Mayerling **** (1936, Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Marthe Régnier) – Classic Movie Review 8478

Director Anatole Litvak’s original 1936 black and white movie Mayerling is the memorable French hit film based on Claude Anet’s novel of the fateful love of the 19th-century married Hapsburg heir, Archduke Rudolf, for the 17-year-old baroness’s daughter, Marie Vetsera, whom he meets in 1888.

Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux are beautifully convincing as the hounded lovers, around whom director Litvak weaves a delicate spell of doomed romance. Jean Dax plays Boyer’s father Emperor Franz-Josef. Mayerling is Rudolf’s country retreat where the couple flee to briefly to prepare for their fate.

It is remade as Sarajevo (France 1940) and Mayerling (1968).

Litvak and Darrieux left for Hollywood, where the former stayed, but the actress returned after a single film, The Rage of Paris.

This 1936 Mayerling finally received its British TV premiere 55 years after it was made, and it is now available on Region 1 DVD as an expensive rarity. Good things come to those who wait.

Also in the cast are Marthe Regnier, Yolande Laffon, Suzy Prim, Gina Manès, Jean Debucour, Gabrielle Dorziat, and Valdimir Sokoloff.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8478

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