Ludwig (1973)
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85% of users liked it
(1,136 ratings)
Luchino Visconti (Count don Luchino Visconti di Modrone) was a film director, true, but he was also a nobleman and a grand patron of traditional European culture: opera, art, music, crafts and literature. These interests enliven many of his films, but few have been so inspired as the four-hour epic,… More Luchino Visconti (Count don Luchino Visconti di Modrone) was a film director, true, but he was also a nobleman and a grand patron of traditional European culture: opera, art, music, crafts and literature. These interests enliven many of his films, but few have been so inspired as the four-hour epic, Ludwig, about the castle-building "mad king" of Bavaria. This long film, made very near the end of Visconti's life, suffers greatly when shortened, as every moment is essential to the story. There are at least four different versions of the film (from just under three hours to over four hours in length); the uncut four-hour version is the most coherent, even though many might find it rather long. The disintegration of aristocratic individuals is a continuing theme of Visconti's, though Ludwig's is the most thorough decay he filmed. The last ruling king of Bavaria (1845-1886) is noted for many things besides his eccentricities: he sold Bavaria to Germany, ending the rule of the Bavarian monarchy; he built amazing castles all over his country (with the proceeds from the sale); and he was Richard Wagner's main sponsor. He was also a notorious recluse, conducting a lifelong platonic love affair with Empress Elizabeth of Austria, and finally succumbing to his adoration of handsome men in a series of outrageous affairs and orgies. His excesses eventually led to his being declared mentally incompetent and being held prisoner in his own castle. The film depicts this incredible life from his coronation at age 19 to his (unproved) assassination well over 20 years later. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Directed By
- Luchino Visconti
- Written By
- Luchino Visconti, Enrico Medioli, Suso Cecchi d'Amico
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
PG,
- In Theaters
- Mar 8, 1973 Limited
- Studio
- MGM Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Visconti has been such an intelligent film maker in the past that it's difficult to believe that Ludwig could be quite as bereft of ideas as it is.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Perhaps only Visconti, who seems obsessed with the gloomy side of decadence, could have made Ludwig II of Bavaria seem boring.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Though stylish, it remains hollow.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Ultimately hollow and historically inaccurate.
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Cast
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Helmut Berger
as Ludwig II King of Bavaria
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Trevor Howard
as Richard Wagner
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Silvana Mangano
as Cosima von Buelow
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Romy Schneider
as Elisabeth of Austria
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Gert Fröbe
as Father Hoffman
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Helmut Griem
as Capt. Durcheim
- Alexander Allerson
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Adriana Asti
as Lila Von Buliowski
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Maurizio Bonuglia
as Mayor
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John Moulder-Brown
as Prince Otto
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Ingrid Caven
as Lola Montez (uncredited)
- Kurt Grosskurth
- Gerard Herter
- Carla Mancini
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Heinz Moog
as Prof. Gudden
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Umberto Orsini
as Count Von Holstein
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Sonia Petrova
as Sophie
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Marc Porel
as Richard Hornig
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Nora Ricci
as Countess Ida Ferenczy
- Henning Schlüter
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Isabella Telezynska
as Queen Mother
- Louise Vincent
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Mark Burns
as Hans von Buelow
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Folker Bohnet
as Joseph Kainz
- Manfred Furst
- Gernot Moehner
- Izabella Telezynska
- Sonia Petrovna
