Lilli Marlene (1950) User Reviews (8)

A war legend brought to life.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 3 August 2016]

As far as I know, this is simply just a traditional German song sung by Marlene Dietrich in her native tongue, even though she was adamantly anti-Nazi. But this British drama gives it a new twist as she is discovered by the Nazi's, a French girl, once in love with a German song writer, and now living in North Africa in utter hatred of the Nazi party. She is rescued by British soldiers who spend much energy trying to keep her from being kidnapped by the Germans who have their own plans for her.

The sweet faced Lisa Daniely is convincing as the sweet but determined Lilli who is desperate to remain out of Nazi hands. They do get their hands on her and through torture and cruel brain washing manage to break her down. But with the determined British on their toes, the Nazi's have their hands full in keeping their evil plot in motion. This is a much better film than what I was lead to believe, while not outstanding, but it does provide both a serious war story and the romantic longing of lonely soldiers who longed to return home to the girl they loved.

This might have had more of an impact had it come out during the war rather than five years later. It sinks a bit by fast forwarding to after the war to a rather unbelievable conclusion. But it scores points with me for trying something unique and presenting Nazi atrocities with open honesty, perhaps based upon some of the truths discovered once the war ended.

A Daughter of France

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 9 November 2020]

It's unlikely Fassbinder ever saw this equally fanciful narrative constructed around the popular song and it's enormous popularity on both sides of WWII. But it's the one that comes closest to his glossy retread of the original combining regular performances of the song with Nazis (including Walter Gotell as Goebbels, who wants to claim her for the Fatherland).

'Stinker' Murdoch plays himself, as does silent star Estelle Brody, briefly heard at one point singing WWI favourite 'Mademoiselle from Armentieres').

6 years too late

[jonathangardiner-77568 · 5/10 · 31 August 2018]

The film was dated by 1951. It is great as a propaganda film for the war but for the post war period it is out of date. However Stinker Murdoch adds a bright touch for those who collect comedic performances. Overly sentimental and jingoistic with stero typical performances representing all areas of the UK and 'ze Germans'.

Not a very interesting movie.

[gerry1019 · 3/10 · 17 April 2006]

I had been looking for this somewhat obscure little movie because it is an early film of Stanley Baker.

The picture is set in North Africa before El Alamein when the British and German armies moved backwards and forwards across the same territory on several occasions. The story is partially narrated by an American radio man who keeps the story moving.

Stanley Baker has a small part playing a Welshman....surprise! Anyway when the Germans retake the "pub" in which so much of the action takes place they find on interrogating the staff that the daughter of the house is called Lilly Marlene and is none other than the original on whom the song is based.

This seems like a big coup for the Nazis until they find she is a very patriotic Frenchwoman who refuses to sing the song in German until her parents are threatened.

Well the Brits retake the place and Lilly is momentarily saved but there are still hidden dangers. The movie unspools in a predictable fashion and before the end we are treated to a couple of Vera Lynn songs (not sung by her).

The movie is available on an NTSC VHS.

Fictional account of WW II song in a hokey film

[SimonJack · 3/10 · 28 May 2016]

The title of this film got my attention. Who wouldn't want to see a movie entitled "Lilli Marlene?" That's the title of one of the most popular wartime songs of World War II. It's variously spelled Lili and Marleen. And, it had different renditions. Although I knew a little of the history behind the song, I had no idea that there had been a movie made by the same title. So, I bought the DVD.

The 1950 movie is a war flick and a drama that concerns the famous song and a girl by that name who says that she was the subject of the song. It's a pretty weak piece of fiction that's set mostly in North Africa. The plot is far-fetched, and the screenplay is terrible. This clearly looked to be a "B" or lower tier production. There's not a person in the cast who was a well-known actor. A couple of the cast seem to be able to act. But most are not very good. And the lead male, Hugh McDermott, is a stone-faced wooden character whose voice barely changes from a monotone. If he weren't playing a radio correspondent and cutting records with news reports, one would likely never find a change in his voice.

It's too much of a stretch to imagine the heroin of this film, Lisa Daniely as Lilli, falling for this guy. She is fairly good in her role -- one of the few in this film who seem to be able to act. Just about everything else is wrong with this movie though. The camera work, editing, props, and production qualities are rather abysmal.

