Lilli Palmer Movies
The daughter of a German surgeon and an Austrian actress, Lilli Palmer was ten years old when she began appearing in amateur theatricals in Berlin. She studied for a theater career with Ilka Gruning, a character actress best known for her brief appearance as a refugee in Casablanca (1942). Shortly after her professional bow in 1932, Palmer fled from Germany to escape the incoming Nazi government. She worked at Paris' Moulin Rouge, then learned English well enough to appear in British films from 1935 and on the London stage from 1938. In the company of her first husband, Rex Harrison (whom she married in 1943), Palmer came to America in 1945, appearing in such stage productions as Anne of a Thousand Days and Bell, Book and Candle, and in such films as Cloak and Dagger (1946) and Body and Soul (1948). In 1952, she co-starred with Harrison in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit The Four Poster. Her marriage dissolved when Harrison became interested in movie leading lady Kay Kendall; her second -- and last -- husband was actor Carlos Thompson. Resettling in Europe in 1954, Palmer periodically returned to Hollywood for such projects as the well-circulated 1955 TV anthology The Lilli Palmer Theater. She continued to star in films produced in virtually every corner of the world, and to appear on Broadway. A prolific writer, Lilli Palmer published several books, including her 1975 autobiography Change Lobsters and Dance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1987
Five more short comedy pieces from Germany's popular television program. Only available in German. ~ Rovi
Director John Frankenheimer and writers Edward Anhalt and George Axelrod try to inject some life into this adaptation of Robert Ludlum's best-selling espionage novel. Michael Caine stars as Noel Holcroft, who was adopted in Germany by an American family in the waning days of World War II. Now middle-aged, Noel learns that his biological father, who had been one of Hitler's key economic advisors, left him more than $4 billion at his death. Noel is supposed to dispense the money to specific individuals who had suffered under the oppression of Hitler. But Noel comes to realize the money is, in fact, being used by fascists starting a new Nazi regime. When the neo-Nazis find out Noel is wise to their plans, they chase him through Europe, trying to assassinate him and make way for a Fourth Reich. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Anthony Andrews, (more)
- 1982
The action in this comedy is set within a 24-hour period, as unusual events unfold in the lives of two elderly sisters, Else (Elisabeth Bergner) and Hilde (Lilli Palmer). The sisters were living together in the family mansion in Hamburg when Else got tired of that life and hit the streets to make a go of it as a bag lady, collecting enough each week to send a regular five marks to an orphanage in India. Her older sister stayed in the mansion and made sure that Else always had enough to live on, without letting her know about it. One day -- at the beginning of the fateful 24-hour period -- Else gets evicted from her squatter's apartment in West Berlin and after she leaves with her cart and belongings, she makes a stop at the bank to send the weekly money to the orphanage. Fate has it that two thieves complete a bank robbery just as Else is leaving, throwing their loot into a flower truck by mistake -- much to their dismay and to the total ignorance of the truck driver. Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Hilde is right in the middle of a conversation with Harms (Hardy Kruger), her favorite man of the moment, when she is visited by banking representatives that tell her she has lost it all. Her money manager made some bad financial moves and ran her fortune to the ground, killing himself because of it. Else reads about his suicide in the newspaper, and decides she had better go console her sister -- but not alone. She unwittingly takes the two bank robbers with her, along with a street wino, and when she arrives, the bank robbers drop their facade and threaten to blow everything up if they do not get some cash soon. Meanwhile, Hilde's friend Harms is on the way to join them with the original loot from the bumbled morning robbery in his car (it had fallen out of the flower truck and into his vehicle). Soon everyone and the cash are going to be in one place -- a situation rife with possibilities ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elisabeth Bergner, Lilli Palmer, (more)
This film of Ira Levin's novel The Boys from Brazil wastes no time in establishing the fact that several seemingly unrelated men have been mysteriously murdered. Elderly Jewish Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman (Laurence Olivier), brought into the case when the clues seem to point to a neo-fascist plot, traces the trail of evidence to Paraguay. Here he finds an unregenerate Auschwitz doctor, patterned on Joseph Mengele and played by -- of all people -- Gregory Peck. Lieberman discovers that the murdered men had all fathered sons who were identical -- the results of a cloning experiment, designed to create a race of incipient Hitlers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, (more)
