Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Mädchenjahre einer Königin" or "Viktoria in Dover" or "Victoria in Dover" or "The Story of Vickie" or "The Pursuit and Loves of Queen Victoria" is an Austrian German-language movie from 1954, so this one is already over 60 years old and to put in perspective this was the year when Sepp Herberger won the World Cup with his team, only you understand how long ago this came out. The director is Ernst Marischka and he worked together with actress Romy Schneider on many occasions, for example on the Sissi trilogy and this 105-minute-film we have here is a good indicator of things to come. The struggle with adapting to life as a royalty at a very young age, the different relationships with characters that have an impact on her life as the queen (soon to be) or finally the romance relationship with her future king: these are all aspects that play a major role in the Sissi films and they also play a big role in this movie we have here. You could actually say that these under 2 hours are Sissi condensed into one movie and you would be correct. At least partially. The real gravity and seriousness involving illness for example or children is missing in here and it's all a bit on the lighter side. There is also probably at least as much comedy as in the three Sissi films together in this one movie. But it is a trailblazer for the trilogy without a doubt, the action only switched from England to Austria then. Yeah what else is there to say. You will find many actors in here who also play in the Sissi films. One to mention would be Magda Schneider, Romy's mother, who starred alongside her in pretty much every project back then. Overall, I cannot say I enjoyed the movie too much. It suffered from problems that were fairly common in the 1950s when it comes to storytelling. However, I do believe the struggles here are different compared to the main problem of the Sissi movies. Both films/series are not really worth seeing, but for very different reasons. However, I would say that people who like Sissi will also like this one we have here. It's one for the easily entertained I guess. I personally give it a thumbs-down as there were too many moments (drama and comedy) where the film was not working well at all. I recommend to watch something else instead.

dbdumonteil Just made before Empress Elizabeth's famous trilogy ,this story like biopic of Queen Victoria's salad days retains the same obsolete charm.Not only it features Romy Schneider and her mother Magda (who,oddly,does not play her mother here but a baroness,the queen's lady-in-waiting and confident) ,but it depicts the meeting Albert /Victoria as the director (Ernst Marischka who directed the four movies)would do with Elizabeth and Francis Joseph: here they meet in an inn where Johann Strauss is playing his famous waltzes on the piano;in "Sissi" ,the heroine goes fishing and catches ... her future husband!A rather daring -for the time- line in the dialog:Victoria would like to know the meaning of the word "rape" and her mentor can't explain.In "Sissi " there would not be such a thing.That said,although "Madchenjähre" is quite pleasant,it is not as buoyant,as charming and as compelling as "Sissi"

Andres Salama In one of her first movies, Romy Schneider shines as young queen Victoria of Britain, as she is suddenly put into the throne at the age of 18, learns to govern despite the machinations of the politicians, and eventually romances and marries Prince Albert of Saxony. Kitschy and campy (though surprisingly faithful to the real events), this romantic piece is irresistible. Seeing this movie about British royals spoken in German adds to its quaint charm. On that front, one wonders why an Austrian movie was made about an English queen; but then one remembers that in 1954, Austria was still under occupation by allied troops, including British ones. Maybe this was one of the reasons for the existence of this film.

Marcin Kukuczka Ernst Marischka, one of the most respected Austrian directors of that time, made films full of beautiful scenes, delicate love and with respect to all that is precious in life. Nowadays, if people should hear about him, they associate the name of Marischka with SISSI trilogy (1955,1956,1957). However, he made other excellent films like DAS DREIMADERLHAUS (1958), EMBEZZLED HEAVEN (1958) and definitely this one, MADCHENJAHRE EINER KONIGIN showing the young years of queen Victoria. Although it deals with a slightly different theme than SISSI films, I do not see many differences between this movie and SISSI. They are strikingly similar.The movie is almost identical. The style, the music, the photography. In fact, the crew are almost the same. Anton Profes, Bruno Mondi!The cast... Romy Schneider's one of the first main roles. It was a lovely introduction to her role of Sissi since this film was made one year before the first part of the trilogy about the Austrian empress. It is also a film where Romy plays with her mother, Magda Schneider. But Ernst Marischka was not the first director who cast Romy to play with her mum. Romy's debut, WENN DER WEISSE FLIEDER WIEDER BLUHN (1953) was her performance with her mother, too. Therefore, there were some voices that Romy began her Austrian career on the bases of her mother's fame. Indeed, there is some truth in it.Again, like in SISSI, this film shows love very gently. Victoria meets Prince Albert in a little inn in Dover. Their sympathy is based on pure exaltation in dance and gentle smiles. And now...? What would it be showed like? Only sex... But is it the only thing love is based on?I am grateful to Ernst Marischka for these movies. They had a soul and a message. Some people may call them kitschy, but I will never give up admiring these films. They are IMPRESSIVE!!! UNFORTUNATELY, HIGHLY UNDERRATED!