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.