Directed by Anatole Litvak
Written by Marcel Archard, Joseph Kessel and Irma von Cubed based on a novel by Claude Anet
1936/France
Nero Films
First viewing
The Archduke Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia (21 August 1858 – 30 January 1889) was the son and heir of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. His death, apparently through suicide, along with that of his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, at his Mayerling hunting lodge in 1889 made international headlines, fueled international conspiracy rumours and ultimately may have sealed the long-term fate of the Habsburg monarchy.
This romantic biopic made an international star out of Charles Boyer and features an exquisite performance by the 19-year-old Danielle Darrieux.
Progressive-thinking Archduke Rudolf is surrounded by spies sent by his enemies in the conservative Hapsburg monarchy. He attempts to assuage his boredom in debauchery but that is scant comfort. One day at an amusement park, he meets 17-year-old Maria Vetsera and is captivated by her innocence. She develops a grand passion for him and they meet secretly until the Emperor calls an end to their tryst. Their fate may have changed history.
I liked this a lot. Boyer and Darrieux also played the leads in one of my favorite films, The Earrings of Madame de … (1953), and are equally fine here. Darrieux is the kind of actress that can express volumes with her eyes and was enchanting as a girl in the throes of first love. Boyer may never have been handsomer. The film contains many good set pieces such as the scene at the ballet and a royal gala ball. Litvak keeps his camera moving delightfully. Recommended.
Extract – Eyes meeting at the ballet
I loved this film…….so sadly romantic. There is so much myth surrounding what happened at Mayerling that this probably isn’t even close to the truth but who cares!!!!! One of those two hankie weepers that we all love. I have also seen the 1968 version with Omar Sharif and the unbelievably beautiful Catherine Deneuve……it wasn’t bad…..besides it had James Mason in it, so that draws me in immediately.
It portends the beginning of the fall of the House of Hapsburg but I don’t think that anything would have changed if it had been Rudolf instead of Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo. Germany was going to have war and drag Austria-Hungary with her.
I took it as kind of an Austrian Romeo and Juliet rather than history. It is a wonderful romance. I just loved Darrieux’s character. Her love was so pure and selfless. The part where she finds Rudolf at the brothel or whatever and he yells at her and she comes back with “How you must be suffering!” is priceless. I’ll have to try to catch the 1968 version.