The Crown Prince

Forbidden royal romance makes for gripping drama of epic proportions and tragic consequences. Terribly unhappy in an arranged marriage, Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf (Max von Thun, Hitler: The Rise of Evil), heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, launches a torrid affair with the Baroness Mary Vetsera (Vittoria Puccini, Nero). Chaffing under the strain of his father’s strict disapproval, Rudolf’s self-destructive behavior culminates in the murder-suicide of the lovers in 1889 at Mayerling, the Prince’s hunting lodge. Referred to as “The Mayerling Incident,” the event not only irreversibly damaged the Hapsburg dynasty, but also provided a major catalyst in the chain reaction that started World War I. Filmed on location in Austria, this sweeping mini-series features an illustrious cast that also includes Klaus Maria Brandauer (Out of Africa) and Oscar®-nominee Omar Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia).

Written by Didier Decoin, Klaus Lintschinger
Directed by Robert Dornhelm
Produced by Ferdinand Dohna, Kurt J. Mrkwicka
Executive Produced by Andreas Kamm
Original Music by Ludwig Eckmann, Joerg Magnus Pfeil
Cinematography by Michael Riebl
Film Editing by Ingrid Koller
Costume Design by Uli Fessler, Margit Salzinger