Mayerling

Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary is emotionally unstable and haunted by his obsession with death. For political reasons, he is forced to marry Princess Stephanie. At the celebratory ball, he behaves badly towards her, flirting with Princess Louise. Countess Larisch tries to revive her affair with Rudolf. He visits his mother, the Empress, in her apartments and attempts to engage her sympathies. He then forces himself on Stephanie, terrifying her with a revolver.

A visit to a notorious tavern is interrupted by a police raid. Mitzi Caspar betrays Rudolf’s presence to the Prime Minister. Countess Larisch introduces him to a new mistress, Mary Vetsera, a young woman who shares his morbid fascination. Countess Larisch encourages the relationship on both sides, conveying a letter from Mary to Rudolf at a birthday party for the Emperor. Rudolf and Mary meet in secret.

At a shoot in the countryside, Rudolf kills a courtier and almost wounds the Emperor. Back in his apartments, Rudolf asks Mary to die with him.At the hunting lodge Mayerling, Rudolf is drinking with friends. When they leave, Mary arrives. She and Rudolf form a suicide pact. They make love before Rudolf shoots first Mary and then himself. The royal family covers up the tragedy.