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Lili

1953 · Movie · NR · 81 min · ★ 6.8 · 83% critics

RomanceDramaMusic

A young woman with nowhere to go is taken in by a traveling circus and quickly becomes drawn to a charming magician. When she finds comfort talking and singing with a puppet show, the troupe turns her unusual bond into a hit act—while she searches for love, security, and a place to belong.

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Details
Years
1953
Release date
1953-03-10
Language
English
Rated
NR
Runtime
81 min
Critic score
83/100
TMDB rating
6.8/10 (64 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a sweet, slightly melancholy musical with carnival charm, puppets, and a romantic triangle, in the same general lane as The Glass Slipper; Not for you if dated attitudes or “creepy-sweet” vibes bother you.

Pros: gentle musical romance; memorable puppet act; warm carnival atmosphere | Cons: dated gender politics; uneven tone; not enough songs

Themes

  • circus
  • youngster
  • puppeteer
  • carnival
  • musical
  • puppetry

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1954
  • National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
  • Academy Award — Best Director · 1954 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1954 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Color · 1954 · nominated
Show all 8 awards →
  • Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1954 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Actress · 1954 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1954 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Charles Walters