Billy Liar (1963)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 38min
- Comedy, Drama
- 16 Dec 1963 (USA)
- Movie
A lazy, irresponsible young clerk (Sir Tom Courtenay) in provincial Northern England lives in his own fantasy world and makes emotionally immature decisions as he alienates friends and family.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 6 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Tom Courtenay | ... |
Billy Fisher
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| Wilfred Pickles | ... |
Geoffrey Fisher
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| Mona Washbourne | ... |
Alice Fisher
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| Ethel Griffies | ... |
Grandma Florence
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| Finlay Currie | ... |
Duxbury
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Gwendolyn Watts | ... |
Rita
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Helen Fraser | ... |
Barbara
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| Julie Christie | ... |
Liz
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| Leonard Rossiter | ... |
Emanuel Shadrack
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| Rodney Bewes | ... |
Arthur Crabtree
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| George Innes | ... |
Stamp
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Leslie Randall | ... |
Danny Boon
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| Patrick Barr | ... |
Insp. MacDonald
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| Ernest Clark | ... |
Prison Governor
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Godfrey Winn | ... |
Disc Jockey
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jim Brady | ... |
Prisoner Escort (uncredited)
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Aleksander Browne | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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James Byron | ... |
Serviceman (uncredited)
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Douglas Clarke | ... |
Serviceman (uncredited)
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Alan Clayton | ... |
Serviceman (uncredited)
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Jack Cunningham | ... |
Ticket Examiner (uncredited)
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Muriel Day | ... |
Dance Hall Singer (uncredited)
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E.V.H. Emmett | ... |
Newsreel Commentator (uncredited)
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Flo Fallows | ... |
Prostitute (uncredited)
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Sheila Fearn | ... |
Telephonist (uncredited)
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George Ghent | ... |
Danny's PRO (uncredited)
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Reginald Green | ... |
Mr. Matthieson (uncredited)
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Topsy Jane | ... |
Liz (uncredited)
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Natalie Kent | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Margaret Lacey | ... |
Mrs. Matthieson (uncredited)
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| Harry Landis | ... |
Man on Train (uncredited)
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| Leslie Lawton | ... |
Youth (uncredited)
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Lester Leigh | ... |
Band Leader (uncredited)
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Ted Morris | ... |
Funeral Driver (uncredited)
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| Bryan Mosley | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Elisabeth Murray | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Stuart Myers | ... |
Man Reading Newspaper (uncredited)
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Robin Parkinson | ... |
Jeweller's Assistant (uncredited)
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| James Payne | ... |
Man in Station Café (uncredited)
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| Graham Rigby | ... |
Supermarket Manager (uncredited)
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Jessie Robins | ... |
Large Woman in Hospital (uncredited)
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David Scase | ... |
Man in the Record Shop (uncredited)
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| John Schlesinger | ... |
Officer in Dream (uncredited)
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Jack Sharp | ... |
Man in Uniform at Funeral (uncredited)
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Neville Smith | ... |
Youth (uncredited)
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George Spence | ... |
Man in Crowd (uncredited)
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Elaine Stevens | ... |
Danny's Secretary (uncredited)
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John Tordoff | ... |
Youth in Wimpy Bar (uncredited)
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Anna Wing | ... |
Mrs. Crabtree (uncredited)
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Alice Woods | ... |
Prostitute (uncredited)
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William Wymar | ... |
Army Man (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Schlesinger | ||
Written by
| Keith Waterhouse | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Willis Hall | ... | (screenplay) |
| Keith Waterhouse | ... | (novel) |
| Keith Waterhouse | ... | (play) and |
| Willis Hall | ... | (play) |
Produced by
| Joseph Janni | ... | producer |
| Jack Rix | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Richard Rodney Bennett | ||
Cinematography by
| Denys N. Coop | ... | director of photography (as Denys Coop) |
Editing by
| Roger Cherrill | ||
Editorial Department
| Jack Gardner | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Jean Short | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Miriam Brickman | ||
Art Direction by
