Darling Lili (1970)
Country: US
Technical: col/2.35:1 136m
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, Jeremy Kemp, Lance Percival
Synopsis:
During World War One the Germans transfer their top spy, the half British Miss Lili Smith, from London to Paris to gather information concerning Allied operations from American air ace, Major William Larabee.
Review:
Even if Miss Andrews were as 'provocative, exciting and desirable' as Rock Hudson is made to say she is (which she is not), it would be hard to imagine a more misguided project than this. 1. There is no intrigue, at least not any connected with the war; we simply move from one fabulous setting to the next, wondering if Miss Andrews will go all the way. 2. We have some token aerial action and unlikely on the ground heroics, which are decorative enough with cabbage crates bursting into flames on cue, but spoilt by the irregularly hedged Irish countryside standing in for battle-churned Flanders. 3. There are two bumbling French detectives attempting to spy on the lovers, etc., though to no apparent end (can't imagine where they came from). 4. Besides being an unthrilling war film and an unfunny comedy, Mr Edwards clearly wanted his wedding present to be another musical vehicle for Miss Julie, this despite her last, in which she played Gertrude Lawrence, being a resounding flop. To underline the point, one of the last shots of the film is an aerial approach on a green field across which she is running, Maria-style. That is after we are supposed to accept that von Richtofen and his opposite number have flown well beyond range with their squadrons to head off the train at the Swiss border. Meanwhile Jeremy Kemp camps his way through as a German colonel, unsure as to whether he is supposed to be in love with Fräulein Lili, and Lance Percival plays a pickled RFC pilot, by far the most entertaining thing in it. Which is saying little. The film is bookended with sing-songs by theatre audiences of 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. To which one might quip: not as long as you might think.
Country: US
Technical: col/2.35:1 136m
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, Jeremy Kemp, Lance Percival
Synopsis:
During World War One the Germans transfer their top spy, the half British Miss Lili Smith, from London to Paris to gather information concerning Allied operations from American air ace, Major William Larabee.
Review:
Even if Miss Andrews were as 'provocative, exciting and desirable' as Rock Hudson is made to say she is (which she is not), it would be hard to imagine a more misguided project than this. 1. There is no intrigue, at least not any connected with the war; we simply move from one fabulous setting to the next, wondering if Miss Andrews will go all the way. 2. We have some token aerial action and unlikely on the ground heroics, which are decorative enough with cabbage crates bursting into flames on cue, but spoilt by the irregularly hedged Irish countryside standing in for battle-churned Flanders. 3. There are two bumbling French detectives attempting to spy on the lovers, etc., though to no apparent end (can't imagine where they came from). 4. Besides being an unthrilling war film and an unfunny comedy, Mr Edwards clearly wanted his wedding present to be another musical vehicle for Miss Julie, this despite her last, in which she played Gertrude Lawrence, being a resounding flop. To underline the point, one of the last shots of the film is an aerial approach on a green field across which she is running, Maria-style. That is after we are supposed to accept that von Richtofen and his opposite number have flown well beyond range with their squadrons to head off the train at the Swiss border. Meanwhile Jeremy Kemp camps his way through as a German colonel, unsure as to whether he is supposed to be in love with Fräulein Lili, and Lance Percival plays a pickled RFC pilot, by far the most entertaining thing in it. Which is saying little. The film is bookended with sing-songs by theatre audiences of 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. To which one might quip: not as long as you might think.
Country: US
Technical: col/2.35:1 136m
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, Jeremy Kemp, Lance Percival
Synopsis:
During World War One the Germans transfer their top spy, the half British Miss Lili Smith, from London to Paris to gather information concerning Allied operations from American air ace, Major William Larabee.
Review:
Even if Miss Andrews were as 'provocative, exciting and desirable' as Rock Hudson is made to say she is (which she is not), it would be hard to imagine a more misguided project than this. 1. There is no intrigue, at least not any connected with the war; we simply move from one fabulous setting to the next, wondering if Miss Andrews will go all the way. 2. We have some token aerial action and unlikely on the ground heroics, which are decorative enough with cabbage crates bursting into flames on cue, but spoilt by the irregularly hedged Irish countryside standing in for battle-churned Flanders. 3. There are two bumbling French detectives attempting to spy on the lovers, etc., though to no apparent end (can't imagine where they came from). 4. Besides being an unthrilling war film and an unfunny comedy, Mr Edwards clearly wanted his wedding present to be another musical vehicle for Miss Julie, this despite her last, in which she played Gertrude Lawrence, being a resounding flop. To underline the point, one of the last shots of the film is an aerial approach on a green field across which she is running, Maria-style. That is after we are supposed to accept that von Richtofen and his opposite number have flown well beyond range with their squadrons to head off the train at the Swiss border. Meanwhile Jeremy Kemp camps his way through as a German colonel, unsure as to whether he is supposed to be in love with Fräulein Lili, and Lance Percival plays a pickled RFC pilot, by far the most entertaining thing in it. Which is saying little. The film is bookended with sing-songs by theatre audiences of 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. To which one might quip: not as long as you might think.