Ludwig (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1973, Ludwig is a drama and history film directed by Luchino Visconti, running about 238 minutes. “Ludwig. He loved women. He loved men. He lived as controversially as he ruled. But he did not care what the world thought. He was the world.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Historical evocation of Ludwig, king of Bavaria, from his crowning in 1864 until his death in 1886, as a romantic hero. Fan of Richard Wagner, betrayed by him, in love with his cousin Elisabeth of Austria, abandoned by her, tormented by his homosexuality, he will little by little slip towards madness.
Who’s in it. Ludwig stars Helmut Berger as Ludwig, Romy Schneider as Elisabeth of Austria, Trevor Howard as Richard Wagner and Silvana Mangano as Cosima von Bülow, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Ludwig has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ludwig page.
If you liked it. Fans of Ludwig tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Ludwig (1973)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Ludwig change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Ludwig worth watching?
- Ludwig holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Ludwig?
- Ludwig stars Helmut Berger, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard, Silvana Mangano and Gert Fröbe.
- When was Ludwig released?
- Ludwig was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 238 minutes.