| Ray Simm | ||
Makeup Department
| Joyce James | ... | hair stylist |
| Bob Lawrance | ... | makeup artist (as Robert Lawrence) |
Production Management
| Charles Blair | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Frank Ernst | ... | assistant director |
| Jim Brennan | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Ken Bridgeman | ... | set dresser |
| Arthur Adaway | ... | stagehand (uncredited) |
| Martin Atkinson | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Tom Brooker | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Clifford Cross | ... | stand-by carpenter (uncredited) |
| Daniel Culinane | ... | plasterer (uncredited) |
| John Feehan | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Dennis Maddison | ... | property buyer (uncredited) |
| Phil Meighan | ... | props (uncredited) |
| John Nethersole | ... | plasterer's laborer (uncredited) |
| Bill Read | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Malcolm Cooke | ... | sound editor |
| John Cox | ... | sound recordist |
| Peter Handford | ... | sound recordist |
| Douglas Barnett | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
| Tom Buchanan | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| George Widdows | ... | sound maintenance (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jack Atcheler | ... | camera operator (as Jack Atchelor) |
| Neil Binney | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Fred Burrows | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| John Campbell | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Wilfred Campbell | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Archie Eyers | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Percy Fisher | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Harry Gillard | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| John Illisley | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Bert Lott | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Frank Robertson | ... | chief electrician (uncredited) |
| Mike Rutter | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Kesra Singh | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Ralph Weighell | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Frank Willis | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ron Beck | ... | wardrobe master |
| Laura Nightingale | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Music Department
| Harry Gray and his Band | ... | musicians: dance music |
| John Hollingsworth | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pamela Mann | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Jack Laxton | ... | driver: camera car (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Don Higgins | ... | advisor: fantasy sequences |
| Mary Franks | ... | secretary to publicist (uncredited) |
| Frédérique Giezendorfer | ... | press attaché: France (uncredited) |
| John Goldstone | ... | personal assistant to producers (uncredited) |
| Diana Harding | ... | secretary to producer (uncredited) |
| Ann Skinner | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Edna Tromans | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (1963) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner-Pathé Distributors (1963) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Continental Distributing (1963) (United States) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of Sweden (1964) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Lumiere Pictures (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Republic Pictures Home Video (1994) (United States) (VHS) (Pan and Scan for Lumiere)
- Rialto Pictures (2000) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- The Criterion Collection (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Bibliotheque (2021) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Centrala Wynajmu Filmów (1964) (Poland) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1964) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Tamasa Distribution (2012) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Ursulines Distribution (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Weintraub Entertainment Group (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Mecca Dancing (dance music used by permission of: Harry Gray and his Band)
- Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Going nowhere fast, Billy Fisher, an incorrigible fantasizer, dreams incessantly of escaping his drab existence and humdrum routine work as an undertakers' clerk in Yorkshire. Seeking refuge from his working-class family and not one but two demanding fiancees in the imaginary country called Ambrosia, more and more, Billy finds himself cut off from reality, picturing himself as its ruler and hero. Then, as Billy's fabrications grow increasingly wilder and problems start piling up, lovely, happy-go-lucky Liz enters the young day-dreamer's life, offering a way out of this fine mess. However, new beginnings are always scary, and Billy must make up his mind: it's either a fresh start in London or an endless beautiful lie in Ambrosia. Written by Nick Riganas |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | one guy... three girls... one ring! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | GBP236,809 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This movie made a star of Julie Christie, even though she's only in it for a total of twelve minutes. See more » |
| Goofs | In the opening title sequence, where a woman places a blanket over a balcony and runs off, an arm can be seen popping up from behind the wall and throwing the blanket off the balcony. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Julie Christie & John Schlesinger (1967). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Twisterella See more » |
| Quotes |
Alice Fisher:
If you're in any more trouble, Billy, it's not something you can leave behind you, you know. You put it in your suitcase, and you take it with you. See more » |