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| Mayerling | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Anatole Litvak |
| Written by | Claude Anet (book) Joseph Kessel Irma von Cube |
| Produced by | Seymour Nebenzal |
| Starring | Charles Boyer Jean Dax Jean Debucourt Marthe Regnier Danielle Darrieux Suzy Prim |
| Cinematography | Armand Thirard |
| Edited by | Henri Rust |
| Music by | Arthur Honegger andMaurice Jaubert |
Production companies | Nero-Film Mercury Films |
| Distributed by | Pax Films (US) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Mayerling is a 1936 Frenchhistorical drama film directed byAnatole Litvak and produced bySeymour Nebenzal from ascreenplay byMarcel Achard,Joseph Kessel, andIrma von Cube, based on the 1930 novelIdyll's End byClaude Anet.
The film starsCharles Boyer andDanielle Darrieux with René Bergeron, Jean Davy, Jean Dax, Jean Debucourt and Gabrielle Dorziat, andJean-Louis Barrault in a bit part. The film is based on the real-life story ofCrown Prince Rudolf of Austria, his affair with the 17-year-oldBaroness Maria Vetsera and their tragic end atMayerling.
The film was remade twice: once as the 1957 television filmMayerling, also directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Mel Ferrer and Audrey Hepburn, then as the 1968 filmMayerling in color byMGM, starringOmar Sharif,Catherine Deneuve,James Mason, andAva Gardner.
Vienna is disturbed by protestors agitating for political change. Crown Prince Rudolph is arrested at a meeting. His father Emperor Franz Joseph insists he get married and settle down. Rudolph reluctantly agrees.
Five years later, Rudolph has become an unhappy playboy. On the night of his wedding anniversary he meets Baroness Marie Vetsera and they fall in love.
Writing forThe Spectator in 1936,Graham Greene gave the film a poor review, describing it as "purposeless" and "a too romantic manner for [his] taste". Greene particularly criticizes the conclusion of the film which he characterized as "a Vienna 'musical' without the music: a pathetic ending". Greene did, however, praise the film's production and acting.[1]
A restored DVD was issued in the U.S. byThe Criterion Collection (Essential Art House) on September 15, 2009.[2]
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