Liliom (1934 film)

Liliom
French theatrical film poster
Directed byFritz Lang
Written byRobert Liebmann (adaptation)
Bernard Zimmer (dialogue)
Based onLiliom
by Ferenc Molnár
Produced byErich Pommer
StarringCharles Boyer
CinematographyRudolph Maté
Louis Nee
Music byJean Lenoir
Franz Waxman
Production
company
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • 27 April 1934 (1934-04-27)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

Liliom is a 1934 French fantasy film directed by Fritz Lang based on the 1909 Hungarian stage play of the same title by Ferenc Molnár. The film stars Charles Boyer as Liliom, a carousel barker who is fired from his job after defending the chambermaid Julie (Madeleine Ozeray) from the jealousy of Mme. Muscat, the carousel owner who is infatuated with Liliom. He moves in with Julie and they begin an affair. When Liliom discovers he's about to become a father, he finds he needs money and participates in a robbery which goes awry. Rather than allow himself to be arrested, Liliom kills himself and his soul is transported to a waiting room of Heaven. A heavenly commissioner determines that Liliom will not be admitted into Heaven, only Purgatory, until he returns to Earth to do one good deed.

Liliom was one of the two first French productions by producer Erich Pommer for Fox-Europa and director Fritz Lang's only French film. On the film's release it was protested by the French Catholic clergy and was generally not well received by French film critics or playwright Ferenc Molnár. Despite the reception, the 1934 Liliom was one of Lang's favorites out of all his films.