Liliom

Liliom is a swaggering carnival barker who falls in love with a chambermaid and sets up house-keeping with her. He fails to provide for her, however, and continues his easy way of living. Two women love the same man in a world of few prospects. In Budapest, Liliom is a "public figure," a rascal who's a carousel barker, loved by the experienced merry-go-round owner and by a young, innocent maid. The maid, Julie, loses her job after going out with Liliom; he's fired by his jealous employer for going out with Julie. The two lovers move in with Julie's aunt; unemployment emasculates him and a local weasel tempts him with crime. Julie, now wan, is true to Liliom even in his bad temper. Meanwhile, a stolid widower, a carpenter, wants to marry Julie. Is there any future on this earth for Julie and Liliom, whose love is passionate rather than ideal? —<jhailey@hotmail.com> American audiences should enjoy this French production, made at the Fox plant in France by Fritz Lang and starring Charles Boyer. The dialogue is all French, but English sub-titles are supplied. In most instances, however, it is possible to follow the story despite any lack of knowledge of the language spoken on the screen. Boyer is, by far, the outstanding character in the film. His portrayal of the unmoral, cruel, but lovable rogue, Liliom, is done with vitality and understanding. Lang's direction never lets the acting lag. The story is Ferenc Molnar's familiar modern semi-classic, but the setting and treatment are different from previous versions. Boyer, as Liliom, is the swaggering carnival barker who falls in love with a chambermaid and sets up house-keeping with her. He fails to provide for her, however, and continues his easy way of living. When told he is to become a father, Boyer attempts to rob a paymaster and kills himself when trapped. Before he dies, however, he dreams he is in heaven, where he is shown the evil of his ways. Others in the cast who perform admirably are Madeleine Ozeray, Alcover Forelle, Robert Arnoux, Henri Richard, Maximilienne and Mitni Funes. A special musical accompaniment by Jean Lenoir and F. Waxman is appropriate. A carousel barker falls in love with a young woman. Both are fired from their jobs, and when the young woman becomes pregnant, the carousel barker tries to help pull off a robbery, which goes wrong. Because of the robbery, he dies, and after spending time in purgatory, is sent back to earth for one day to try to make amends. If he fails, he will be eternally damned. —Albert Sanchez Moreno