Mayerling (1969)

A Major Disappointment

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The acting in this movie is really good.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

the only sin about Mayerling is the expectation of viewer. because it is only a conventional romance. not profound, not convincing, only beautiful but that is just a detail. a film for fans of actors and for a lot of romanticism from public and solid information about empire situation for be ready to admire a sort of sketch about poor Rudolph and his bitter love story. Mayerling could not represent a real surprise; it is part from a wave who use history as vehicle for noble intentions, impressive budget, nice costumes and precise target who has always the nostalgia of fairy tales flavor. so, nothing special. because it is only a film about a subject from pink novels far by its roots or real signification.

Omar Sharif is Archduke Rudolf, the scoundrel heir to the Austo-Hungary empire whose love for Maria Vetsera spelled his doom. The fact that Catherine Deneuve plays Vetsera will help you to understand how that could happen. Beyond some great chemistry between the two stars, there's very little to recommend in this dull film. Though set against the backdrop of Austria at a time of intense unrest (the early stages in the dissolution of the Habsburg monarchy), director Terence Young does not exploit that intrigue in the least. Instead the film is lumbering when it should be exciting. The acting is very uneven. Sharif is fine but Deneuve seems very distant. As the walrus mustached Franz Joseph I, James Mason is wasted and Ava Gardner, as his wife, shows up in a few scenes encouraging Sharif's obsession with Deneuve. On the plus side, there's James Robertson-Justice, excellent as a wily Prince of Wales and Genvieve Page as Sharif's matchmaking cousin. The cinematography by Henri Alekan is stunning. Written by three people, including Young.

Watch the 1936 version. As personally annoying I find Charles Boyer's voice, he's more of a match to pay cosmopolitan, depressed Rudolf--I mean Omar Sharif tries but, no--too cute and vibrant. Catherine Denueve (sp) besides being too old looks nothing like Marie--nothing! She looks too sophisticated to even think of dying for love of this man in such a fashion.The only actor in the entire movie who conveys the role they're playing is Ava Gardner whose appearance as Empress Elisabeth on the screen is fittingly brief (and look up pictures of the empress there's more than a passing resemblance) as historically, Empress Elisabeth wasn't involved that much in Rudolf's life.

The Crown Prince Rudolph and Baroness Maria Vetsera are brilliantly played in this motion picture.i highly recommend it to anyone interested in late 19th century Austro-Hungarian history. But bear in mind that the movie, although marvellously done, was based on Anet's book, which is a novel based on the story of what actually happened, so there will be some anomalies, and scenes which did not actually take place. But it is a fantastic movie, Mason's portrayal of the Emperor Franz is particularly superb. I have been trying to locate this movie but I cannot find it available anywhere for purchase, anyone who knows how, please contact me.The tragedy of Mayerling is discovered by each new generation, and with each of those generations, the mystery of it becomes unsolved again. It continues to fascinate everyone who has delved into it, and I am no exception to this. The movie is a marvellous introduction to those discovering Mayerling, but it could be misleading for those looking into it for the first time, from a research point of view. I recommend it particularly to those who know more about the Tragedy, so they can appreciate its brilliance as a movie, and learn the exact historical facts for themselves. With compliments, elisabeth, uk.