Mayerling

Two pistol shots rang out on the morning of january 30th 1889... and death made two star-cross'd lovers immortal...at thirty, the archduke rudolph was seeking distraction in wine, women, and music--loving life passionately, yet burning it as a thing of no value... estranged from his sour-tempered wife, opposed to the feudal policies of his father, the emperor franz joseph, he was the centre of a thousand intrigues...suddenly there was marie--the baronesse marie vetsera--bewitching, lovely and only seventeen--who fell in love with rudolph at first sight... and happiness and torment...terence young directed a movie made upon this book, starring omar sharif, catherine deneuve, james mason and ava gardner.