bkoganbing I had never seen Lili before today and I mentioned that to a friend who told me this was Mel Ferrer's greatest film role. I'm happy to report that he was oh so right. The title role however is played by Leslie Caron who with her elfin charm and ability to dance was doing a small dress rehearsal for the much bigger budgeted Gigi.Lili is a French orphan who wanders into Marseilles looking for employment at a bakery owned by a friend of her late father. When that doesn't pan out she's kind of adopted by a passing carnival. She likes magician Jean-Pierre Aumont whose a charming sort, but a brooding and angry puppeteer Mel Ferrer intrigues her.Probably Montgomery Clift would have been perfect casting for the puppeteer, but Mel Ferrer delivers a great performance as a very bitter man. He's got reason to be bitter. An up and coming ballet dancer he was wounded in the late war and now limps. A psychologist could probably better explain how with his puppets he acts out all the various aspects of a complex personality.But Ferrer and his partner Kurt Kaszner hit upon an idea of essentially using Caron as a stooge for the puppets when they see how a crowd of onlookers reacts to them. This is where the song Hi Lili Hi Lo comes in which became a mega hit for the show.Caron's dancing talent is utilized to maximum effectiveness in the final imaginary ballet sequence. It's so well done that one doesn't really notice that Ferrer only appears intermittently and only takes a step or two. The illusion is MGM musical making at its finest.Oddly enough the song Hi Lili Hi Lo got no Academy Award nomination. The film itself earned a few and composer Bronislau Kaper got an Oscar for overall scoring.Zsa Zsa Gabor is in this as well playing Aumont's wife who for the sake of the act keeps the marriage a secret so that love struck girls can imagine themselves with him. A lot of the film is Aumont being charming and fending off Caron's intentions. Gabor finally calls a halt to that. She's playing a part and not just being Zsa Zsa Gabor. She plays it well too.Charming musical numbers, a charming performance by Leslie Caron, and a great bit of acting from Mel Ferrer. Last but not least is that simple catchy song that you can't get out of your head.All great reasons why Lili has held up for over 60 years and great reasons to see it over and over.

Jimmy L. This is a cute little movie, and a sweet love story. Leslie Caron is very likable as a naive 16-year-old all alone in the world, who is taken in by a traveling carnival company. Mel Ferrer is the brooding puppeteer who only expresses his true feelings through his alter-ego hand puppets.Acclaimed in its day and still well-loved by many, LILI (1953) nevertheless feels like the obscure film it has become. There are elements of the story that would play best in the minds of children, such as accepting that a 16-year-old would forget that puppets aren't living personalities. (Not to mention any issues of grown men longing after teenage girls.) Personally, it's just not my "style", I suppose. (The puppets are... I don't want to say "creepy", but...) The whole thing is wrapped in a sort of hokey childlike innocence that doesn't really work for my jaded adult mind. It's alright as a curiosity and Caron is great in an early dream sequence (with Zsa Zsa Gabor).

MarieGabrielle A lovely story that is not trite, and of course Leslie Caron, who I admit I am partial to, is excellent here.As Lili, a disaffected orphan struggling in sadness, to find some kind of life. Mel Ferrer as a mysterious puppeteer who falls in love with her from behind the scenes. The story has a dark, sad quality to it, which is why it stands out.On TCM, as interviewed with Robert Osborne, Caron mentioned that the studio felt this film would "ruin her career". It is a lost gem which is well worth viewing, and also good for children who want to "run away to the circus/ join show business. The theme is very well manifested in this film.Leslie Caron is soulful and sad. Always a wonderful actress to watch, and better in this than some of the bigger budget musicals. Wish she would do more film these days as well. 10/10.

Genevieve What more can I say? I love this movie. Sure, it's dated, sure it's old, but classics are classics.(Spoilers) Set in France after World War II, Lili is an orphaned girl who's on the end of her rope. Losing her job as a waitress in a passing carnival, she decides to kill herself. But a crippled and bitter puppeteer named Paul, who hates people, stops her by talking to her through a puppet by the name of Carrot Top. (There are also three other puppets: Reynardo, a sly fox who steals; Margeruite, a vain dancer; and Golo, a cowardly giant.) Paul falls in love with Lili, and Lili falls in love with the puppets, unaware that Paul's the one behind them. They convince her to stay with them and sing with them, and she agrees. The act sells out shows and everyone loves the girl's charm.Lili is in love with a handsome magician named Marcus, whom Paul greatly detests. But the poor girl doesn't find out until later that the magician is a married man who's cheating on his wife. Trying to go and talk to Marcus, Paul grabs her, thinking she's going back to the magician for love. Furious with her struggle, the cripple strikes Lili on the face. Realizing what he did, he limps away where as Lili goes to leave.But as she leaves, Carrot Top tries to convince her to stay or take him with her, because he adores her. Lili starts to feel guilty and is unsure of what to do. Golo tells her that if the "boss" is so mean to her, that he'll protect her from him. Lili tells him that she knows he would, because he's so kind and always knows how she feels. Paul begins to feel sad for hurting Lili and makes Golo shout out, "I'll kill him. I'm gonna kill the boss!" However, after regaining composure, he says, "Well, I'll give him a good talking to at least." Then, Reynardo comes out, carrying a fox fur. Lili thinks he broke his promise not to steal and swiped it when no one was looking. But the fox says he made a deal. If he wasn't able to keep up with the payments, he was going to give the man something in exchange; another fox fur, himself. Lili cries and holds them, saying she won't leave. Suddenly, she feels the puppets trembling and realizes it's Paul.Due to his shyness, Paul can't express how much he loves Lili and gets angry. Lili wonders why he hides behind his puppets. But Paul tells her that he is the puppets: the confident, clever Carrot Top; the cowardly and clumsy giant Golo, who longs to be loved; the vain and jealous Margeruite; and the compromising and lying Reynardo. Angrily, Lili leaves, and Paul looks full of regret. But as the girl is walking she realizes that each puppet was a part of him. And after the most adorable dream sequence EVER (in which she dances with Paul), she turns back, and runs into his arms. He then, gives her lots of kisses, and holds her. And then, the puppets, pleased that the two are now in love, clap with excitement as they watch the two lovebirds.10/10 for the love and sweetness. Buy it today!