Lili Marleen (1981): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Lili Marleen is a 1981 war drama starring Hanna Schygulla as Willie, Giancarlo Giannini and Mel Ferrer. It runs 2 hours and earned $8,408 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Original language
-
German - Studio
- Rialto Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Lili Marleen About?
The premise of Lili Marleen without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A German singer, Willie, working in Switzerland, falls for Jewish composer Robert, whose family aids refugees escaping the Nazis. As Willie gains fame performing the iconic song “Lili Marleen,” Robert’s family doubts her loyalties, fearing she might be a Nazi collaborator.
Lili Marleen Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nazi uniform
- nazi germany
- nazi officer
- nazi rule
- nazi occupied poland
- nazi soldier
- singer
- forged papers
- nazi regime
- singing
- gestapo
- female singer
+38 more Show fewer
- border crossing
- looking at oneself in a mirror
- swastika
- woman slaps a man
- song
- nazi
- love
- radio
- concentration camp
- party member
- new german cinema
- class difference
- spreading rumor
- secret film
- false identity
- burned face
- signing an autograph
- fame
- unexpected fame
- success
- tarot card
- one way mirror
- director cameo
- berlin germany
- munich germany
- recording studio
- german swiss border
- wedding proposal
- pretending to have a headache
- stage act
- title spoken by narrator
- inspired by a true story
- 1940s
- year 1938
- zurich switzerland
- world war two
- resistance movement
- impossible love
Lili Marleen Cast & Characters
Hanna Schygulla leads the cast as Willie, with Giancarlo Giannini as Robert and Mel Ferrer as David Mendelssohn.
-
Hanna Schygulla as Willie -
Giancarlo Giannini as Robert -
Mel Ferrer as David Mendelssohn - Karl-Heinz von Hassel as Henkel
Also Starring in Lili Marleen
· 37 more- Udo Kier Drewitz
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder Günther Weissenborn (uncredited)
- Irm Hermann Krankenschwester
- Daniel Schmid Pförtner
- Hark Bohm Taschner
- Harry Baer Norbert Schultze
- Gottfried John Aaron
- Christine Kaufmann Miriam
- Adrian Hoven Ginsberg
- Barbara Valentin Eva
- Alexander Allerson Goedecke
- Brigitte Mira Nachbarin
- Lilo Pempeit Tamara
- Erik Schumann von Strehlow
- Peter Chatel SA-Mann
- Karin Baal Anna Lederer
Show all 41 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Elisabeth Volkmann Marika
- Franz Buchrieser Thome (uncredited)
- Traute Hoess Polin
- Roger Fritz Kauffmann
- Herb Andress Reintgen
- Willy Harlander Prosel
- Helen Vita Grete
- Jürgen Draeger Journalist
- Rudolf Lenz Dr. Glaubrecht
- Raúl Gimenez Blonsky
- Michele Oliveri Soldier (uncredited)
- Herbert Steinmetz Arzt
- Sonja Neudorfer Frau Buerli
- Volker Eckstein 1. SD-Mann
- Dirk Galuba 4. SD-Mann
- Rainer Will Bernt
- Toni Netzle Frau Prosel
- Helmut Petigk 2. SD-Mann
- Kristine De Loup Nachrichtensprecherin
- Werner Asam 3. SD-Mann
- Michael McLernon Schweizer Grenzbeamter
Lili Marleen Plot Summary
What happens in Lili Marleen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In Switzerland, Willie, an aspiring German singer, grows fond of Robert, a Jewish trainee conductor. Their romance unfolds against the shadow of a clandestine network that helps Jews and their money find safety in neutral Switzerland. Fearing that Robert’s relationship could jeopardize this lifeline, his wealthy father, David Mendelssohn, orders Willie deported, throwing their future into doubt.
Full summary
The whole story of Lili Marleen, scene by scene
Lili Marleen Box Office
Lili Marleen grossed $8,408 worldwide. $8,144 came from the US and Canada and $251 (3%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$8.4K
- US & Canada
- $8.1K
- International
- $251
How Well Do You Know Lili Marleen?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the aspiring German singer at the center of the story?
Cars in Lili Marleen
14 cars on screen, including the 1950 Citroën 10 Berline Légère and the 1935 Mercedes-Benz 200 Lang W21.
-
1950 Citroën 10 Berline Légère Important role -
1935 Mercedes-Benz 200 Lang W21 Important role -
1940 Volkswagen Kübelwagen Typ 82 Minor role -
Citroën unknown Background role
Lili Marleen Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “リリー・マルレーン” and “Лілі Марлен”.
- Also known as
-
- リリー・マルレーン
- Лілі Марлен
- 莉莉玛莲
- Лили Марлен
- Lili Marlene
- 릴리 마를렌
Seen Lili Marleen?
Movies Like Lili Marleen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lilli Marlene, Darling Lili and Marlene.
Lili Marleen FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Lili Marleen, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Lili Marleen?
Lili Marleen runs 2 hours (120 minutes).
When was Lili Marleen released?
Lili Marleen was released on January 14, 1981.
Who is in the cast of Lili Marleen?
Lili Marleen stars Hanna Schygulla as Willie, Giancarlo Giannini as Robert and Mel Ferrer as David Mendelssohn, among 41 credited actors.
How much did Lili Marleen make at the box office?
Lili Marleen grossed $8,408 worldwide ($8,144 domestic, $251 international).
Does Lili Marleen have a post-credit scene?
No. Lili Marleen has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Lili Marleen in?
The original language of Lili Marleen is German.
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