Ludwig II, King of Bavaria

PRESIDENT CARL LAEMMLE PRESENTS

WILHELM DIETERLE AS LUDWIG II, KING OF BAVARIA

ONE MAN'S FATE

THIS FILM DELIBERATELY REFRAINS FROM

DEPICTING LEGENDS AND ASSUMPTIONS,

AND IS BASED PURELY ON HISTORICAL FACT.

EVERY ERA HAS THE RIGHT TO REINTERPRET HISTORY

AND TO ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND AN HISTORICAL FIGURE

BETTER THAN THEY WERE UNDERSTOOD IN THE PAST.

TODAY WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERSON'S UNDERLYING NATURE:

FORMED BY THEIR DISPOSITION, UPBRINGING AND THE ERA THEY LIVED IN.

ACT 1

Ludwig II ascends to the throne at 18 years of age.

The people sing his praises

and idolize his beauty.

But no one is able to follow his high-flown thoughts.

He recognizes this and flees,

disappointed,

into the solitude of his mountains.

This causes discontent in the capital.

The government chastises.

And so Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, begins his tremendous final battle.

THE WORKS OF RICHARD WAGNER

PEACE TREATY OF NIKOLSBURG, JULY 26, 1866

BAVARIA PAYS AND MAKES SACRIFICES

THE FOUNDATION OF THE EMPIRE

"They say he's losing his mind."

POLICE

"It seems there is a plot being formed against him."

"THIS CLAIM AGAINST THE KING IS NOT REVENGE AGAINST HIM FOR EXCUSING ME FROM HIS SERVICE,

BUT RATHER THE TRUTH I BORE WITNESS TO."

"Here are the man's personal details.

The information is not flawless but certainly credible!"

"What does the ministry say?"

"It is the view that the King's peculiarities should be tolerated,

as long as the welfare of the people is not jeopardized."

"So the welfare of the people takes precedence?"

"His building projects are our hope."

"Building is my greatest pleasure in life. If only it went much faster."

"His brother, Majesty."

BROTHER

ACT 2

BROTHER

"Don't, Brother. Do not forbid them from torturing me."

"Where is the doctor?"

"At the main asylum, Majesty."

"Doctor Muller speaking."

"The King is coming to see me?"

"How dare you use violence

on someone as ill as my brother?"

"Doctor von Gudden."

"A discharged patient, Majesty.

She's waiting for the coach that will take her home."

"Madame,

my coach is at your disposal."

FLOWERS

"You know how much I suffer here, especially during festivities,

and yet you never cease pushing me back into the city."

"Majesty, there is no other way.

We need money, and Minister Ziegler..."

"A king is never obligated,

and for the last time, I don't want to see any more ministers!"

"Have they postponed dinner very long?"

"Majesty, you must help me!"

I beg you!

"Forbid the duel between Prince Arnulf and my husband!"

"Tell this Mrs. von Durkheim that this is no way to speak to a king.

Nevertheless, I wish to question her husband tonight."

"Shall I declare the meal over?"

"His behavior tarnishes the reputation of the entire family."

"Something must be done."

"I imagine they are talking about me again downstairs,

saying I am crazy because I can't stand their faces?"

"Unfortunately, due to Your Majesty's premature departure,

alliances were not formed that could have relieved our shortage of money."

"If you don't find another way,

you and your ministers can go to hell."

"Count Durkheim is ready to be questioned, Majesty."

"Tell me,

how did this duel challenge come about?"

"You and your womanizing,

and with Mrs. von Durkheim of all people!"

"The king has forbidden the duel to take place."

Durkheim will apologize,

"but will be promoted to the king's personal adjutant."

"His Majesty left for a trip once more,

presumably to Neuschwanstein."

ACT 3

TELEGRAM. RICHARD WAGNER IS DEAD

"Long after we two are no more,

our work shall serve as a shining example for posterity."

The followers speak: "Our king has lost a friend."

The opponents speak: "One less heretic."

