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.
© James Travers 2003
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Terence Young film:
L'Arbre de Noël (1969)
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...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.