Die Försterchristel (1962)

Along with the Count and Countess von Paalen, Emperor Franz Joseph visits the Paalen estate to go hunting once again. On the way there, just before they reach their destination, an incident occurs when a wheel on the imperial carriage breaks. The Emperor decides to walk the rest of the way and slings his rifle over his shoulder. On the way, he meets a charming young woman who asks him what he is doing there. When he assures her that he has lost his way, she asks mockingly, “With a rifle?” She then explains that she is Christel, the forester’s daughter, and that she helps her father with his work. Under imperial law, in such a case one must pay a one-thaler fine. Anyone who does not have a thaler, as he does not, must instead spend a day in custody. When she asks what he does for a living, he tells her that he works at the Emperor’s court. Christel immediately asks him about their acquaintance Simmerl, a cobbler who is always boasting about the high position he holds at court and how much influence he has with the Emperor. When the supposed hunter replies that he does not know him, Christel says she believes him: he is an important person at court, too, and talks with the Emperor as if they were equals. Christel takes the man she believes to be a hunter to the forester’s lodge, where he is to spend his day in custody. Meanwhile, everyone at Paalen Castle is growing increasingly worried about the Emperor, who has been missing for hours. When the tipsy Simmerl turns up, to Christel’s surprise, the Emperor—imprisoned in the adjoining room—can overhear their conversation, as well as Christel throwing Simmerl out. When she brings the supposed hunter a lamp, she says she would so love to see the Emperor someday and imagines him as a demigod. Franz Joseph replies that precisely because people see him that way, they never give him time to be human. Later, the two toast what the hunter calls the “most enchanting forester’s assistant” the Emperor could have. Meanwhile, the castle steward Földessy, who lives under a false name and is really Franz Koltai, a cavalry captain, worries that he will be the first suspect if anything has happened to the Emperor, since he fought against him as a Hungarian during the 1848 revolution. He discusses this with his former sergeant, Barany, now the owner of the tavern, who knows who he really is. His friend advises him to present himself to the Emperor and ask for forgiveness. Barany’s daughter Ilona is in love with Földessy, but he loves Christel. Simmerl overhears their conversation and soon afterwards wants to tell the imperial captain, Toni Felsinger, what he heard. Ilona manages to distract the young captain, while the secret police arrest Simmerl. During his interrogation, however, he keeps falling asleep. When they ask about Földessy at the tavern, he suddenly appears in the room, playing the violin. Ilona wants to help him and tells Captain Felsinger that no one can play like Janosz. Then she starts dancing, and the captain is captivated by this “little devil of a girl,” as he puts it. Földessy manages to mount his horse unnoticed and ride away. Meanwhile, to everyone’s relief, the Emperor returns safely to Paalen Castle and tells the Countess that one should keep quiet about a romance. Then the hunt is announced, and the Emperor takes part. Alone, he climbs onto a rocky ledge and finds himself in danger above a steep waterfall. At the last moment, Földessy comes to his aid. When the Emperor thanks him, Földessy brings up the revolution and the fact that the Emperor granted pardons afterwards. Franz Joseph agrees, but says there are still some who refuse to take advantage of them. Before leaving, the Emperor invites him to the ball being held that evening at Paalen Castle. Christel wants to speak to the Emperor about Földessy, so she asks Simmerl to arrange an audience. Once at the castle, the cobbler tries to slip away, but Christel firmly rebukes him, after which he pretends to be going to see the Emperor. Christel, waiting in the castle garden, meets the hunter again just as Simmerl comes out of the castle. When Simmerl sees who is standing with the forester’s daughter, he turns on his heel and runs off as fast as his legs can carry him. The hunter promises to put in a good word for Christel with the Emperor, and shortly afterwards the Lord Chamberlain invites her to the ball at the Emperor’s express request. Since Christel has no suitable dress, the Countess von Paalen offers to help her. This leads to further misunderstandings, because Christel speaks of Franz, and the Countess and the Lord Chamberlain assume she means the Emperor. When the ball begins, Christel can hardly believe her eyes as the Emperor is announced and she recognizes him as her former prisoner. Franz Joseph asks her to dance and tells her that he already knows Franz Földessy is actually Captain Franz Koltai. When Földessy enters the ballroom in his Hungarian uniform, he catches snippets of conversation about Christel and her love for Franzl—unaware that he, too, is called Franz—and then misinterprets what he sees when Christel and the Emperor dance together in a familiar manner. Even so, he dares to interrupt the Emperor’s dance and take his place with Christel. The guests are stunned, and the Lord Chamberlain repeatedly laments, “This is the end of etiquette.” After another incident, the Emperor and the captain finally have a conversation. Franz Joseph tells the young man that there is no longer any Franz Földessy; he is once again Captain Franz Koltai. He also holds nothing against him for his behavior in the ballroom, because when people are in love, they often do unreasonable things. He concludes, “Captain Koltai, you are free.” Koltai thanks him and leaves. Christel also thanks the Emperor. He knows that she loves Koltai. As a farewell gift, he gives the young woman a ring and says that if she turns it three times and believes in it very strongly, it will grant wishes. Koltai, still convinced that Christel has something going on with the Emperor, learns from Franz Joseph that a certain young woman had kept talking about a Franz the previous day. He had hoped she meant him, but an emperor is not that lucky. Overjoyed, Koltai then rides toward the forester’s lodge, where Christel has turned her ring and made just one wish. She runs happily to meet him.