Die schöne Lügnerin

Another of the earlier Romy movies, the period when she had been regularly playing Cinderella, with a known historical touch (Sissy, Deutschmeister or even Mädchenjahre einer Königin) or sometime without history (e.g. Scampolo).

This one is almost from the first category, there are historical characters (Tsar Alexander I, Prince Metternich of Austria, and even Empress Marie Louise & off screen Napoleon I), though the disclaimers tells that there is no history in it, unlike her Marischka's historical ones, which had been closer to fact.

The story is thin, the poor Cinderalla, for a change is wooed by four persons, of varied power.

Two of them, A Prince of France, a regular philanderer, and Tsar is not with very honorable intentions, at least the Tsar didn't have any intention to make a Tsarina of her (though not mentioned in story, but history tells that he already had one at home).

The original sweet heart of course had to have honourable intentions, though there is the father, who is the thorn. Being son of a Prince (non-royal), and only child, this marriage would have been a mesalliance, which the Prince father naturally didn't want.

Then there was he second power-house of the time, after Tsar, Prince Metternich of Austria. His intention were political, and purely noncarnal

The result of course is predictable, and to get her favours, the power houses quite willingly showered largesses on the young sweet-heart, probably, with mistaken notion of compensation, which naturally doesn't happen in stories, where she would have the cakes and later eat them.

But there are some glowing inconsistencies, of rank. If the Tsar had coveted someone, I don't suppose anyone of much lower rank would have dared to cross his path, even Prince Metternich was only a minister to Emperor of Austria, though a powerful one.

But strangely they continued to openly defy him, aware of their act. The sweet-heart, I can appreciate, though probably he would have lost his head, literally, but this wasn't the case with others who openly crossed Tsar's path.

Another problem I faces (usually I do) is lack of subtitles, even on web only one is available, which is quite incomplete, and not in sync.

Plus points are of course Romy, and she even sang a song, I wonder with her voice, why she didn't a few more, either on screen, or off screen.

Not bad for a pastime, though this could be one of her weaker attempts on the same basic story., or may be it was direction/ script.

Huge Romy fan here. I've seen all of the costume heroine movies, Sissi, etc.. This movie is the weakest of the bunch. Same formula, different title. It's obvious Romy was bored playing historic figures because she looked bored , beautiful but bored.

Romy is going through the motions, doing what she has to do to get the job done asap! Romy longed to get out from under her mother's clutches and begin a new chapter in her career without her mother, PLAYING her mother in the costume movies actress Magda Schneider. By early 1960s Romy was no longer in demand. Romy chose isolation over work. Romy turned down FOUR plum leading lady jobs because " making movies was exhausting" The problem was Romy couldn't handle stardom, fame she bit off more than she could chew. With the exception of The Swimming Pool 1969 Romy was never to be a leading lady in a blockbuster ever again. SAD! This movie was a repeat of the same old same old costume pieces Romy looked so grown up and beautiful, but not happy. The gowns she wore were lovely. Romy fans of course I recommend you watch.

IT was a time Romy Schneider was sick and tired of playing

nice costume heroines in soap operas based on historic figures (Sissi,Victoria)or fiction (this one,among many others). One more -Siomak's "Katia"-,and she would leave for the broader horizons of Welles ,Visconti or Preminger.

Romy herself is going through the motions,she no longer possesses the stamina and the Joie De Vivre which made,even today ,the Sissi saga still enjoyable.It's an actress who is longing for something else ,and it would not be long before she ditched these "disgusting" pastries (Dixit Romy)

"Die Schöne Lügnerin" is one of the weakest efforts of the genre :it is an umpteenth update of "Cinderella" with elements borrowed from Sissi (including the actor who played Colonel :Josef Meinrad) or "Die Deutschmeister".

Light (very light) gallantries including this dressmaker and three male nobles :the czar of Russia,the prince of Metternich and a duke .

Jean-Claude Pascal ,who was a famous romantic lead in the fifties ,was already on the wane and he tried to move into singing in the sixties (he won the Eurovision contest)before falling into oblivion (he died unnoticed).He plays the czar .

Paul Guers ,who plays the French noble,did not have his day in the movies ;too bad for an actor who played "the cat on a hot tin roof" (the part of Brick);after performing Tennessee Williams ,he deserved a better career.

An optimistic version of "Christine" ,so to speak:the proletarian in love with the aristocrat.Or something like that.

In the final analysis, Die Schöne Lügnerin is meant to show off the talents of Romy Schneider and in that regard it succeeds admirably. If you are not a Ms Schnieder fan, however, the movie still may have enough unique attractions to at least recommend one viewing. On the positive side, the film is just beautiful to look at. The colors, costumes and interior settings are grandiose to the extreme. The time period is during the Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815 and the garb of the Counts and Countess' is award material. And how many motion pictures showcase ballet? Well this one does, in two exquisite sequences. Do you like ballroom dancing? No doubt your appetite will be appeased here. In fact one almost wished that they would have went ahead and made this a full fledged musical. Unfortunately RS only has one song. And among the actors, long time veteran Hans Moser(1st film 1918) appears here as Romy's grandfather. And even at this late stage, a year shy of 80, his acting talents had not diminished. And last but not least, the great Marcel Marceau makes a brief but noteworthy appearance with an imitation of Napoleon. For dog enthusiasts, an English bulldog has two short scenes early on. There is a good transition scene to start off the movie as we watch a man outside showcasing to the crowd the effectiveness of his telescope in viewing the royalty inside. And as we get that view, scene 2 takes place in its entirety from the inside. For most transition scenes, the "dissolve" is used. The film does have a touch of Cinderella, as Romy's employment deals with lady's garments, a momentary scene shows her at work, but as such, admittance to the "grand ball" is denied her. Luckily her grandfather is going to be there as a musician, so she filches his drumsticks and dons male attire in order to make an unnoticed entrance. Once there, she acquires an expensive dress and is soon mistaken for a Countess by Alexander the 1st, played by Jean-Claude Pascal. Now Mr. Pascal, the actor, seems to be most fortuitous in his chosen co-stars. Besides RS, others include Brigitte Bardot, Anouk Aimee, Gina Lollobrigida and Annie Girardot. Anyway, from this point on the false Countess gets involved in political intrigue, jealousy, spies, a brief abduction, false statements, one kiss and plenty of dancing. The print quality of the video viewed was excellent as was the sound.