The Crown Prince
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Movie Reviews of The Crown Prince
Movie Review: Great cast, excellent cinematography and storyline
Summary: 4 Stars
The success of a movie is not always dependent on its historical accuracy. The Crown Prince came real close to history within the forgivable boundary of dramatization. As a simple tale of a bygone era, a misunderstood prince and the conflict between human emotions and social forces, it's been a great production. The music was optimum--reflective of the time, place and the weather. As someone in the 21st century, I am in no way in the position to judge the authenticity of a late nineteenth century environ, but it was enough to make me nostalgic about the era of kings, princes and beautiful court ladies.
Of course, many still doubt that the Crown Prince actually committed suicide--many hold the belief that he was assassinated, even possibly by his very own father. The conflict it showed was between the forward thinking prince and the power figures who were adamant about status quo. In real life Prince Rudolf was very smart--possibly too smart for his time. he had a knack for scientific ideas, collected natural specimens--rocks and butterflies, etc. He did envision a unified European continent, which is now EU. Who knows, if he stayed alive and took over the reign of Austro-Hungarian empire, we might have had a different world now.
Overall,the movie was great. I enjoyed it very much. Although I doubt those who are after docudrama in real sense will be satisfied.
Movie Review: Lovely to Look At; Three-and-a-half Stars!
Summary: 4 Stars
Despite the considerable flaws aptly noted by other reviewers, I enjoyed watching this self-described mini-series, merely for the magnificent costumes and the splendid settings (both interior and exterior). I was thoroughly entertained and did not feel that I had wasted my time. As for the lack of historicity, well, "The Crown Prince" certainly beats Hollywood's "The Illusionist" (which I enjoyed immensely, even though it made an historical mincemeat out of the same Hapsburg era); and the film has inspired me to read more on the subject of this fascinating, tragic, and very dysfunctional royal family, the Hapsburgs.
If your cup of tea is costume drama and you are not too picky about history, "The Crown Prince" will deliver 180 minutes of gorgeosity; and the attention to scenic detail will also explain such minutia as why the Vienna State Opera House has that rather ungainly projected arched facade: It was for carriages to drive under to deliver their elegant charges to the great front doors. One never knows what one might learn from an elegantly produced movie set in such beautiful locations as Vienna and Prague.
Movie Review: appraisal of "The Crown Prince"
Summary: 4 Stars
I must say I did find this production visually stunning and pretty accurate historically. "The Crown Prince" centered on character development of the tortured heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. I found Max von Thun, aside from his obvious good looks, fairly convincing as the idealistic, democratically inclined, at times reckless (e.g., his frequenting of brothels) Rudolf von Hapsburg. Noteworthy performances included those of Julia Jentsch (Sophie Scholl-The Last Days) as Sarah Rudolf's first true love, Klaus Maria Brandauer as Rudolf's father (Kaiser Franz Joseph), among others.Movie Review: Unhappy Fairytale
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a fictionalized account of Crown Prince Rudolph of Hapsburg. While the general story is based on fact, the creators took liberal license in their interpretation and it morphs into an unhappy fairytale about princes, princesses and royalty. My initial reaction was that the production was dull, despite an illustrious cast. The key character, Prince Rudolph, seemed weak, ineffectual, good-looking and boring. To believe that this man, so obsessed with a playboy lifestyle, was in fact a great political/military and scientific thinker stretched the bounds of credulity. But indeed what he was trying to forestall--war among European countries--materialized into World War I and the fall of the Hapsburg empire. His vision of a united Europe took a few more centuries.
To consolidate his position and strengthen his relationship with his estranged father, Rudolph marries a woman who is only able to bear him a daughter, thereby jeopardizing the future line able to inherit the Hapsburg empire. Rudolph has so many liaisons that he is plagued by gonorrhea, a disease he passes to his wife, and which the movie implies drives him to become a morphine addict. Eventually he becomes entranced with Baroness Maria Vetsera, the daughter of an old lover. She willingly sacrifices a brilliant marriage and future just to be with him. The story ends tragically at Mayerling, where they decide to face death together.
At the end of the second disk I did not have a satisfying feeling; I did not have any new insight into the fascinating Hapsburg family. But the movie was pleasant to watch, set amidst the glorious buildings and palaces of Vienna and Prague, and the wardrobe at least remained true to the period. I think it was worth watching but hardly a stellar production.
Movie Review: Historical, yet trampled again
Summary: 3 Stars
I was waiting with high hopes till this series was released. Again my hopes were dashed. I agree with other reviewers to the role Brigitte Hamann played (or not played in this case). Vetsera with blond hair, Marie Wallersee with dark hair, Crown Princess Stephanie with dark hair, a portly Kaiser and a sour Empress with the 'wrong' lover. The part I enjoyed was the part of Mitzi Casper.
What happened to Rudolph's relationship with Hungary, his relationship with his Grandmother?? No, they could have made something special and again they failed.