Lili (1953)

Thanks for the memories!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I had never seen this film before. I just ran across it on TCM. It's a fairy tale of a little musical and only 81 minutes at that. Leslie Caron plays a 16-year-old orphan (she is 22 at the time) that finds herself abandoned and alone in a small French provincial town, so naturally she joins the carnival that just happens to be passing through it. I know this sounds corny, but told in the pretext of a fantasy, it works perfectly. Simple yet effective sets. She has a "crush" on the magician, never suspecting than he is secretly married to his gorgeous assistant, played very well by Zsa Zsa Gabor. She becomes entranced by the puppets and become part of their act, singing "Hi Lili", a wonderful song that won an Oscar. Two fantasy dance sequences including the finale where all the puppets come to life as she runs away. This sequence intentionally will remind you of "We're Off to See the Wizard". The slight amount of "sexual awakening" will be lost on any young girls who watch this as only a fairy tale. Wonderful in its simplicity and simply charming. I can't imagine anyone else playing the role of Lili except Caron. Only available as a basic WB "Archive" DVD-R, which will play on most current players.

Already, how many times I've seen this movie... only with my wife, my children. The rooms have presented in children and adults... and always has been wonderful. And the public loved! I think everyone should see it because in this small amusement park in which spend most of history, is re-created the earth and humanity that dwells in him. And most exalted values are embodied by Charles Walters - with a huge assist from his wonderful group of actors - in the most heartfelt, exciting and warm. And then, without any bias, will trash heinous concepts as "men do not cry", "romance is for dreamers" or "That's film for girls." "Lili" (the wonderful Leslie Caron who then return to catch us in "The Glass Slipper") is captivating. Envelops us in its tenderness, its apparent simplicity and nobility. We followed frame by frame, scene by scene with his heart in his hand and with a sense of beauty and love have come fully on our privacy. Walters - seasoned dancer and choreographer - also involves us in the frustration of Paul, the former dancer, now and become crippled puppeteer who, before anyone else, discover the wonderful human being that lies behind the simplicity of Lili.And we "dislike" Marcus, the incorrigible seducer in need of a lesson, ready to become involved briefly with Puppets Lili.Become the theatrical image of that community, but great human beings, who pass daily joy to time visitors, while their hearts are torn with his inner ghosts. None is recognized in its dimensions, even giving his tenderness Lili without even knowing he is giving. And so we recreated them and it seems that we are part of history, we are there suffering and loving, unknown and know each other, feeling the love in our souls welling on the saddle.Welling Thus, through his music, for their choreography, for his sense of humor and drama... "Lili" is a masterpiece, a jewel, one of the finest films in cinema history.Lara larálalalala, Hi Lili, Hi Lili, Hi Lo...

Why had I never really heard of this film until this week? I just watched "Lili" a couple of nights ago, and I was amazed by this truly special little film.Lili (Leslie Caron) is a poor orphan waif, who is cast about on the world when her father dies suddenly. She goes to a baker shop looking for work, but the baker tries to sexually assault her. She is rescued by the handsome, charming Marc (Jean-Pierre Amount). Lili immediately idolises him and follows him back to his home, a circus where Marc is the magician. Marc arranges for Lili a job as a waitress, but she loses that, too. She turns to suicide as her only way out-- but is saved by the brooding, sad-eyed and limping puppeteer Paul (Mel Ferrer) in the guise of his 4 puppets. Lili's innocence and belief in the puppets attracts audiences night after night. Paul falls in love with her, but Lili only sees him as "the angry boss", not realising that the puppets represent the facets of his personality.Running only 81 minutes long, "Lili" packs a lot of ideas into it's running time, yet never loses it's enchanting, fable-like simplicity. Probe the surface and you will find it's quite dark in it's subject matter (sexual assault, suicide etc). It's one of the best stories about "growing up" I have ever seen. And has anyone ever loved so well from afar as Mel Ferrer, with his haunting eyes? Cast aside somewhat as another MGM musical, "Lili" only really contains one song ("Hi Lili, Hi Lo", which Caron performs with the puppets) and two dance sequences. The dance sequences are simple yet surreal-- the final one has Lili, ready to depart from the circus, dancing with the four puppets, who one by one turn into Paul.One of the easiest 10's I have ever given, and really it is a perfect little film. Your thoughts? I understand there is no DVD release. I saw it on VHS PAL (Australia). Come on people, this is a wonderful classic.Later in the week:______________________________________________ I've now seen it three times and I'm in love with the movie. On subsequent viewings I have particularly enjoyed the rapport between Mel Ferrer and Kurt Kasznar, who plays Paul's confidante. Unlike many "buddy" relationships in films, this one doesn't feel forced.The dance sequences contrast each other so well. And they are so much more than just musical interludes. The first sequence has Lili imagining herself as a rival for magician Marc's love-- in a glitzy red dress and heels. Lili is emotionally unformed, and, like many young women, equates attractiveness and sexual desire to love. Lili also imagines herself doing high kicks and running rings around her man.But in the last sequence--the dance with the puppets-- Lili imagines a deep, complete love, where both her and Paul dance together. With the final puppet transforming into Paul, they dance slowly, his arms protectively supporting her shoulders.Dismissed by some as showily surreal and as just a rip-off of the ballet "An American In Paris", this final dream sequence encapsulates Lili's discovery about life and love.

First of all, the puppets are so creepy-looking I would think they'd scare children. Second, Lili is 16 years old, and seems more mentally challenged than innocent at times. The movie has her in between two men, one a hound and one a bitter man who slaps her. Both of them look like they are bumping up on 30 or so. If that isn't disturbing enough, the film has this supposedly 16 year old girl in dream sequences that show her trotting around in a short, low cut waitress outfit or in sequin pajamas, prancing around in front of Marco and trying to seduce him away from his girlfriend. It all left me feeling a little hinky.