"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..." "YOUR MAJESTY'S WISH" "TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS TO ADORN THE COUNTRY" "CAN ONLY BE GRANTED BY THE PARLIAMENT." "I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL GRANT YOU" "THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE BUILDINGS." ""This letter will help." "Take it to Hesselschwerdt at once!"" "ACT 6" ""I've been lucky enough to enjoy royal confidence for 21 years, but I cannot go before parliament with requests that are outside of the budget."" ""Bismarck's answer to the king."" ""Bismarck is not aware of the circumstances." "We will tell him the truth and he will decide differently."" ""Even if the king orders it, there is no way we could go before the parliament and ask for such high sums."" ""Then I am afraid your days as minister are numbered, if you are not willing to heed my old advice."" ""If I may, I'd like to pose a question, as a follow up to our last discussion."" "Would Your Highness," "in light of current circumstances," "be inclined to continue working with the current ministers?"" ""I am humbly indebted to you for your approval, and would like to show you material gathered in secret against His Majesty."" ""This respect for His Majesty reflects very well on Your Highness, but if our trusted doctor were to examine these papers, they could be used as grounds for dethronement."" "MARCH 1886:" "HEAD MEDICAL OFFICER EXPERT OPINION..." "WITNESS TESTIMONY AGAINST HIS MAJESTY" ""All of my suffering, all I have fought my way through," "I owe to you, my father!"" "TO BERG." "ACT 7" ""We have discovered that His Majesty is experiencing an advanced stage of mental illness." "He has a condition known to us doctors as paranoia."" ""A personal inspection of His Majesty will not be necessary." "The files suffice."" ""Am I really in Castle Berg?"" ""I've been assured that as far as the empire is concerned, little stands in the way of dethronement."" ""He was an artist's king, but through his ideals, he lost sight of the people."" ""If they wanted to declare all kings insane on those grounds, soon there wouldn't be any left."" ""Frederick the Great loved France and built copies of French buildings as well, and he certainly wasn't crazy!"" ""And even if he is crazy, who would dare lay a hand on the king?"" ""You must be these gentlemen's servants."" ""We're attendants for the mentally ill."" ""Ready the coach." "Let Hohenschwangau know I am coming."" ""Does Your Majesty still believe that Hesselschwerdt lies ill in Munich and that is why he has yet to return?"" ""Has a telegram been sent to Durkheim telling him to come right away?"" ""They should bring the coach around at once!" "I want to leave!"" ""The king can no longer give orders." "Only His Highness, Prince Luitpold, can do that now."" "ACT 8" ""Majesty, yonder, in Hohenschwangau..."" ""Nonsense." "If there was any danger," "Hesselschwerdt would've notified me long ago."" ""Flee?" "Never!" "To flee my country in the face of danger, would be utterly disgraceful!"" ""Gentlemen, it cannot go on like this." "We must finally become clear on our position." "This is how I see it..."" ""I won't embarrass myself." "I will enter first."" ""And after the proclamation is read..."" ""They've told him everything!" "Quick, or he'll leave!"" ""When the men in power don't like someone, he's gone." "But when we don't like someone, he's bound to stay for good."" ""If the king truly is insane, then the way they are treating him is all the more barbaric."" ""I don't want your authorization." "The word of my king is all I know."" ""That is the thanks I get for all that I have done." "Forgotten is my work on the formation of the German Empire." "All has been forgotten."" ""One more step and I'll have them open fire."" ""Majesty, follow me." "I'll lead you in triumph to your capital city."" ""I will go to my capital, but first I will have these traitors arrested."" ""A fine mess." "All because you failed to heed my advice."" ""In the name of the king, these gentlemen are under arrest."" "STARVE TO DEATH." "DRAWAND QUARTER." "WHIP." "WHIP, RIP OUT TONGUE..." ""No!" "I do not want people put in danger on my account." "I will not flee... not as long as I am king!"" ""Have you heard already?" "But everything will be fine now that you are here." "You give me the strength to act."" ""I, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria..."" "...FEEL THE NEED TO DECREE THE FOLLOWING APPEAL" "TO MY BELOVED PEOPLE AND TO THE ENTIRE NATION:" "MY MINISTRY HAS DECEIVED THE PEOPLE" "WITH FALSE INFORMATION CONCERNING MY HEALTH." "I FEEL JUST AS HEALTHY AS ANY OTHER MONARCH." "I EXPECT MY PEOPLE TO STAY TRUE TO ME IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST THESE TRAITORS." "TELEGRAM." "RETURN AT ONCE" "UNDER ORDERS FROM THE MINISTERS OF WAR." "ACT 9" "SPECIAL EDITION IN THE NAME OF HIS MAJESTY..." ""He no longer has any say?" "They're treating the king as if he were one of us."" ""It's because he's poor, and the poor are treated brutally and ruthlessly all over."" "SPECIAL EDITION IN THE NAME OF THE KING..." ""Your Highness, give me personal authority." "I will take care of the rest."" ""I, the king, will go to my capital city..."" ""I cannot be alone any longer!" "Bring me all my people, all of them!"" ""In the fear that Your Majesty could flee, they took everyone away by force."" ""I was born at half past 12, I want to die at half past 12." "Get me the key to the high tower."" ""I have no money." "Take this in return for your loyalty." "I am no longer in need of anything."" ""What is taking him so long with the key to the tower?"" ""I could have gotten over them taking my crown, but they've declared me insane... that is something I will not survive."" ""Put your mind at ease, those who betrayed me will have blood on their hands."" ""Quickly, quickly, or it will be too late!"" ""What is it you want?" "Let me go!"" ""No, no!" "Perhaps he is not fit to rule, but my son is not insane." "I must go to him!"" ""You must first become well again." "I will go to Castle Berg and save your son, and our king."" ""My clothing please, I cannot sleep." "I want to take a walk."" ""At least give me stockings so I may walk around in the room."" "ACT 10" ""It is Whit Sunday." "I want to go to church."" ""If the people were to see him at church, they'd stop believing he is crazy." "I'll go for a walk with him."" ""Salutations, Elisabeth."" ""Had he spent his money on less peaceful aims, instead of on building castles, he'd be sitting on the throne for along time to come."" ""Let us visit him tomorrow, before they really do drive him mad."" "TELEGRAM." "TO THE MUNICH MINISTRY." "EVERYTHING IS GOING WONDERFULLY WELL HERE." "THE KING IS AS OBEDIENT AS A CHILD." "DOCTOR GUDDEN." ""I don't trust you people."" ""Majesty, my coach is waiting."" ""Majesty, you called for me?"" ""This treatment will only last until Your Majesty is healed."" ""Do you actually believe they will ever declare me healthy and return my throne to me?"" ""Would the gendarmes hidden in the park shoot at me if the situation arose?"" ""No one is coming with us."" ""...and I always hear it whisper:" "You would find peace there."" ""What song is that, Majesty?"" ""Doctor, I admire you that you can sit beside me without any shame."" ""Majesty, I am only doing my duty."" ""Your duty?" "Do you know what it means to ascend the throne at such a tender age, with no knowledge of how to defeat the scum crawling all around you?"" ""You are my living proof that I was right to fear people." "They are the most dangerous animals of all."" ""Do not call out." "I no longer need any help, except for my mother's forgiveness, for the pain I must inflict upon you."" "THE END"