Billy le menteur

Original title: Billy Liar

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

7.3K

YOUR RATING

A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.

Play trailer4:09

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Comedy Drama Romance

A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and famil... Read allA lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

7.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 6 BAFTA Awards
- 1 win & 7 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 4:09

Official Trailer

Photos49

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Storyline

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Trivia
This movie made a star of Julie Christie, even though she's only in it for a total of twelve minutes.

Goofs
In the opening title sequence, where a woman places a blanket over a balcony and runs off, an arm can be seen popping up from behind the wall and throwing the blanket off the balcony.

Quotes
Alice Fisher: If you're in any more trouble, Billy, it's not something you can leave behind you, you know. You put it in your suitcase, and you take it with you.

Connections
Featured in Film Review: Julie Christie & John Schlesinger (1967)

Soundtracks
Twisterella
Performed by Muriel Day (dubbed by unknown vocalist)

User reviews88

Featured review

Wonderful British classic

Effective slice of life comedy/drama tells the story of scared, optimistic Billy (Tom Courtenay) who lives in a fantasy world where he's always a hero. Funny and charming, the film also packs a slight emotional punch that is somewhat similar to The Last Picture Show. Based on a stage play, the story of Billy Liar has since been revamped as a musical yet it's this 1963 version that works best.

Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie (Liz) leapfrogged to stardom with their performances but every actor is beautifully cast: Mona Washbourne, Wilfred Pickles, and Ethel Griffies are the character types who give Billy's family heartbreaking nuances while Helen Fraser and Gwendolyn Watts bring a refreshingly sympathetic humanity to his polar opposite fiancees.

Liz's entrance, Billy's fantasies, a dance hall sequence, a quiet hospital exchange between Billy and his mother, and the final choice are classic scenes that have been constructed with genius by John Schlesinger (Darling, Midnight Cowboy, Sunday Bloody Sunday). The Criterion Collection's DVD treatment of Billy Liar is a standout and shouldn't be missed. It's a great film.