Mayerling 1968

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Mayerling ★★½ 1968 (PG-13)

Based on the tragic romance between Crown Prince Rudolf of Hapsburg (Sharif) and the teenaged Baroness Maria Vetsera (Deneuve). Set in 1888, the royal Rudolf defies his father, the Emperor Franz Josef (Mason), to take part in a student revolt for the liberation of Hungary and to fall for the common-born Maria (despite his political marriage). No doubt meant to be a sweeping combo of politics and love ala “Doctor Zhivago,” it's mostly tedious; see the 1936 version instead. 140m/C VHS, DVD . GB FR Omar Sharif, Catherine Deneuve, James Mason, Ava Gardner, James Robertson Justice, Genevieve Page, Ivan Desny, Fabienne Dali; D: Terence Young; W: Terence Young; C: Henri Alekan; M: Francis Lai.