Billy Liar (1963)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writers:

Keith Waterhouse (novel)
Willis Hall (play) ...

Release Date:

16 December 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Conga | Dance Hall | Soccer | Aphrodisiac | Funeral Parlor

Awards:

Nominated for 6 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 12

8:00 AM

TMC

Cast

Tom Courtenay	...	William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher
Wilfred Pickles	...	Geoffrey Fisher
Mona Washbourne	...	Alice Fisher
Ethel Griffies	...	Florence, Billy's grandmother
Finlay Currie	...	Duxbury
Gwendolyn Watts	...	Rita
Helen Fraser	...	Barbara
Julie Christie	...	Liz
Leonard Rossiter	...	Emanuel Shadrack
Rodney Bewes	...	Arthur Crabtree
George Innes	...	Stamp
Leslie Randall	...	Danny Boon
Patrick Barr	...	Insp. MacDonald
Ernest Clark	...	Prison governor
Godfrey Winn	...	Disc jockey

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

France:U | Sweden:11 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

37 Hinchcliffe Avenue, Baildon, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Vic Films Productions

Trivia:

Albert Finney originated the title role of "Billy Liar" before it was taken over by Courtney.

Quotes:

Arthur Crabtree: Hey, I got those things for you.
William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher: What? What things?
Arthur Crabtree: Passion pills - what I said I'd get you.
William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher: Let's have a look. Where'd you get them?
Arthur Crabtree: This mate of mine fetched them from Singapore.
William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher: I bet they're bloody aspirins.
Arthur Crabtree: What?
William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher: [Billy swallows some] Eh, steady on! They'll give yuh the screamin' abdabs. One of these, two two-and-nines at the Regal, bag of chips and you're away!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)

Soundtrack:

Twisterella

better than the play

I saw 'Billy Liar' on stage in London, with Albert Finney, no less, in the role of Billy Fisher. As good as Finney was (check out Frear's 'Gumshoe' for starters), in the role, Tom Courtney, is better. Finney was too laconic. He had the wrong

'build'. Courtney, however, IS Billy Fisher. I can't quite put it into words, but that dour face of his, the pursed lips, and his loopy smile... who else but Tom

Courtney in the role. The plot is simplicity itself. Billy lives in a world of his own making. He's not connected with everyday events - he's a Yorkshire version of Walter Mitty - and who doesn't daydream every now and then? Director, John

Schlesinger (who gave us Darling & Midnight Cowboy), adds some surreal

touches (one comes to mind: Billy's reaction to another of his father's lectures). Julie Christie plays Liz. She understands Billy - thing is, Billy doesn't quite understand her, or if he does, it frightens the pants off him. For all Billy's posturing, he's a home boy at heart. "Billy Liar" is one of the truly great British films of the sixties. It's not often it appears on late night T.V., or on cable. If it does, or you see it on video at your local video store, get it out. See it. then wind it back and see it again!!