Mayerling

Audrey was fantastic!
I received Mayerling in the post and was very excited to watch it -- and I wasn't disappointed. As an Audrey fan myself, I can safely say that any other fans of her will not be disappointed. Mel Ferrer's acting was occasionally over the top which sometimes ruined the emotion of each scene, however Audrey portrayed her character of a young and naive girl brilliantly -- you can't help but fall in love with her. The costumes and sets are also great for a Television movie. The plot is very exciting and dramatic and I enjoyed it thoroughly, I recommend to any fan of Audrey or even fans of old Hollywood.

Pleasantly Surprised
I was pleasantly surprised by Mayerling. Having only seen pictures and a grainy clip of the film I wasn't sure what to expect. Thankfully, the film was thoroughly entertaining and Audrey Hepburn was captivating. Despite Mel Ferrer's starched performance, Audrey's showmanship set the tone of the film and was accompanied by a strong cast and immaculate sets. The costumes elevated the performances and Audrey fans will not be disappointed by her wardrobe. The ball gown she wore during the royal ball was lovely especially matched by the flowers sewn into her hair. It's a treat for fans everywhere to be able to add this movie to their collection of classic films.

AUDREY CAN'T BE BEAT
Although the picture quality is grainy and it's in black-and-white, this TV film is worth getting for two reasons. The first and most obvious is Audrey Hepburn's ravishing portrayal of Mary Vetsera. This production was made the same year she did Funny Face and Love in the Afternoon, so it is prime Audrey at her most exquisite. I also was pleased by Mel Ferrer's performance as Prince Rudolph, which to me seems less like overacting than trying to capture the tortured quality of a disturbed young man. Audrey and Mel had just married prior to the filming of this, and their personal chemistry comes through vividly. The second reason to see this is that it is a scene-by-scene remake of Anatole Litvak's 1936 film of the same name, a highly regarded French production starring Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux. (That film is generally considered by critics to be superior to Terrence Young's 1968 film of the same story with Omar Sharif and Catherine Deneuve, although I must confess I prefer...

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