Liliom (1934)

Two women love the same man in a world of few prospects. In Budapest, Liliom is a "public figure," a rascal who's a carousel barker, loved by the experienced merry-go-round owner and by a ... See full summary »

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Ferenc Molnár (play) (as Franz Molnár), Robert Liebmann (adaptation)

Stars:

Charles Boyer, Madeleine Ozeray, Robert Arnoux

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Boyer	...	Liliom Zadowski
Madeleine Ozeray	...	Julie Boulard / Liliom and Julie's daughter
Robert Arnoux	...	Le tourneur (the Lathe Turner)
Roland Toutain	...	Le marin ivre (The Drunken Sailor)
Alexandre Rignault	...	Hollinger
Henri Richard	...	Le commissaire - The Commissioner
Marcel Barencey	...	Le policier du Purgatoire - Purgatory Cop (as Barencey)
Raoul Marco	...	L'inspecteur - The Detective
Antonin Artaud	...	Le rémouleur (The Knife Grinder)
Léon Arvel	...	L'employé du commissariat (Police station employee)
René Stern	...	Le caissier - Cashier
Mimi Funes	...	Marie (as Mimi Funès)
Maximilienne	...	Mme. Menoux
Viviane Romance	...	La marchande de cigarettes - Cigarette Girl
Mila Parély	...	La dactylo - Typist

Storyline

Two women love the same man in a world of few prospects. In Budapest, Liliom is a "public figure," a rascal who's a carousel barker, loved by the experienced merry-go-round owner and by a young, innocent maid. The maid, Julie, loses her job after going out with Liliom; he's fired by his jealous employer for going out with Julie. The two lovers move in with Julie's aunt; unemployment emasculates him and a local weasel tempts him with crime. Julie, now wan, is true to Liliom even in his bad temper. Meanwhile, a stolid widower, a carpenter, wants to marry Julie. Is there any future on this earth for Julie and Liliom, whose love is passionate rather than ideal?

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Plot Keywords:

carousel | budapest hungary | bureaucracy | police station | police inspector | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

15 May 1934 (France)

Also Known As:

Liliom

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Productions Fox Europa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 85 min (edited) 118 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Catholic Church denounced this film upon release; its view of Heaven was considered too frivolous.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Liliom Zadowski: Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! The Hippo-Palace, elegant amusement for all! Glad to see you back, ma'am. You should buy a season pass! Just like a jockey, grip with your knees! Careful with your stockings! Calling all riders! Saddle up!

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Crazy Credits

The two angels who play such an important role in the film are completely unmentioned in the cast.

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Alternate Versions

The original video release of this (on Sinister Video) in 1998 did not have subtitles, and was cut by half-an-hour. The current DVD and VHS release on Kino has subtitles and is the full-length version of the film.

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Connections

Version of Carousel (1967)

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Soundtracks

Viens gosse de gosse
(uncredited)
Written by Jean Lenoir

User Reviews

Such a Marvelous Surprise!

Having tried and failed to sit through Carousel (a lumbering musical remake of the same story) I was wholly unprepared for the delight that is Liliom. A fantasy love story set half on Earth, half in Heaven, it's not at all the type of film you expect from Fritz Lang. It's closer in tone to Michael Powell or Jean Cocteau - and may be a 'hidden influence' on both A Matter of Life and Death and Orphee.

Not least among his achievements...Lang pulls off the well-nigh impossible feat of making Charles Boyer interesting! Sorry, but I'd always found this actor deeply resistible. A suburban housewife's stereotype of a suave Continental lover. But in this movie, Boyer plays a role that (even five years later) would have been reserved exclusively for Jean Gabin. A tough carnival barker and petty crook. A sexy 'bad boy' in a striped, clinging T-shirt and skin-tight jeans.

Boyer as Liliom is a Gallic cousin of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. I could well understand why Julie (Madeleine Ozeray) fell head over heels for him, because I did too. He treats her appallingly, of course. Boozing, whoring, gambling...even a (very non-PC) touch of wife-beating. For all its fantasy elements, this love story is as warped and sadomasochistic as any in later Lang movies, like Secret Beyond the Door or The Big Heat. (Hot coffee, anyone?)

Eventually, two angels show up and haul Boyer off to the hereafter - where he must atone for his sins! The term 'angels' is one I use loosely. Dark-suited, pale-skinned and shaven-headed, these two guys look like denizens of an X-rated Berlin nightclub. Kinkier still is Boyer's personal 'spirit guide' - a mad-eyed knife-grinder played by Antonin Artaud, the twisted genius who invented the Theatre of Cruelty.

Liliom is a rare treat for old-movie buffs. Lyrical and fantastic, yes. Soppy and sentimental, never. It stands comparison with Lang's best work from Berlin or Hollywood. I can only regret he did not spend more time in France.