- 1974
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was the author of Werther, the romantic novel that was transformed into a play during Goethe's lifetime and which initiated the whole German romantic movement. The book's story tells of young love and suicide. In this East German film, based on a book by Thomas Mann, Lotte (Lilli Palmer) was the woman who served as the model for the heroine in the novel Werther. She comes to Goethe's hometown for a visit, and her experiences there eerily re-create episodes from the book. Goethe comes across as a pompous old bore, and his friends as pandering sycophants, in this very proper communist party-sponsored, anti-heroic movie. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lilli Palmer
- 1972
- PG
In this drama, a jealous wife murders her husband, a French antique dealer, after she suspects him of marital infidelity. In reality, the man was frequently gone at night because he was doubling as a secret agent. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1971
- PG
The fourth film to explore Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale, this clever adaptation takes some rather broad liberties with the source material. A flamboyant Jason Robards plays Cesar Charron, owner of a Grand Guignol theatre in 19th-century Paris, who is launching a stage adaptation of "Murders in the Rue Morgue" -- much to the dismay of his young daughter Madeleine (Christine Kaufmann), who is tormented by nightmares filled with images from the play. A spate of gruesome murders among the theatre's regular stable of actors leads Charron to suspect the return of his deranged, disfigured former partner René Marot (Herbert Lom), who had been presumed dead after the murder of Charron's wife. Madeleine's nightmares eventually come true when Marot makes his presence known and reveals his intentions to her on the eve of the production's opening night. Director Gordon Hessler's creative handling of the dreams-vs.reality premise is rendered a bit confusing thanks to AIP's sloppy re-editing, but the overall production is still effectively chilling. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
Oliver! star Mark Lester undertook a change of pace - and then some - with this uncomfortable, Bad Seed-like shocker. He plays Marcus, the preteen son of a recently-remarried, well-to-do writer, whose first wife (Marcus's mother) died a mysterious death. Marcus simultaneously resents his stepmother and feels erotically drawn to her; in desperation, he quickly and aggressively drives her to the point of a psychotic breakdown. He then quietly confesses his act of matricide to the stepmom and implores her to off her husband and abscond with the insurance monies. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 1970
- PG
This stylishly eerie Spanish production stars elegant Lili Palmer as the severe headmistress of a French boarding school for young women, where the rigid constraints of 19th-century social conditioning have turned the place into a hothouse of barely contained sexual urges (leading to lots of gauzy shots of the girls slinking about in their nightgowns). Into this heady mix is introduced Palmer's deranged son (John Moulder Brown), whose frustrated desires have forced his latent psychotic urges to the surface, compelling him to stalk the hapless boarders in the hope of acquiring body parts for a horrific human jigsaw puzzle. Quite intense for its time, this film represented a new boldness in style among European thrillers which would reach its peak during the 1970s. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lilli Palmer, Cristina Galbo, (more)
- 1970
David McCallum stars in Hauser's Memory as scientist Hillel Mondoro. At the behest of the CIA, Mondoro willingly has himself injected with the brain fluid from a dying fellow scientist named Hauser. The purpose of this experiment is to preserve the missile secrets lodged in Hauser's memory banks. The result is a deadly liason between Mondoro and Hauser's pro-Nazi wife Anna (Lilli Palmer). Susan Strasberg costars as Mondoro's nonplussed wife Karen, while German film director Helmut Kautner alsos plays an important featured role. Made for television, Hauser's Memory premiered November 24, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
- PG
