The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968): Cast & Plot
The Legend of Lylah Clare is a 1968 mystery drama directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Kim Novak as Lylah Clare / Elsa Brinkmann / Elsa Campbell, Milton Selzer and Jean Carroll. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 10m (130 min)
- Director
- Robert Aldrich
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Legend of Lylah Clare About?
The premise of The Legend of Lylah Clare without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A tyrannical film director obsessed with recreating the life of a deceased Hollywood icon recruits a fresh, unknown actress to portray the star in his ambitious biopic. As she steps into the role, she swiftly rises from obscurity to fame, transforming overnight into a sensation and, over time, into a legend.
The Legend of Lylah Clare Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- vertigo
- obsession
- campy
- look alike
- film in film
- falling from height
- actress playing multiple roles
- metacinema
- television advertising
- based on play by same name
- film a clef
- film director
+38 more Show fewer
- dialogue coach
- hollywood melodrama
- hollywood california
- dysfunctional marriage
- unfaithful wife
- bisexual woman
- falling in love
- fictional biography
- spirit possession
- film publicity
- film star
- trapeze artist
- film studio head
- acting coach
- woman falls from height
- unrequited love
- shot and killed
- circus clown
- high wire act
- dog food
- countess
- cameraman
- film crew
- film screening
- lesbian interest
- film actress
- gothic drama
- hollywood movie industry satire
- cult classic
- script girl
- movie actress
- infidelity
- wedding night
- fatal fall
- dog eat dog
- lesbian character
- director
- starlet
The Legend of Lylah Clare Cast & Characters
Kim Novak leads the cast as Lylah Clare / Elsa Brinkmann / Elsa Campbell, with Milton Selzer as Bart Langner and Jean Carroll as Becky Langner. Directed by Robert Aldrich; 46 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Robert Aldrich
-
Kim Novak as Lylah Clare / Elsa Brinkmann / Elsa Campbell -
Milton Selzer as Bart Langner - Jean Carroll as Becky Langner
-
Peter Finch as Lewis Zarken / Louie Flack
Also Starring in The Legend of Lylah Clare
· 42 more- William Beckley Zarkan
- Ernest Borgnine Barney Sheean
- Michael Murphy Mark Peter Sheean
- Coral Browne Molly Luther
- Rossella Falk Rossella
- Dick Miller Reporter at Press Party
- George Kennedy Matt Burke
- Ellen Corby Script Girl
- Valentina Cortese Countess Bozo Bedoni
- Kenner G. Kemp Brothel Patron in Film (uncredited)
- Cosmo Sardo Photographer (uncredited)
- Max Wagner Reporter (uncredited)
- Gabriele Tinti Paolo
- Hans Moebus Minor Role (uncredited)
- Monty O'Grady Press Party Guest (uncredited)
- Dave Willock Cameraman
Show all 46 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Noble 'Kid' Chissell Stagehand (uncredited)
- Bernard Sell Reporter (uncredited)
- Joe Ploski German Bartender in Film (uncredited)
- Al Bain Crew Member
- John Alvin Accountant (uncredited)
- John Indrisano Studio Grip (uncredited)
- James McEachin Reporter (uncredited)
- Michael Fox Announcer
- Robert Cornthwaite Studio Photo Archivist (uncredited)
- Billy Curtis Clown (uncredited)
- Duke Fishman Crew Member (uncredited)
- Lee Meriwether Young Girl
- Queenie Smith Hairdresser
- Victoria Zinny Reporter (uncredited)
- Nick Dennis Nick
- Ernest Anderson Hot Dog Man (uncredited)
- Rex Holman Young Man (uncredited)
- Tom Palmer Press Party Guest
- Robert Ellenstein Mike
- James Lanphier 1st Legman
- Vernon Scott Vernon Scott
- Sidney Skolsky Sidney Skolsky
- Jan Peters Prop Man
- Gene Chronopoulos Reporter (uncredited)
- Peter Bravos Butler
- Hal Maguire 2nd Legman
More from Robert Aldrich
More films directed by Robert Aldrich, best-rated first: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Hustle, The Longest Yard and The Frisco Kid.
The Legend of Lylah Clare Plot Summary
What happens in The Legend of Lylah Clare from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Bart Langner, Milton Selzer, an agent with a knack for chasing sensational stories, tracks Elsa Brinkmann, Kim Novak, a would-be actress who looks and sounds like Lylah Clare, Kim Novak, the flamboyant star who died under mysterious circumstances twenty years ago. He convinces the ambitious director Lewis Zarkan, Peter Finch, who had been married to Lylah, to meet her, and the two men persuade brash studio head Barney Sheean, Ernest Borgnine, to back a project with her in the lead role as Lylah.
Full summary
The whole story of The Legend of Lylah Clare, scene by scene
The Legend of Lylah Clare Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette TCM Slumberground | Valley of the Dolls (1967) & The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968)
How Well Do You Know The Legend of Lylah Clare?
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
Which actress plays both Elsa Brinkmann and the legendary star Lylah Clare?
Cars in The Legend of Lylah Clare
9 cars on screen, including the 1967 Buick Wildcat and the Chapman Titan II.
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1967 Buick Wildcat Minor role -
Chapman Titan II Minor role -
1967 Chrysler 300 Minor role -
1962 Facel Véga Facel II Coupé Minor role
The Legend of Lylah Clare Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “A Lenda de Lylah Clare” and “Quando muore una stella”.
- Also known as
-
- A Lenda de Lylah Clare
- Quando muore una stella
- La leyenda de Lylah Clare
- Große Lüge Lylah Clare
- Le Démon des femmes
- 라일라 클레어의 전설
- افسانه لیلا کلر
- Легенда о Лайле Клэр
- La llegenda de Lylah Clare
Seen The Legend of Lylah Clare?
Movies Like The Legend of Lylah Clare
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Legend of Lucy Keyes, Lyvia’s House and Lymelife.
The Legend of Lylah Clare FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Legend of Lylah Clare, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Legend of Lylah Clare?
The Legend of Lylah Clare runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
When was The Legend of Lylah Clare released?
The Legend of Lylah Clare was released on August 21, 1968.
Who directed The Legend of Lylah Clare?
The Legend of Lylah Clare was directed by Robert Aldrich.
More films by Robert Aldrich Who is in the cast of The Legend of Lylah Clare?
The Legend of Lylah Clare stars Kim Novak as Lylah Clare / Elsa Brinkmann / Elsa Campbell, Milton Selzer as Bart Langner and Jean Carroll as Becky Langner, among 46 credited actors.
Does The Legend of Lylah Clare have a post-credit scene?
No. The Legend of Lylah Clare has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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