Main Cast: Omar Sharif, Catherine Deneuve, James Mason, Ava Gardner, James Robertson Justice
Release Year: 1968
Country: FR/UK
Run Time: 140 minutes
Plot
This romantic tragedy concerns the Archduke Rudolf (Omar Sharif) and his mistress, the Baroness Maria Vetsera (Catherine Deneuve), and their untimely demise at Mayerling, the sight of the Austrian royal family's hunting lodge. Rudolf verbally spars with his father Emperor Franz-Josef (James Mason) about wanting to implement progressive policies for his country. Ava Gardner plays his mother Empress Elizabeth. Rudolf also contends with the fallout from a loveless marriage with Princess Stephanie (Andrea Parisy). Respectful of the centuries-old Hapsburg family rule over Austria, Rudolf soon feels he is a man born at the wrong time in a country that will not realize the need for social reform. The Prince of Wales (James Robertson-Justice), later to become Britain's King Edward VII, provides the only comic relief with his dialogue. The deaths remain a mystery, but director Terence Young suggests the two lovers made a suicide pact when they decided they could not live in a world without love where the prospects for peace were dubious at best. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Geneviève Page - Countess Larisch; Andréa Parisy - Princess Stephanie; Ivan Desny - Count Josef Hoyos; Fabienne Dali - Mizzi Kaspar; Jean-Claude Bercq - Duke Michael of Braganza; Jacques Ciron; Bernard Lajarrige - Loschek; Charles Millot - Count Taafe; Moustache - Bratfisch; Roger Pigaut - Count Karolyi; Jean-Michel Rouziere - Police Superintendent; Alain Saury - Baltazzi; Maurice Teynac - Mortiz Szeps; Veronique Vendell - Lisi Stockau; Howard Vernon - Prince Montenuevo; Irene von Meyendorf - Countess Stockau; Jacques Berthier - Prince John Salvator; Roger Lumont - Inspector Losch; Jacques Dorfmann - Rioting Student; Mony Dalmes - Baroness Helen Vetsera; Anthony Stuart - Head Gardener
Credit
Tony Roman - Art Director, Maurice Colasson - Art Director, Marcel Escoffier - Costume Designer, Terence Young - Director, Monique Bonnot - Editor, Marcel Hellman - Executive Producer, Francis Lai - Composer (Music Score), Georges Wakhévitch - Production Designer, Henri Alékan - Cinematographer, Robert Dorfmann - Producer, Jacques Carrere - Sound/Sound Designer, Joseph DeBretagne - Sound/Sound Designer, Dennis Cannan - Dialogue Writer, Terence Young - Screenwriter, Joseph Kessel - Screenwriter, Claude Anet - Book Author, Michael Arnold - Book Author
It was based on the novels Mayerling by Claude Anet and L'Archiduc by Michel Arnold and the 1936 film Mayerling, directed by Anatole Litvak, which dealt with the real-life Mayerling Incident. Although not completely historically accurate, the movie was well received, in part because of its lavish sets and costumes.
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (Omar Sharif) clashes with his father, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (James Mason), over implementing progressive policies for their country. Ava Gardner brilliantly plays his mother Empress Elisabeth. Rudolf soon feels he is a man born at the wrong time in a country that does not realize the need for social reform. The Prince of Wales (James Robertson Justice), later to become Britain's King Edward VII, provides some comic relief with his snappy dialogue.
Rudolf finds refuge from a loveless marriage with Princess Stéphanie (Andréa Parisy) by taking a mistress, Baroness Maria Vetsera (Catherine Deneuve). Their untimely demise at Mayerling, the imperial family's hunting lodge, is cloaked in mystery, but the film's ending suggests the two lovers made a suicide pact when they decided they could not live in a world without love or prospects for peace.
