Ludwig Reviews

Very disappointed

No doubt this film is great if you speak Italian and see it in a cinema, but I found the long thin strip of picture across my TV screen difficult to watch and I hate following sub titles. As it was about Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria it would have been easier for me if they had spoken German, a language I can understand!

I visited Neuschwanstein some 35 years ago and got a better feeling for the story from that visit than from this film.

A Fascinating and Adult Film

Watching a film as intense and adult as Visconti's Ludwig makes me realize why I seldom go to the cinema any longer. There is so little worthy of attention. Although it is episodic and a bit obscure, the look of the film, design, photography, costumes and props all add to a superb whole. I checked afterwards and it is very true to history. As these sickly, tormented and mentally handicapped individuals representing the royalty of their period have as their descendents the current Briotish lot, it does tell a pertinent tale. Fortunately, the film also describes the end of such total rule by a titular monarch, leaving only power in money such as a Howard Hughes. Better to support a Visconti, also a titled descendent than the poor judgement Ludwig had with supporting fellow madman, Richard Wagner.

Very Long

Stylistic and well acted. However a long film to watch with subtitles (6+ hours)

[Highly rated reviewer]

Not like our own dear Royals?

Like a lot of others I thought that this film would be in German, not Italian, but after I got over this surprise I found it was very interesting and very well done. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, if I’d read the description properly.

I did find the dubbing of many of the leading actors into Italian a bit disconcerting, though, and wondered which languages the multi-national cast used when they were making the film. This diverted me at times from concentrating on the storyline as poor misunderstood King Ludwig descended into deeper depths of insanity and built another castle or two. I also noticed a certain resemblance between Helmut Berger as Ludwig and Johnny Depp and wondered if somebody might remake it with him as the star, but with all the cast talking the same language, please!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Visconti

Recognisably Visconti, slow paced, high drama, intense baroque settings. I hadn't seen this particular Visconti before but was very impressed by its quality in the acting, photography, settings.

Once you get used to the pace of the film it is totally absorbing and gripping and despite its length I was so engaged I did not notice the time pass.

It is not a film for those with a short attention span or those who want explosive special effects and explicit violence.

It may not be quite as good as 'The Leopard' but its not far short and if you are a Visconti fan you will love it.

Disappointing Visconti

Impossible to watch this interminably lengthy account of Ludwig II of Bavaria's gradual descent into eccentricity and madness without considering how closely it mirrors Visconti's own deterioration as a director, as his own preoccupations seem to reflect closely those of his eponymous hero. The film is incredibly self-indulgent and turgid with little sign of the talent once shown by the director of 'Senso', 'Rocco' and 'Il Gattopardo'. Money has not been stinted in the matter of opulent settings and a starry cast, though Visconti favourite Helmut Berger is ultimately not an interesting enough actor to carry off the enormous title role, and Trevor Howard seems a rather odd choice for Wagner. Silvana Mangano turns up as Cosima von Bulow, but the German actors, Gert Froebe, Helmut Griem and Romy Schneider (who else?) reprising her role of Sissi in a somewhat different context, come off rather better than the Italians.

No wonder it never got much of a release over here.

For completist collectors only.

AAA Superb -- BUT

Acting is wonderful, all stars, .... Trevor as Wagner - perfect.

The visuals are absolutely wonderful. every department lighting, scenery, costumes - a feast for the eyes. Music fantastic.

The film was made in English. BUT we have to watch a dubbed into Italian version with English subtitles.

This is a similar sorry tale as '1900' Bertolucci's masterpiece (AAA), also dubbed and subtitled back to English. Spoils so much.

It is very sad to see these truly great works treated with scorn and lazy disdain. Currently so much film is of such poor quality, meagre artistry and little vision that these signposts along the way to the sublime become even more essential viewing. BUT it is difficult with the poor audio. Please..... someone release the original English version, funny accents and all, it is best !

[Highly rated reviewer]

As good as I remember

I hadn't seen this in a long time but it's still as good as I remember. Only problem I have is the dubbed soundtrack. It's about time someone either re-dubbs it in German or finds the original English sync. At the moment the dubbed Italian doesn't belong in what is a pretty great film