The world speaks: "A genius returns home,

and Ludwig is to thank for Die Meistersinger, Nibelungen and Parsival."

They would not exist

without

this

king.

"But, Hesselschwerdt, you plague me with business matters

even here at Castle Berg."

"I recommend Pfister to Your Majesty.

He has the best financial abilities."

"Are you so dumb

that you still haven't learned how to do that?"

"Then make a seal on your brow

so everyone can see just how dumb you are."

"Forget all your worries."

"I want to live on this island forever,"

and hear no more of politics and money,

"but then they would surely think I'd gone completely mad."

"Spare your tears.

Who can say what suffering still awaits us."

IN HONOR OF THEIR MAJESTIES, MARIA ANTOINETTE AND LOUIS XIV.

DAMNED AM I, IF I SHOULD FALL AGAIN. I, THE KING.

DIARY

ACT 4

"Hesselschwerdt is to bring in the orders of business,

and you should finally get that mask off your face."

"Once I couldn't bear to see his face,

so he's been wearing that mask for a year, just to please me."

"Cabinet Secretary von Pfister wishes an audience with Your Majesty."

"Perhaps Your Majesty can receive him this evening,

while he's taking a ride in his coach somewhere."

IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT LAW,

YOUR MAJESTY'S CIVIL LIST MAY BE DISPUTED OR SEIZED.

WHAT'S WORSE IS THE FACT THAT NEW FUNDS ARE DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN,

BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT THEY CANNOT BE USED FOR DEBT REPAYMENT.

YOUR MAJESTY SHOULD NOT MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL.

"I approve this submission.

Is there anything else?"

"Does Your Majesty really desire to ask permission for every expense?"

"You mustn't take that so literally."

I need money in order to continue building,

"and to purchase Falkenstein Castle."

"I love animals.

They are the only creatures who don't want anything from me."

"Why don't his rich relatives give him anything,

or one of the many banks?"

"That's the problem, one bank would give him money,

but there are just too many banks."

DARMSTADT BANK, SOCIETY BANK...

CONTRACT BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY, KING LUDWIG II OF BAVARIA,

AND SOCIETY BANK.

"There is no way this loan will be paid to the cabinet.

The bank will pay it directly to the creditor instead."

"We must finally tell the king that it cannot go on like this."

"Such a step would certainly make an impression on the king,

but we would be putting our position in jeopardy."

"There is nothing we can do. We must wait and see."

"MY ROYAL WILL IS THAT MY CURRENT BUILDING PROJECTS BE COMPLETED,"

AND THE REBUILDING OF FALKENSTEIN BE STARTED AT ONCE.

WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF MY PLANS

IS THAT THE BANK DISGRACEFULLY PAID DIRECTLY TO THE CREDITOR.

THEREFORE I ASK YOU TO ACQUIRE NEW FUNDS. I, THE KING.

"The king!"

Extravagant!

Brutal!

"Crazy!"

ACT 5

"My son visits me so late in the night?"

"I wanted to be the first in Hohenschwangau

to wish you a happy birthday."

"I don't like doctors."

"I do not want to be reminded of the city

that did not want me to make it the center of the world."

"It is only right that I keep it tidy here,

on the rare occasion that you pay me a visit."

"I never see such things.

Being king means living high above all that is dirty."

"As you should. Let me take care of you.

I will sell all that I own to keep you from adversity."

"Keep what you have, Mother.

I've never had more money than I do now, and all my debts have been repaid."

"Keep what you have, Mother. I've never had more money than I do now, and all my debts have been repaid."

"The money must come so that I may continue building.

Building is work to me, work I would not like to live without."

"You have relationships with Thurn-Taxis,."

Emperor Franz Josef, the King of Sweden,

the Shah of Persia...

Visit all of them! All of them!

"And bring back money!"

"Bring this letter to the ministry."

Tell those vermin that I will send them packing

and dissolve the parliament

"if they do not obey."

"See to this well.

My happiness depends on you."

MY DEAR PRINCE OF BISMARCK...

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND ALL POWERFUL KING...