Mayerling (1968 film)
Mayerling | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster by Tom Jung | |
Directed by | Terence Young |
Produced by |
Robert Dorfmann Maurice Jacquin |
Written by |
Claude Anet (novel) Michel Arnold (book L'Archiduc) Terence Young (screenplay) Denis Cannan (dialogue) Joseph Kessel (uncredited) |
Starring |
Omar Sharif Catherine Deneuve James Mason Ava Gardner |
Music by |
Francis Lai (original) Aram Khachaturian (non-original; Adagio from Spartacus |
Cinematography | Henri Alekan |
Edited by | Monique Bonnot |
Production company |
Associated British Picture (UK) Winchester-Corona Productions (France) |
Distributed by |
Warner-Pathé (UK) Valoria Films (France) |
Release dates | 1968 (France, UK) |
Running time | 140 min |
Country | United Kingdom / France |
Language | English |
Budget | $5,000,000 (estimated) |
Box office | $14,754,720[1] |
Mayerling is a 1968 romantic tragedy film starring Omar Sharif, Catherine Deneuve, James Mason, Ava Gardner, Geneviève Page, James Robertson Justice and Andréa Parisy.[2] It was written and directed by Terence Young. The film was made by Les Films Corona and Winchester and distributed by MGM.
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.
Plot
In the 1880s, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (Sharif) clashes with his father, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (Mason) and his mother Empress Elisabeth (Gardner), over implementing progressive policies for their country. 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 (Robertson Justice), later to become Britain's King Edward VII, provides comic relief.
Rudolf finds refuge from a loveless marriage with Princess Stéphanie (Parisy) by taking a mistress, Baroness Maria Vetsera (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.
Cast
- Omar Sharif - Crown Prince Rudolf
- Catherine Deneuve - Baroness Maria Vetsera
- James Mason - Emperor Franz Josef
- Ava Gardner - Empress Elisabeth
- James Robertson Justice - Prince Of Wales
- Geneviève Page - Countess Larisch
- Andréa Parisy - Princess Stéphanie
- Ivan Desny - Count Josef Hoyos
- Fabienne Dali - Mizzi Kaspar
- Véronique Vendell - Lisi Stockau
- Howard Vernon - Prince Montenuovo
- Irene von Meyendorf - Countess Stockau
- Mony Dalmes - Baroness Helen Vetsera
- Bernard Lajarrige - Loschek
- Maurice Teynac - Moritz Szeps
- Charles Millot - Count Taafe
- Jacques Berthier - Archduke Jean Salvator
- Roger Pigaut - Count Karolyi
- Véronique Vendell : Lisl Stockau
- Lyne Chardonnet : Hannah Vetsera
- Moustache : Bratfish
- Roger Lumont - Inspector Losch
- Jacqueline Lavielle - Marinka
- Alain Saury - Baltazzi
- Jean-Claude Bercq - Michel de Bragance
- Jean-Michel Rouzière
- Jacques Ciron
- Liane Daydé
- Friedrich von Ledebur
See also
- Mayerling (1936) feature film directed by Anatole Litvak
- Mayerling (1957) TV film also directed by Litvak
References
External links
- Mayerling at AllMovie
- Mayerling at the Internet Movie Database