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Liliom:
Fox Film Corporation,
October 5, 1930
New York Times, October 4, 1930
THE SCREEN
By MORDAUNT HALL
Out of Fereno Molnar's play "Liliom," which was
presented here about nine years ago, Frank Borzage
has produced a most compelling talking picture, one
of the surprises of which is the way Charles
Farrell's portrayal of the shiftless, conceited
bully, derisively called Liliom, stands up against
such competent players as Lee Tracy and Rose Hobart.
In the light vocalized works in which he has figured
hitherto Mr. Farrell's voice was always an uncertain
quantity, but here he reveals confidence in his
utterances, and while now and again his
pronunciation of some words is not according to
dramatic technique, his speech on the whole is an
unexpected improvement.
His characterization may be more the result of Mr.
Borzage's astute guidance than due to his own
understanding or spontaneity, but there is no
denying that he has carried out instructions
intelligently. The picture is helped greatly by the
fine acting of Miss Hobart and Mr. Tracy. It is a
courageous adaptation, for in lieu of spoiling the
spirit of the Molnar play by capitulating in some
fashion to a pleasing ending the producers adhere to
the original ideas, taking full advantage of those
fantastic episodes dealing with Liliom's journeyings
(after he commits suicide) to the regions of
Paradise and Purgatory.
The admirable simplicity with which the events are
unfurled in the mundane stages of the narrative
create a genuine suspense and the closing glimpses
of a train that conveys Liliom to the Celestial zone
and down to Hades are accomplished with keen
imagination and camera wizardry.
The picture is, moreover, endowed with wonderfully
interesting settings, including flashes of a dining
car on a Hungarian train and views of a carnival.
Liliom fancies he is irresistible to the girls and
women he meets. He is a conscienceless specimen of
humanity, who works as a barker in a carnival, the
owner of which, Mme. Muskrat, is herself infatuated
with the improvident young scoundrel. Julic, a
servant girl, meets Liliom and falls in love with
him. Even when she is warned by the police of his
intentions, Julie, played by Miss Hobart, persists
in accepting Liliom's attentions. He treats her
badly, is lazy and always wears a sweater instead of
a shirt, collar and coat. But one day something
happens that makes him more human. It is when Julie
tells him that she is going to have a baby. Wild
with mingled feelings of conceit and joy, he hastens
to tell everybody he knows and even those he doesn't
know.
An individual known as the Buzzard is eager to steal
the contents of a paymaster's satchel. The Buzzard
paints a picture of the comforts to be derived from
money, referring to a journey to America; but Liliom
is not enthusiastic about the idea. However, as days
go on he is less opposed to the robbery. Then the
Buzzard gives him a long knife, saying that a blow
on the head might not be enough. Reluctantly Liliom
consents to aid in the crime, but when they attempt
the hold-up the two men find that the paymaster has
his pistol ready and Liliom, rather than spend a
term in prison, stabs himself to death before the
police can apprehend him.
He dies with Julie standing over him and then the
spectator perceives a train sweep into the room and
the spirit of Liliom, clad and looking as he died in
life, rises and boards the train, which soars
through the clouds with men in winged hats
officiating as guard and conductor. Liliom faces the
Chief Magistrate, who explains that he is the Chief
Executive of the Celestial regions. Hearing from
Liliom of his great wish to see Julie's child, the
Chief Magistrate says that he will give Liliom a
chance to go down to earth again after he has spent
ten years' in Purgatory. A train with fire sizzling
from the car wheels and the locomotive takes Liliom
away for his period of punishment, and, after that
is ended, Liliom returns to earth to gaze upon his
youngster. And all that happens is not according to
his expectations, but he is deeply impressed with
the fact that Julie is still against wedding the
carpenter, the good man who wanted her for a wife
long before Liliom committed suicide.
Miss Hobart gives a beautifully impressive portrait
of Julie. H. B. Warner is kindly but firm as the
Chief Magistrate. Estelle Taylor does well as Mme.
Muskrat.
Fifi D'Orsay, the screen actress, is one of the
participants in the surrounding program, other
numbers of which include "The Cottage Small," with
the well-drilled Roxyettes and "The Musical Lamp,"
with Dorothy Miller and Adam Dockray.
Liliom:
Fox Film Corporation,
October 5, 1930 |
