The King Steps Out

The King Steps Out
Directed by	Josef von Sternberg
Written by	Sidney Buchman
Cinematography	Lucien Ballard
Edited by	Viola Lawrence
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	May 28, 1936;
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The King Steps Out is a 1936 American light comedy film directed by Josef von Sternberg based on the early years of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as "Sisi" or "Sissi", and her courtship and marriage to Franz Joseph I of Austria, after he was initially engaged to her older sister Duchess Helene in Bavaria.[1] The film is set from 1852 to 1854.

The film is based around Elisabeth's young years 1852–1854 (portrait of the young empress shortly after her wedding, by Amanda Bergstedt)

The script was written by Sidney Buchman, based on a theatre play called Sissys Brautfahrt by Ernst Décsey and Robert Weil aka Gustav Holm.[2] Columbia Pictures bought the rights from Ernst Marischka in order to make the film. The lyrics for the music were by Dorothy Fields and the music by Viennese composer and violinist Fritz Kreisler.[1] Cinematography was by Lucien Ballard and the editing by Viola Lawrence. Costume design was by the Austrian Ernst Deutsch-Dryden.

Future Broadway dancer Gwen Verdon made her movie debut doing a ballet solo at age 11, but was uncredited.

The film had only minimal influence on the later Sissi trilogy from the 1950s by Ernst Marischka starring Romy Schneider and Karlheinz Böhm.

Cast

Grace Moore as Princess Elizabeth
Franchot Tone as Emperor Franz Josef
Walter Connolly as Duke of Bavaria
Raymond Walburn as Colonel von Kempen
Elisabeth Risdon as Archduchess Sophie
Nana Bryant as Princess Louise
Victor Jory as Captain Palffy
Frieda Inescort as Princess Helena
Thurston Hall as Major
Herman Bing as Pretzelberger
George Hassell as Herlicka
Johnny Arthur as Chief of the Secret Police
Charles Coleman as Lieutenant (uncredited)
William Hopper as Soldier (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore as Waiter (uncredited)
C. Montague Shaw as Russian Delegate (uncredited)
Al Shean as Ballet Master (uncredited)
Gwen Verdon as Specialty Ballerina (uncredited)

Reception

Writing for The Spectator in 1936, Graham Greene gave the film a mildly positive review, noting that in its "light and amusing sequences" it bore the hallmarks of "the Lubitsch touch". Greene praised the acting of Bing, claiming that "the whole film [is carried] on his wildly expressive shoulders".[3]

References

Nugent, Frank S. (May 29, 1936). "Grace Moore's First Operetta, 'The King Steps Out,' Opens at the Music Hall -- 'Florida Special' at the Rialto". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
Baxter, John (2010). Von Sternberg. University Press of Kentucky p. 198. ISBN 978-0-8131-3994-4.
Greene, Graham (October 9, 1036). "The Texas Rangers/Savoy Hotel 217/The King Steps Out". The Spectator. (reprinted in: Taylor, John Russell, ed. (1980). The Pleasure Dome. p. 108. ISBN 0192812866.)

External links

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[Moore-1] Nugent, Frank S. (May 29, 1936). "Grace Moore's First Operetta, 'The King Steps Out,' Opens at the Music Hall -- 'Florida Special' at the Rialto". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2019.

[Baxter-2] Baxter, John (2010). Von Sternberg. University Press of Kentucky p. 198. ISBN 978-0-8131-3994-4.

[3] Greene, Graham (October 9, 1036). "The Texas Rangers/Savoy Hotel 217/The King Steps Out". The Spectator. (reprinted in: Taylor, John Russell, ed. (1980). The Pleasure Dome. p. 108. ISBN 0192812866.)