The movie is a real dud. My three stars are solely because of the song. Daniely sings it twice in the film – once in German and once in English.

For those who would like a little more information about the song, I offer the following. The original, "Lilli Marleen" was recorded by Lale Andersen in Germany in 1939, as composed by Norbert Schultze. He had written a melody for the World War I poem written by Hans Leip. But it wasn't played on the air until 1941 – by a fluke. And it skyrocketed in popularity among the German soldiers. The British forces of the 8th Army in Africa also heard and liked the song heard on German broadcasts.

A British rendition was written in 1943 by Jimmy Phillips and Tommy Connor. They changed the lyrics and it was recorded by Vera Lynn. Then that year, the native German and strongly anti-Nazi actress, Marlene Dietrich began singing the song. She sang a German and an English version across Europe until the end of the war. It became a signature song for her over her entertainment career.

Poor effort.

[adamjohns-42575 · 3/10 · 25 March 2023]

Lilli Marlene (1) (1950) -

This film was really badly put together and edited. I would imagine that it was done with a low budget, because it certainly didn't feel like they had spent much money on actors or directors and definitely not editors, whose job was done in a very scissor happy way, almost cutting out of scenes completely, before they were over and the film quality wasn't very good right from the off.

Some of the acting was actually incredibly poor, even from the leading man Hugh McDermott.

I was also not sure that I saw the point in the film overall. Because it was so clumsily put together and was missing the necessary drama, it lost the plot, quite literally.

The romance lacked passion and chemistry with comedy that was lacklustre, while the drama was farcical.

A lot of it was very questionable as well - Why was no one tending to an injured party's wounds? How did the attackers think that they'd get away with their actions? And much more.

As it moved forward it developed in to something a bit better, but it was still terribly delivered. I had to wonder if, and hoped that the 1981 version would be better, but I don't think that I could put myself through it again just yet.

In general, it was a harmless story, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more depth and some real consideration put in to it, rather than throwing it away just to make another film, as it appeared to be. And the torture/brainwashing scenes were tame even for 1950. I couldn't feel that they had really been mistreated.

I only recorded this one because I'd heard the song myself and wondered about its origins. However, after seeing this, I think I probably know even less about it than I did before!

I wouldn't rewatch this one, but might give the 1981 attempt a go if I'm in the right frame of mind when it comes on TV. I certainly wouldn't search it out specificity though.

329.01/1000.

Lilli Marlene

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 26 May 2023]

Lisa Daniely is quite engaging as the eponymous character in this post-war homage to the sweethearts whose songs lifted many an heart during the hardships of WWII. She is working in a small North African bar that finds itself controlled by the British, the Nazis, then the British again - with both sides aware that she is the source of the legendary song, and with both equally aware of her enormous propaganda value. Amidst all this toing and froing, she meets and gradually falls for "Steve" (Hugh McDermott) before being recaptured by the Nazis and taken to Berlin where she is encouraged to make broadcasts in English to smash morale. Nobody will sing this song like Marlene Dietrich, but Daniely makes a decent fist of her frequent renditions - in English and German - and her porcelain-like features and delicacy of performance engender a sense of her vulnerability as she is but a pawn in a dangerous game. McDermott could never be described as versatile and it's all grin and smart-assed quips from him here too. The production has been nowhere near a desert, but as wartime feel good films go this is at the more entertaining end with just enough menace from some nasty Nazis to remind you that it could all have been true!

Sadly not Great

[Picgoer · 4/10 · 7 July 2022]

Unfortunately this isn't one of the best of British war films although it has some interesting elements, including early appearances of actors who would ultimately become stars at home and internationally. Stanley Baker shone brightly but briefly and Walter Gotell and Russell Hunter both would have long careers on both TV and film.

Established character actors Lesley Dwyer ( who always added to the films he was in), Ben Williams and John Blythe (a more recent addition to the register of good character actors) did their jobs. Richard (Stinker) Murdoch was already a star of stage, radio and early TV, prior to the war and essentially played himself. Hugh McDermott playing the male lead, already had years of experience in mostly 'bit' parts but wasn't at his best in this film.

The film was hampered by the poor sets and pretty poor script. A shame as the premise had some promise.