Perils of Cupid (Part 1)

Directed by Bille August; Written by Matthew Jacobs; Starring Corey Carrier, Lloyd Owen, Ruth de Sosa; Margaret Tyzack, Max von Sydow

I’m not sure if we’re in 1908 or 1909 at this point. This episode aired as a 1908 episode, but the DVD releases place it after British East Africa 1909. Also, Ambassador Kerens didn’t become Ambassador until 1909, so …

But let’s stick with the original dates to avoid further confusion. Indy and his family are now staying at the American Embassy in Vienna, Austria. During horseback riding lessons, Indy meets young Sophie of Hohenberg when he retrieves her dropped hat. Sophie is a princess, daughter of heir presumptive Archduke Franz Ferdinand. (Yes, that Franz Ferdinand.)

Indy’s “Wild West” antics earn him an admonishment by the instructor, but the princess appears grateful. After lessons, Indy approaches her and, in German, tells her that she has a nice horse and that they’re only in the city until the following week.

Sophie tells Indy they are going for a walk and invites him along. Then, her governess Emilie (Pernilla August) and Miss Seymour decide they are hungry, and the group enters a restaurant. But Indy and Sophie request to walk in the gardens, and they take a stroll. Then, Indy talks a reluctant Sophie into going ice skating. At first, she’s anxious, saying there are too many people, but she starts to have fun. That is, until her distraught governess finds them and venomously scolds Indy.

Then, he gets a solid verbal thrashing from his father: “You have brought shame on all of us and your country.” Ouch.

Indy returns to his studies, and Miss Seymour finds a note he has written to Sophie. Suspecting his true feelings for Sophie, she asks him to read some love poems aloud. As she expected, he connects with their meaning and asks her if he could be in love.

Miss Seymour tells him he’s very young, and some people fall in love too soon and others too late. Her expression hints she may be in the latter category.

At breakfast, Henry receives a letter from Sophie, which reads, “I’m hoping you are well and that I’m not causing you sorrow and pain,” and she hopes to see him again. Meanwhile, his parents discuss Ambassador Kerens’ first psychoanalytic conference and whether Henry should attend the dinner, where Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler will be guests. Anna worries the topics may be too mature for Henry, but his father says he should be there, if he can behave.

Later, Indy wanders into a shop and spies a snow globe he would like to purchase for Sophie, as it has a couple ice skating, but it’s too expensive. He uses the shell game in the marketplace to earn money for it.

That evening, he’s at the dinner with Freud, Jung, and Adler, and the conversation turns to the nature of love. Each psychoanalyst has his own opinions about the subject, but when Freud brings up sex, the ladies primly withdraw, and Anna tries to take Indy with her, but Freud insists the boy stays. The men encourage him to proclaim his feelings.

Emboldened by his conversation with the psychologists, Indy tries to get into the palace but is thwarted by the guards. He demands to see Sophie, explaining that he has a gift and wants to say goodbye. Then he makes an appeal to her father, the archduke, who informs him that he is too young, and not Austrian, and therefore cannot marry Sophie, who is already in bed. The archduke orders a carriage and sends Indy on his way.

But he sneaks into the back of the carriage before the driver leaves the embassy, first hiding in the stables upon arriving back at the palace and then making his way inside, scurrying from dumbwaiter to a large room where the archduke and his wife are enjoying an orchestral concert, and then to a library with a secret door. He thinks he’s found Sophie but realizes it’s only Emilie, her governess.

He finally reaches Sophie, who is delighted to see him. She gifts him a locket with her portrait inside, and he gives her the snow globe he purchased. With the briefest and lightest of kisses, the children bid farewell to each other, and Indy promises to write to her.

It is this very locket that saves his life in the German East Africa 1916 episode, when a bullet hits the locket instead of piercing Indy’s chest.

Thoughts

Not the most interesting of episodes, but cute nonetheless. With the younger Indy cast in this episode (as opposed to the teenaged Indy), the dinner conversation with Freud et al. strikes me as odd. It’s not exciting for kids who may be watching, and honestly wasn’t that exciting for me, though I could appreciate their differing opinions based on their psychoanalytic theories. And I do love the connecting thread of the locket between this episode and German East Africa, 1916.

Related DVD Documentaries

• The Archduke’s Last Journey – End of an Era
• Powder Keg – Europe 1900 to 1914
• Sigmund Freud – Exploring the Unconscious
• Carl Jung and the Journey to Self Discovery
• Psychology – Charting the Human Mind

History

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Neurologist who developed the field of psychoanalysis, as well as the Oedipus complex. Formed psychoanalytic group with Carl Jung and Adler.

Franz Ferdinand  (1863–1914) Archduke of Austria, member of the House of Habsburg, and heir to the throne. He and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914, the inciting incident to World War I. The Habsburg dynasty, founded by Maria Theresa and Francis I (Holy Roman Emperor) in 1736, was abolished in 1918 at the end of the war.

Sophie of Hohenberg (1901–1990) Only daughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. She died only a couple of years this episode aired, and her daughter Sophie is still living.

Fun Facts

Pernilla August, who portrays Sophie’s governess Emilie, appears in another episode of Young Indy, as Mamma in Northern Italy, June 1918. But she’s probably most notably known as Shmi Skywalker in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

Ambassador Kerens was portrayed by Bruce Boa, best known as General Rieekan from The Empire Strikes Back.

Max von Sydow (Sigmund Freud) was Lor San Tekka in The Force Awakens and Director Burgess in Minority Report. He passed away in 2020.