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Billy Liar

  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
Billy Liar (1963)
A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.
Play trailer4:09
1 Video
47 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and famil... Read allA lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Schlesinger
  • Writers
    • Keith Waterhouse(screenplay)
    • Willis Hall(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Courtenay
    • Julie Christie
    • Wilfred Pickles
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Schlesinger
  • Writers
    • Keith Waterhouse(screenplay)
    • Willis Hall(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Courtenay
    • Julie Christie
    • Wilfred Pickles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 82User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 6 BAFTA Awards
      • 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 4:09
    Official Trailer

    Photos47

    Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie and Tom Courtenay in Billy Liar (1963)
    Billy Liar (1963)
    Billy Liar (1963)
    Billy Liar (1963)
    Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie in Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie and Tom Courtenay in Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie in Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie in Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie and Tom Courtenay in Billy Liar (1963)
    Julie Christie in Billy Liar (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Courtenay
    Tom Courtenay
    • Billy Fisheras Billy Fisher
    Julie Christie
    Julie Christie
    • Lizas Liz
    Wilfred Pickles
    Wilfred Pickles
    • Geoffrey Fisheras Geoffrey Fisher
    Mona Washbourne
    Mona Washbourne
    • Alice Fisheras Alice Fisher
    Ethel Griffies
    Ethel Griffies
    • Grandma Florenceas Grandma Florence
    Finlay Currie
    Finlay Currie
    • Duxburyas Duxbury
    Gwendolyn Watts
    • Ritaas Rita
    Helen Fraser
    • Barbaraas Barbara
    Leonard Rossiter
    Leonard Rossiter
    • Emanuel Shadrackas Emanuel Shadrack
    Rodney Bewes
    Rodney Bewes
    • Arthur Crabtreeas Arthur Crabtree
    George Innes
    George Innes
    • Stampas Stamp
    Leslie Randall
    • Danny Boonas Danny Boon
    Patrick Barr
    Patrick Barr
    • Insp. MacDonaldas Insp. MacDonald
    Ernest Clark
    Ernest Clark
    • Prison Governoras Prison Governor
    Godfrey Winn
    • Disc Jockeyas Disc Jockey
    Aleksander Browne
    • Bit Partas Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    James Byron
    • Servicemanas Serviceman
    • (uncredited)
    Douglas Clarke
    • Servicemanas Serviceman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Schlesinger
    • Writers
      • Keith Waterhouse(screenplay) (novel) (play)
      • Willis Hall(screenplay) (play)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    7.4
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    The Go-Between
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie made a star of Julie Christie, even though she's only in it for a total of twelve minutes.
    • Goofs
      In the opening title sequence, where a woman places a blanket over a balcony and runs off, an arm can be seen popping up from behind the wall and throwing the blanket off the balcony.
    • Quotes

      Alice Fisher: If you're in any more trouble, Billy, it's not something you can leave behind you, you know. You put it in your suitcase, and you take it with you.

    • Connections
      Featured in Film Review: Julie Christie & John Schlesinger (1967)
    • Soundtracks
      Twisterella
      Performed by Muriel Day (dubbed by unknown vocalist)

    User reviews82

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A great film to become completely absorbed in.
    What makes this little black and white film so absorbing? As I was watching it on late-night TV, I found myself on the edge of my seat, gripping the arms of my chair, trying not to yell at the main character, Billy Fisher, near the end of the film. How absorbed can you be?

    The dialogue, the acting, and the storyline was so realistic and natural that I had completely forgotten that I was watching a film. Years later on the next viewing I had thought it wouldn't suck me in again, especially since I knew the ending, but I was wrong. In fact I was able to appreciate it all the more on the second viewing.

    Tom Courtenay plays Billy Fisher, who is an immature, irresponsible young man living in a Walter Mitty-ish fantasy world, and invents implausible stories to attempt to hide his escapades, but his lies keep backfiring on him.

    His life is rapidly falling apart. He is supposed to mail out calendars from his employers to their clients, but he doesn't mail them, and keeps the postage money. He even manages to con two girls into becoming engaged to him, and that explodes into a catfight over him when they find out. His grandmother is dying, his father is continually angry at him, and everything he does just makes matters worse.

    Fortunately, he meets Liz, (played by Julie Christie, who is the best thing in this great movie). She is sweet, beautiful, and understands him completely because of her own need to escape, which she does by travelling around the country.

    He has the opportunity to get away from all the trouble he's in and go to London, and make a fresh start with Liz who is so perfect for him. But can he change? Can he summon the courage to break free of the messy but secure life he knows and face the unknown? Will he recognise that Liz is the best thing that could ever happen to him?

    I'm not going to tell you, because that would spoil the film, but, whichever way he decides, any film that has you on the edge of your seat, yelling "Go with her! Don't miss this opportunity! Go! Go!" you know it's a truly wonderful and realistic film!
    helpful•34
    3
    • Eva Ionesco
    • Apr 14, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 1963 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lažov Bili
    • Filming locations
      • 37 Hinchcliffe Avenue, Baildon, Shipley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Vic Films Productions
      • Waterhall Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $29,153
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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