LILI

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CREDITS

1953, 81 minutes, Technicolor.
Producer, Edwin H. Knopf; Director, Charles Walters; Screenplay, Helen Deutsch; Cinematography, Robert Planck; Choreography, Charles Walters and Dorothy Jarnac; Music Director, Hans Sommer.

CAST

Lili Daurier, Leslie Caron; Paul Berthalet, Mel Ferrer; Marc, Jean Pierre Aumont; Rosalie, Zsa Zsa Gabor; Jacquot, Kurt Kasznar; Peach Lips, Amanda Blake; Proprietor, Alex Gerry.

SONGS

Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo by Bronislau Kaper and Helen Deutsch; Adoration; Lili and the Puppets by Kaper.

PLOT SYNOPSIS

"Based on a Paul Gallico story, the film unfolds in the bright atmosphere of a traveling French carnival. Here Lili (Leslie Caron) becomes a waitress, but she is fired after one night - for spending too much time watching Jean Pierre Aumont, the handsome magician with whom she is infatuated. Lili is grief-stricken until a lame pupeteer (Mel Ferrer) uses his little friends to woo her from her sorrow. Soon she is part of his act, childishly happy with the four puppets, but unable to deal with their moody master, whom she calls "the angry man." "
- Liner Notes from Turner/MGM/UA Videotape

NOTES

"It is not often that the word 'enchanting' can accurately be applied to a musical, but it was the best way to describe Lili, as well as Leslie Caron's genuinely touching performance in it."
- Clive Hirschhorn, The Hollywood Musical

"A lovely and beguiling little film, touched with the magic of romance, the shimmer of masquerade."
- Bosley Crowther, The New York Times

"Millions of schoolchildren chirruped "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" when this sickly whimsy from MGM was released. Mel Ferrer smiles his narcissistic, masochistic smiles as the crippled puppeteer. . .Caron is much too good for him, but the movie doesn't know it."
- Pauline Kael, 5001 Nights At The Movies

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS:
Best Actress - Leslie Caron
Direction
Writing (Screenplay)
Cinematography (Color)
Art Direction (Set Decoration)

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER:
Scoring Of A Dramatic Or Comedy Picture

DIRECTOR'S GUILD OF AMERICA AWARD WINNER:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement

NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW:
Best American Film (#5)

BRITISH ACADEMY AWARD WINNER:
Actress (Foreign) - Leslie Caron

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER:
Entertainment Film - Mention For The Charm Of Its Performances

The film was later turned into the Broadway musical Carnival.

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