Lili Darvas Movies
The wife of Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar, actress Lili Darvas was a leading player on the Budapest stage in the 1920s and 1930s. She made three European films in the mid-'30s before she and her husband were forced to flee the invading Nazis. After the death of Molnar in 1952, Darvas returned to acting in American television; one of her more memorable TV appearances was as Billy Mumy's grandmother in the 1960 Twilight Zone episode "Long Distance Call." Lili Darvas also showed up sporadically in such Hollywood theatrical films as Cimarron (1960). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This tender black-and-white Hungarian drama takes place in the '50s. A woman's (Mari Torocsik) husband has been arrested by the Hungarian secret police and imprisoned as a dissident. The young wife lives with her mother-in-law (Lili Darvas), a sweet and magnetic woman, appears to believe that her son has emigrated to America. Unable to do anything about her husband's imprisonment, the daughter-in-law keeps the old woman's good cheer alive by concocting a series of letters from her husband, wherein he does incredible and wonderful things. The two of them share the older lady's memories of a gentler time. When the husband is finally released, his mother has already passed away, but the love he and his wife share is shown. The role of the mother-in-law was played, at the request of the director, by octogenarian Lili Darvas, the wife of the famous Hungarian playwright and novelist Ferenc Molnar (1878-1952). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lili Darvas, Mari Töröcsik, (more)
- 1961
Based on Stefan Zweig's novel, this made-for-TV movie was adapted by John Mortimer and directed by Silvio Narizzano. Told in flashback, a middle-aged woman (Ingrid Bergman) travels to Europe after the death of her husband of 17 years. In Monte Carlo, she goes to a casino with a friend (John Williams) and meets a gambler (Rip Torn). Thinking that she can reform him, she and the gambler become romantically involved; in the span of 24 hours, she saves him from a suicide attempt. Also starring Jerry Orbach and Lili Darvas, with original music by George Kleinsinger.This story has been remade several times, most notably by filmmaker Robert Land in 1931. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The last of the six videotaped Twilight Zone installments of the 1960-61 season, this episode also featured the first of three series appearances by child actor Billy Mumy. In this one, Mumy plays Billy Bayles, a 5-year-old boy with a strong attachment to his grandmother (Lili Darvas). Using a toy telephone he'd received for his birthday, Billy communicates with his beloved Grandma -- several days and weeks after her death. Philip Abbott and Patricia Smith costar as Billy's distraught parents, who are convinced (rightly, as it turns out), that Grandma wants to inveigle the boy into joining her in the Next World. Cowritten by William Idelson and Charles Beaumont, "Long Distance Call" was originally telecast March 3, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lili Darvas, Philip Abbott, (more)
The Oklahoma land rush of 1889 provides the starting point for this western drama, based on a novel by Edna Ferber. Yancey Cravat (Glenn Ford) is an impulsive, short-fused cowboy who has married an immigrant woman, Sabra (Maria Schell). Together, Yancey and Sabra claim a homestead, and Yancey starts a newspaper. While he doesn't have much of a head for business, Sabra does, and when she takes greater control of the paper, it grows into a profitable and influential journal. Eventually, Yancey becomes a well-recognized figure, and it's suggested that he run for public office. However, Yancey finds himself unable to support legislation that would steal more land and mineral rights away from the Native Americans who first settled the land. Cimarron was previously filmed in 1931; this version reduced the role of stereotyped black characters and has Native American actors playing the "Indians," including Eddie and Dawn Little Sky. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Maria Schell, (more)
- 1956
A whole slew of guest stars makes Meet Me in Las Vegas a special treat for movie buffs. The central plot concerns wealthy rancher Chuck Rodwell (Dan Dailey), who takes a Vegas vacation with his mother (Agnes Moorehead). At the same time, ballerina Maria Corvier (Cyd Charisse) also arrives in Las Vegas, accompanied by chaperone Sari Hatvany (Lili Darvas). During one marathon gambling session, Chuck comes to the conclusion that Sari is a good-luck charm, and insists that she remain by his side throughout his visit. Naturally, their relationship deepens into love, but not before a few complications, misunderstandings, and song-and-dance duets. Among the celebrities making cameo appearances (à la Around the World in 80 Days) are Jerry Colonna, Paul Henreid, Lena Horne, Frankie Laine, Peter Lorre, and Sammy Davis Jr. (voice only). Featured as dancers in Cyd Charisse's troupe are stars-to-be Liliane Montevecchi and George Chakiris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, (more)
- 1938
Just before setting up shop at Hollywood's Universal studios, German-born director Henry Koster helmed a lavish Austrian-Italian historical romance titled Das Tagebush Die Geleten. Two years after its original 1936 release, the film was distributed in the U.S. under the title The Affairs of Maupassant. Based on the diaries of Marie Bashkirtseff, the film stars Lila Darvas as Marie, an artist studying in Paris at the turn of the century. Marie's teacher Bassieux (Attila Hoerbiger) has been carrying on a lengthy feud with essayist-art critic Guy de Maupassant (Han Jaray), so naturally our heroine is not too politely inclined towards Bassieux' foe. Things change somewhat when Maupassant rescues Marie from a gang of street hooligans. A romance blossoms, but before it can reach the serious stage Marie suddenly and mysteriously disappears from Maupassant's life. A few days later, on her deathbed, she explains why. Affairs of Maupassant was filmed in three different versions: German, Italian and French. It was the German version that was fitted out with English subtitles for American consumption. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lili Darvas, Hans Jaray, (more)
