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Madeleine Ozeray, Charles Boyer, Pierre Alcover, Roland Toutain, Robert Arnoux ... see more see more... , Alexandre Rignault , Raoul Marco , Antonin Artaud , Odette Florelle , Mila Parely , Viviane Romance , Rose Valetti , Maximilienne

Liliom, Ferenc Molnar's bittersweet fantasy play, was first filmed in Hollywood in 1930, with Charles Farrell as ne'er-do-well carnival barker Liliom and Rose Hobart as his long-suffering wife Julie. ... read more read more...While that version is not available for public viewing, the 1935 French-language version directed by Fritz Lang and starring Charles Boyer is currently being offered by several home-video warehouses--albeit in an undubbed, unsubtitled print. Boyer plays Liliom, who runs the carousel at a Budapest amusement park. He impulsively quits his job when he falls in love with mill-worker Julie (Madeleine Ozeray). A terrible husband and provider, Liliom panics when he discovers he's about to become a father. He enters into a get-rich-quick robbery scheme with his unsavory pal Alfred (Alcover), but the plan goes awry. Rather than allow himself to be arrested, Liliom kills himself, whereupon his soul is transported via an art-deco express train to the waiting room of Heaven. A celestial judge determines that Liliom will not get his wings until he returns to earth to do one good deed. Liliom materializes before his now-teenaged daughter, and tries to give her a star that he's stolen from heaven; when she panics, he impulsively slaps her. Considering himself a failure, Liliom wearily heads for Purgatory, but a coda shows that his visit has done a world of good for both his widow and his daughter. Liliom was later musicalized by Rodgers & Hammerstein as Carousel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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73% liked it

244 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Fritz Lang

Release Date: May 15, 1934

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DVD Release Date: March 30, 2004

Stats: 26 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (26)

  • gigan22
    April 18, 2009
    gigan22
    Watched this on a whim. I really wanted it to be better. I didn't find the plot to be interesting, and the I really hated Liliom's character. While it may stick true to the source, I despised Liliom himself. I did, however, enjoy the old special effects. It's amazing what was acc... read moreomplished back then.

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Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
February 24, 2012
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

A lovely addition to the Lang filmography. It reveals a less harsh, less paranoid filmmaker. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 4, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Boyer makes for a fine lovable louse, giving the film gusto. Full Review

Walter Chaw
February 8, 2007
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

A major work, a masterpiece. Full Review

Ken Hanke
July 19, 2006
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It's both better than its earlier reputation, which was based on the cut version, and yet still disappointing in some ways. Full Review

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