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.