Archduke Rudolph Hapsburg (Sharif) and the beautiful ?nobody? Maria Vetsera (Deneuve) are in love. Having first met by chance in a park, they keep crossing paths at various functions on Vienna?s social calendar and start to see each other in private, secretly arranged by Rudolph?s cousin, Countess Larish (Vendell). Maria is a shy and proper girl so it takes a while for Rudolph to gain her trust. In all this, Rudolph is married, has a child and has many affairs as well. UNTIL he falls in love with Maria, naturally. Then everything changes. Eventually, their parents discover the relationship, realise that it is serious, and try in their ways to separate the lovers. Maria?s mother sends her to Venice, and Rudolph?s father, Emperor Franz-Josef (Mason), makes him General of the Imperial Army and promptly sends him off to the battlefield. Rudolph?s mother, Empress Elizabeth (Gardner) seems the only sympathetic ear for Rudolph and Maria?s doomed plight, but she?s ultimately against the union too, not wanting it to ruin her son?s chances of eventual succession to the throne. The backdrop to the romance is that the Hungarian people are revolting against Hapsburg rule, and want Rudolph to side with them as their King in their battle for independence from Austria. So, what can these star-crossed lovers do? I won?t spoil the rest in case someone out there actually wants to see this, as I?m sure that you?ve got an idea of what you?re in for by now. There?s potential in the plot, but it?s never realised.

I was really disappointed that style dominates over substance in this film. Sets and costumes are impressive, but my overall impression of the film is that it is cold and unemotional. It was impossible for me to get into the characters because they seemed to fall flat. I guess not everyone would feel this strongly, and for what it?s worth, I sure have seen costume dramas that I?ve loved, so it?s not the subject or style that I can?t stomach. Written and directed by Terence Young, maybe it?s Young?s dominance that lets the cast down as much as anything else; one-dimensional, super-wooden performances are the result. I know the actors have all seen better roles than these! A young, doe-eyed Deneuve may possibly be suffering from a case of the ?oh-my-god-I?m-surrounded-by-seasoned-professionals? vibe, but what?s the others? excuse? On the bright side, Deneuve and Gardner LOOK great in their roles.

THE EXTRAS

No extras apart from scene selection.

CONCLUSION

If you like the idea of a slow, serious costume drama set in 19th century Austria during the Hapsburg reign and based on real events, you might enjoy this tragic love story. I had high hopes for this British-French co-production (made in 1968) based on the strength of the cast. Omar Sharif, James Mason, Ava Gardner and Catherine Deneuve star, but it?s a real anticlimax. I?d basically call it a poor man?s ?Dr Zhivago?. The sets and costumes are something to see, but everything about the script and acting seems laboured, and the romantic pairing of Sharif and Deneuve fails spectacularly. Expect snow, civil unrest, politics and not much else, as the love story is really uninteresting. There is no language or subtitle option, only chapter selection. The ending was probably intended to make tears well in the eyes, but the only emotion I expressed was a sigh of relief that it was finally over. A really, really average effort all-round. Only for those who relish tedium ? in other words, only those who actually like Australian reality TV personalities would be able to cope with the boredom.