A string of masterpieces behind him – including Ossessione, Senso, The Leopard and Death in Venice – the great Italian director Luchino Visconti turned his attentions to the life and death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1972, resulting in an epic of 19th-century decadence. Dominated by Helmut Berger (The Damned, The Bloodstained Butterfly) in the title role, Ludwig nevertheless manages to find room for an impressive cast list: Romy Schneider (reprising her Elisabeth of Austria characterisation from the Sissi trilogy), Silvana Mangano (Bitter Rice), Gert Frbe (Goldfinger), John Moulder-Brown (Deep End) and Trevor Howard (Brief Encounter) as Richard Wagner. As opulent as any of Visconti’s epics – Piero Tosi’s costume design was nominated for an Academy Award – Ludwig is presented here in its complete form in accordance with the director’s wishes. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS • 2K restoration from the original film negative • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation • Two viewing options: the full-length theatrical cut or as five individual parts • Original Italian soundtrack with optional English subtitles • Original English soundtrack with optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing • Interview with actor Helmut Berger • Interview with producer Dieter Geissler • Luchino Visconti, an hour-long documentary portrait of the director by Carlo Lizzani (Wake Up and Kill, Requiescant) containing interviews with Burt Lancaster, Vittorio Gassman, Francesco Rosi, Claudia Cardinale and others • Speaking with Suso Cecchi d’Amico, an interview with the screenwriter • Silvana Mangano: The Scent of a Primrose, a half-hour portrait of the actress • Theatrical trailer • Reversible sleeve featuring two choices of original poster artwork