Mayerling (1968)
Directed by Terence Young

Film Review

This somewhat lacklustre remake of a classic 1930s French film directed by Anatole Litvak met with some success when it was released in 1968, mainly on the strength of its glossy production values and star-studded cast. Omar Sharif and Catherine Deneuve both manage to turn in creditable performances, although their talents are largely wasted on what is really little more than a lame love story dressed up as a serious historical drama.

The film was directed by Terence Young, who is best known for his 1960s James Bond films (which are considered amongst the best in that series - Dr. No, From Russia with Love).  Although Young was a consistently competent director his films rarely showed the inspired touch, and this is more than evident in Mayerling, which looks like a David Lean film made with a total lack of enthusiasm. Young's mostly unimaginative mise-en-scène is put to shame by the artistry lavished on the set and costume design, and also by the solid performances from the supporting cast. James Robertson Justice's Prince of Wales is particularly memorable, but James Mason and Andréa Parisy are also on fine form, easily out-classing the two more charismatic leads.

At over two hours, the film struggles to maintain the viewer's interest and some of the plot (such as Rudolph's dabbling in politics) appears laboured and almost tediously irrelevant to the film's narrative thrust. The film has also been condemned for its lack of historical authenticity.  The real Archduke Rudolph was far from being the romantic hero he is portrayed in this film, although it is true that the circumstances surrounding his death are still shrouded in mystery.  This is one of the film's lesser failings, however. Fictitious or not, Mayerling is a plodding melodrama that comes nowhere near to fulfilling the full dramatic potential of the tragic story it relates.

Film Synopsis

Austria in the 1880s.  The crown prince Rudolph is a constant thorn in the side of his father, the Emperor Franz Joseph.  He allies himself with political agitators in the hope of reforming his country and spends more time with his mistresses than he does with his wife Stephanie.  The Emperor's patience is exhausted when his son starts to pursue a very public affair with a young noble woman, Maria Vetsera.   Under pressure, Rudolph agrees to spend just one more month with Maria...