Ludwig
Seen it?1973 | 239 min | Drama, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It won 2 Oscars, though it had just 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved The Last Duel or House of Gucci, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 3 hr 59 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect sex.
- It's long: 3 hr 59 min.
- Made in 1973: an older pace and style.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
Historical evocation of Ludwig, king of Bavaria, from his crowning in 1864 until his death in 1886, as a romantic hero. Fan of Richard Wagner, betrayed by him, in love with his cousin Elisabeth of Austria, abandoned by her, tormented by his homosexuality, he will little by little slip towards madness.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsWeak
33% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Award: Best Film, Academy Award: Best Director. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar. Plus 4 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 46K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Luchino Visconti
- Helmut BergerLudwig
- Romy SchneiderElisabeth of Austria
- Trevor HowardRichard Wagner
- Silvana ManganoCosima von Bülow
- Gert FröbeFather Hoffmann
- Helmut GriemDürckheim
- Izabella TelezynskaQueen Mother
- Umberto OrsiniCount von Holnstein
- John Moulder-BrownPrince Otto
- Sonia PetrovnaSophie