Lili

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Lili Photos

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Movie Info

Based on the story by Paul Gallico, Lili stars Leslie Caron as the title character, a 16-year-old waif who runs off to join a carnival. Embittered, crippled puppeteer Mel Ferrer treats Lili with contempt; only by speaking through his puppets is Ferrer able to express his genuine love for the girl. Before this happens, however, Caron must overcome her crush on magician Jean-Pierre Aumont, who is married to the contentious Zsa Zsa Gabor. Though not a musical (as was Carnival, the 1961 Broadway version of Lili), the film affords Leslie Caron the opportunity for a dream ballet, and also accommodates the lilting Bronislaw Kaper/Adolph Deutsch hit song "Hi Lili, Hi Lo". Legend has it that professional curmudgeon H.L. Mencken, who considered movies a waste of time and never bothered to see them, was persuaded to attend a showing of Lili--and loved every minute of it!

Rating:

G
Genre:

Classics, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Romance
Directed By:

Charles Walters
Written By:

Helen Deutsch, Paul Gallico
In Theaters:

Mar 10, 1953 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Oct 9, 2012
Runtime:

81 minutes
Studio:

MGM Home Entertainment

Cast

Leslie Caron
as Lili Daurier

Mel Ferrer
as Paul Berthalet

Zsa Zsa Gabor
as Rosalie

Jean-Pierre Aumont
as Marc

Kurt Kasznar
as Jacquot

Amanda Blake
as Peach Lips

Alex Gerry
as Proprietor

Ralph Dumke
as Corvier

George Baxter
as Enrique

Wilton Graff
as Tonit

Eda Reiss Merin
as Fruit Peddler

George Davis
as Workman

Mitchell Lewis
as Concessionaire

Fred Walton
as Whistler

Richard Grayson
as Flirting Vendor

Reginald Simpson
as Second Workman

Dorothy Jarnac
as Specialty Dancer

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Critic Reviews for Lili

All Critics (6) | Fresh (6)

A vehicle for MGM's new star Leslie Caron to shine.

Jul 2, 2011 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Classic love story of an orphan and the carnival.

Dec 25, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
Fine score, Caron performance in MGM musical fantasy.

Mar 19, 2009 | Rating: 4/5

Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com
Lelsie Caron is charming in her first Oscar nominated role as an orphan who takes with a carnival in this second-rate MGM musical (technically a melodrama with songs), which was very popular due to the Oscar-winning score, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo."

Jul 15, 2005 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Lili

Nov 25, 2013

Leslie Caron is back in another silly but charming musical about an orphan in a carnival. Of course we have that irritating song Hi Lili, Hi Lo here. You lose a star automatically for such things.

John B Super Reviewer
Dec 24, 2010

Walters could not satisfy the expectations of a decade plagued by fancy and landmark musicals. Lili came out of the blue, with no signs of it beforehand and it was quickly forgotten. I may argue that the film tries coldly to stamp a mark in the spectator's heart, and that we're left only with Caron's performance and with the "Hi Lili Hi Lo" piece for the entertainment of the whole family; nevertheless, the two "wet" sexual fantasies of Caron may be an interesting matter to discuss :-) 74/100

Edgar C Super Reviewer