without a dowry, it was the rule, should be followed, otherwise they could be expelled of the army.

In this environment the young Lieutenant Franz Lobheiner (Alain Delon) has a forbidden and secret affair with the sexy mid-age Baroness Lena Eggersdorf (Micheline Presle), aside that Franz has a strong friendship with the "Don Juan" Lieutenant Theo Kaiser (Jean-Claude Brialy) together with some young officers of the garrison, they spend their free time on hard drunkenness and deceiving foolish girls on love affairs that end up in prematurely loss of the virginity, due they just want having fun, Franz is smooth and quiet one, he has been planned drop with this affair which can hamper his career at Austrian army, it wasn't for less, the Baroness is wife of a powerful and wealthy old man of the Vienna's society Baron Eggesdorf (Jean Galland).

He meets accidently the pretty shy girl Christine (Romy Schneider) at fancy Vienna's Coffee house, wherein has a dancing hall, hence followed by several Sunday's afternoon at Danube River at flamboyant park, they are getting closer and sooner as they think falling in love, for a couple weeks or so of intense feelings Frank decides break up with of possessive Baroness, meanwhile he didn't speak a word of Christine all about, however on the night meeting he is spotted by the jealous husband that demands a duel.

Talk about the angelical Romy Schneider one of beautiful actress on Europe at its time is pure redundancy, Romy Schneider is German Goddess, holder of a pristine godsend, this movie is something near of Romeo & Juliet's Austrian love story, actually in this movie Romy and Alain starts a hot love affair, sadly Christine wasn't a famous picture worldwide, nevertheless is enough good, sometimes a slight tedious and even slow, so idyllic to my taste, let it see!!

Thanks for reading.

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First watch: 2021 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.