The Wedding of Lilli Marlene explained

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
Producer:	William J. Gell
Director:	Arthur Crabtree
Screenplay:	John Baines
Starring:	Lisa Daniely Hugh McDermott Sid James
Music:	Eric Rogers
Cinematography:	Arthur Grant
Editing:	Douglas Myers
Studio:	Monarch Productions
Runtime:	87 minutes
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene is a 1953 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Lisa Daniely, Hugh McDermott and Sid James.^{[1] [2] [3]} It was a sequel to the 1950 film Lilli Marlene, also directed by Crabtree.^{[4] [5]}

Premise

After the end of the Second World War, Lilli Marlene and American reporter Steve Moray plan to marry, but when Lilli gets a chance for a big break on the London stage, it throws their plans into disarray.

Cast

• Lisa Daniely as Lilli Marlene
• Hugh McDermott as Steve Moray, Lilli's fiancé
• Sid James as Finnimore Hunt
• Gabrielle Brune as Maggie Lennox
• Jack Billings as Hal Marvel
• Robert Ayres as Andrew Jackson
• Joan Heal as Linda
• John Blythe as Holt
• Mairhi Russell as Mrs. Smith
• Irene Handl as Rosie, the Eastern European dresser
• Wally Patch as Wally
• Dandy Nichols as Mrs. Harris
• Ann Bennett as Forbes
• Ben Williams as Ted
• Tom Gill as Willy
• Jacques Cey as Vittorio
• Ernst Ulman as Salmon
• Jacqueline Mackenzie as theatre barmaid
• Charmian Buchel as Becky
• George Roderick as theatrical agent
• Stanley Baker as audience member

Production

It was made at Southall Studios with sets designed by the art director Ray Simm.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Although Lisa Daniely has a pleasant voice, the ineffective musical numbers do not help to enliven this tedious picture of show business in London."^[6]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Poorly confected programme filler, an unnecessary sequel if ever there was one."^[7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Long, stiff and tedious."^[8]

References

1. Web site: The Wedding of Lilli Marlene . 7 May 2024 . British Film Institute Collections Search.
2. Web site: The Wedding of Lilli Marlene (1953) - Arthur Crabtree | Cast and Crew | AllMovie. www.allmovie.com.
3. Web site: BFI | Film & TV Database | The WEDDING OF LILLI MARLENE (1953). 16 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090116054310/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/57356. 16 January 2009.
4. Web site: Southall Studios. https://web.archive.org/web/20170905081338/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b951b9d84. dead. 5 September 2017. BFI.
5. Web site: Lilli Marlene (1950) - Arthur Crabtree | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie. www.allmovie.com.
6. 1 January 1953 . The Wedding of Lilli Marlene . . 20 . 228 . 77 . ProQuest.
7. Book: Halliwell, Leslie . Halliwell's Film Guide . Paladin . 1989 . 0586088946 . 7th . London . 1098.
8. Book: Quinlan, David . British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 . . 1984 . 0-7134-1874-5 . London . 398.

Bibliography

• McFarlane, Brian . Four from the forties: Arliss, Crabtree, Knowles and Huntington. Manchester University Press, 2018.

External links

• • The Wedding of Lilli Marlene then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets