Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Sabah Hensley This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

gkeith_1 Spoilers. Observations. Opinions. Charming film. The haughty little French girl loved by two men in An American in Paris is now an orphan, waif, naive and homeless. Leslie Caron plays the innocent well, here. She pulls it off. She also pulls off a fantasy sequence in which she is more adult such as wearing the slinky red dress. Another more adult fantasy sequence had her dressed in a short red dress in which she served imaginary food and drinks to imaginary bistro clientele. It was common for 1953 era women to aspire to be "waitresses". That sexist term had been replaced by "server". Today, many more women are educated to acquire professional careers, not to schlep hash and suds in a saloon. There were too many pink dress waitresses in this film. Paul, the former dancer, was injured "in the war". I assume that that meant World War Two, which ended in 1945 -- eight years before this 1953 story took place. War was still being mentioned in 1950s films. France was greatly damaged in that war. People were devastated. Here, people make the best things and decide to attend a carnival and enjoy themselves. This fun show is truly a ray of sunshine in their formerly dreary lives. The puppets are adorable, and are exciting to watch when they come to life in the fantasy "walk down the yellow brick road" dance scene near the end. Caron is a great dancer, but I don't see enough of that here. In the down the road fantasy, Paul (Ferrer) dances very well and quite sensually. He is no longer the angry man with the limp. I am a degreed historian, actress, singer, dancer, film critic and movie reviewer.

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.

TheLittleSongbird Didn't see Lili until fairly recently, but it is a film so irresistibly charming and well-done that it was so easy to fall under its spell.Lili looks fabulous, the fantasy ballet sequence and Caron's scene with Zsa Zsa Gabor is shot in richly beautiful Technicolor, the puppets still look great- plus they manage to bring a slight creepiness too- and the MGM French village set is made superb use of. The Oscar-winning music score by Bronislau Kaper has plenty of appropriate whimsy, without falling into sugary sweet territory, and rousing lushness, while the song Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo lilts beautifully and accompanies one of the most memorable scenes in the film, in which Caron is seen singing along with the puppets, even more impressively.The script is both witty and touching, handling a potentially difficult subject inspiringly and only in Stand by Me has coming of age been portrayed more honestly in film. The story is slight but never dull or too thin; it has the right amount of sweetness, has such a poignant charm and brings a big smile on viewers' faces afterwards. The Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo and fantasy ballet scenes are the most memorable, but youngsters surely cannot fail to delight in Jean-Pierre Aumont's dazzling magic tricks. Talented Charles Walters directs expertly, and even features in the fantasy ballet.In terms of the performances, there are no qualms here either. Leslie Caron positively enchants here, while Mel Ferrer brilliantly brings a sympathetic edge to an at times dark role, particularly telling when with the puppets. Zsa Zsa Gabor is incandescently classy, and Jean-Pierre Aumont makes his magic tricks memorable and children and adults alike will love them.All in all, irresistibly charming and has quickly become a personal favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Jem Odewahn 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.