LILI

Lili
MGM, 1953, Color, 87 minutes, ****
Released March, 1953


Leslie Caron is Lili, a young French country girl who travels to the outskirts of Paris to work for a shopkeeper after her father's death. The shopkeeper makes advances, and she is rescued by Mel Ferrer who just happens to be walking past the shop. She follows him to the carnival where he works as a puppeteer. Shy and reserved, Ferrer talks to Lili through his four puppets, each one of which represents a unique aspect of his personality.

Lili and the puppets sing "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo," which attracts a crowd of onlookers. So Ferrer and partner Kasznar decide to take Lili on as part of the act. Lili falls in love with Ferrer, and he with her, though he can't admit it to her or even to himself. Eventually, Lili becomes frustrated with Ferrer's behavior and runs away. But along the way out of town she daydreams about Ferrer (Lili and the Puppets ballet), realizes how the puppets are really him, and runs back to his waiting arms.

Wonderful, enchanting film! A must-see for everyone! Bronislau Kaper won an Academy Award for Best Score, Leslie Caron was nominated for Best Actress.

Produced by: Edwin H. Knopf
Directed by: Charles Walters
Assistant Director: Al Jennings
Screen Play by: Helen Deutsch
Based on a Story by Paul Gallico
Music by: Bronislau Kaper
Song: "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo (by) Helen Deutsch and Bronislau Kaper
Choreography: Charles Walters
Assisted by: Dorothy Jarnac
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse
Puppets Created by: Paul E. Walton and Michael O'Rourke
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Arthur Krams
Costumes Designed by: Mary Anne Nyberg
Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Robert Planck
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, Robert Brower
Film Editor: Ferris Webster

Awards: Academy Award for Best Score (Bronislau Kaper). Academy Award nominations for Best Actress (Leslie Caron), Best Director, Best Screenplay (Helen Deutsch), Best Color Cinematography (Robert Planck) and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration

Cast: Leslie Caron [Lili Daurier], Mel Ferrer [Paul Berthalet], Jean Pierre Aumont [Marc], Zsa Zsa Gabor [Rosalie], Kurt Kasznar [Jacquot], Amanda Blake [Peach Lips], Alex Gerry [Proprietor], Ralph Dumke [Monsieur Carvier], Wilton Graff [Monsieur Tonit], George Baxter [Monsieur Enrique], Eda Reiss Merin [Fruit Peddler], George Davis [Workman], Mitchell Lewis [Concessionaire], Fred Walton [Whistler], Richard Grayson [Flirting Vendor], Dorothy Jarnac [Specialty Dancer]

Musical Program: [0:00] Hi-Lili, Hi Lo (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:31] Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo (sung by Leslie Caron and Puppets); [0:36] Adoration (dream sequence danced by Leslie Caron with Magician, then by by Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dorothy Jarnac, Leslie Caron and Jean Pierre Aumont); [1:12] Lili and the Puppets Ballet (danced by Leslie Caron, Mel Ferrer and Puppets)