The Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II
2013 · 59 MIN · IMDB 7.9 · 86 VOTES · DIR. Alexander Leith
Overview
Ludwig II of Bavaria, more commonly known by his nicknames the Swan King or the Dream King, is a legendary figure - the handsome boy-king, loved by his people, betrayed by his cabinet and found dead in tragic and mysterious circumstances. He spent his life in pursuit of the ideal of beauty, an ideal that found expression in three of the most extraordinary, ornate architectural schemes imaginable - the castle of Neuschwanstein and the palaces of Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. Today, these three buildings are among Germany's biggest tourist attractions. Dan Cruickshank explores the rich aesthetic of Ludwig II - from the mock-medievalism of Neuschwanstein, the iconic fairytale castle that became the inspiration for the one in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty, to the rich Baroque splendour of Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig's answer to Versailles. Dan argues that Ludwig's castles are more than flamboyant kitsch and are, in fact, the key to unravelling the eternal enigma of Ludwig II.
Dialogue Timeline — 702 lines
A SAMPLE ACROSS THE RUNTIME — EVERY LINE IS SEARCHABLE
00:00:03 Bavaria.
00:03:26 on the site of a medieval ruin.
00:06:12 so Maximilian saw it this way, the Bavarians saw it this way.
00:08:41 the Lohengrin character of legend made monarch.
00:11:18 was to invite Wagner to dinner.
00:14:17 and certainly for this castle
00:17:04 he was presided over by a portrait of the Virgin Mary.
00:19:33 but also as a mediator between the world and God.
00:21:26 wrought-iron lattice sort of ribs
00:24:52 He now turned his attention to transforming it into a royal palace
00:27:25 As Prussia dominated the Germanic world
00:29:49 Sevres porcelain urns.
00:32:13 and like so many of Ludwig's creations
00:34:56 and had it rebuilt in the grounds at Linderhof.
00:37:24 and also confirm Bavaria as little more than a vassal
00:39:49 what opulence and dare I say, what sort of pretension, really
00:41:44 Louis is everywhere. His presence, you almost feel it.
00:43:36 but as you can see, it's under repair.
00:45:56 Look at the colours, the way it glistens.
00:47:56 and I suppose, if possible, one would put on the next course
00:51:14 This is all so symbolic.
00:53:45 The following day, Ludwig went for a walk
00:56:06 more so today than ever he was in his lifetime.
00:58:22 that a heart that beat for beauty