The film dramatizes the events leading up to the Mayerling incident in 1889, where Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and his young mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, were found dead. It explores their passionate but doomed love affair, Rudolf's unhappy marriage to Princess Stéphanie, and the political pressures he faced as heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. The tragic conclusion depicts their decision to end their lives together.

Mayerling received a mixed reception from critics, with many praising the performances of the lead actors and the opulent production design. However, some found the film's pacing to be slow and its historical interpretation somewhat melodramatic. Audiences were generally more receptive to the romantic tragedy.

• Praised for its lavish costumes and set decoration.
• Catherine Deneuve and Omar Sharif deliver compelling performances as the ill-fated lovers.
• Some critics found the narrative to be overly sentimental and lacking in historical depth.

Google audience: Audience reception data for this film is not readily available.

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.

The film was shot on location at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, as well as at the Château de Versailles in France, to authentically recreate the historical settings.