A network of spies affects the lives of people in and out of the organization in this routine espionage drama. Dominique (Stephane Audran) is the neglected wife of a spy who tracks him down at a Paris antique shop. Finding him with a female spy, the enraged wife shoots both of them. Dominique hides out on a boat while the police investigate the murders, and international spies scramble to recover some missing microfilm. Helen (Lilli Palmer) is the spy boss who orders a hit man (Klaus Kinski) to go after Dominique. Michel Constantine also appears in this fragmented feature ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stéphane Audran, Lilli Palmer, (more)
- 1969
- PG
John Cunningham (James Coburn) is a cold-blooded assassin sent by his superior Ramsey (Burgess Meredith) to murder three people in Europe. He takes off for Spain where he meets a foursome of jet-setting socialites. Sheila (Lee Remick) is a wealthy divorcee who falls for John. Alexi (Patrick Magee) is a former Nazi weasel who has eyes for Sheila. Adrianne (Lilli Palmer) is a social butterfly who plays Cupid for John and Sheila. Sterling Hayden and Claude Dauphin also star in this romantic story of how love can soften a man's stone-cold heart. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Coburn, Lee Remick, (more)
Keir Dullea dives into a bevy of babes with an open wine bottle as the notorious Marquis de Sade in this low-budget debauch from American International Pictures -- purveyors of fine entertainment morsels for the connoisseur. The film takes place as an extended flashback after de Sade has escaped from a madhouse and taken refuge in the dilapidated mansion where he was reared. In his flashback, de Sade recalls how the Abbe de Sade (John Huston) used to have a maid whip him until he began to like it. Of course, after that, the next step down the primrose path was flagellation and orgies. Finally sent to a French jail for lewd behavior, de Sade begins to write anti-government creeds to while away the hours. After his release, he is compelled to marry the repulsive Renee de Montreuil (Anna Massey). De Sade goes along with the marriage in order to get closer to her sister Anne (Senta Berger). In spite of that, de Sade continues to seek out various forms of softcore sex. But then the Black Plague hits. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Keir Dullea, Senta Berger, (more)
- 1968
- G
The classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles stars Christopher Plummer as the psychologically tortured Oedipus. The successful monarch begins his downward slide after he discovers he has murdered his father and had children with his own mother. Oedipus is called on to avenge the death of the previous ruler, but his mother Jocasta (Lilli Palmer) hangs herself in the process. The tormented king tears out his own eyes and wanders the land as a destitute, disabled pauper. Orson Welles plays the insightful but sightless prophet Tiresias. The chorus, key to all Greek classical plays, is lead by Donald Sutherland. Roger Livesy is the shepherd who has raised the boy who would be king. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Plummer, Orson Welles, (more)
A police investigator is forced to rely on the man he's been instructed to apprehend in this cold war thriller. Sir James Quentin (Christopher Plummer) is a high level negotiator with the British government who is approached by Scobie Malone (Rod Taylor), an Australian detective who has been instructed to arrest Quentin in connection with the murder of his first wife 25 years earlier. Quentin calmly asks Malone if he could wait until he completes his work at a diplomatic conference, and Malone agrees; Quentin even allows Malone to stay at his home with his second wife Shelia (Lilli Palmer). Malone's assignment soon proves to be more complicated (and dangerous) than he expected when he has to save Quentin from an assassination attempt. Quentin must protect a fellow diplomat also targeted by gunmen, and Malone learns that Shelia has a deadly secret. The High Commissioner was also released under the title Nobody Runs Forever. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rod Taylor, Christopher Plummer, (more)
- 1968
Sebastian (Dirk Bogarde) is an undisciplined mathematics genius who works in the "cipher bureau" of the British government. While cracking enemy codes, Sebastian finds time to romance co-worker Susannah York. The film dwells upon Sebastian's rather lax morals (even by 1968 standards), culminating in his refusal to commit himself to York once he's rendered her pregnant. This aspect of the story is frankly more fascinating than the main espionage plotline. Keep an eye out for Canadian actor Donald Sutherland in a bit as an American. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dirk Bogarde, Nigel Davenport, (more)
- 1967
The success of several 1960s-era cat-burglar movies depended upon the suave and agreeable machinations of the film's antiheroic hero, as he stylishly worked to remove surplus wealth from the obscenely wealthy. That formula reaped a box-office bonanza, and here the producers are back with it again, with Jeff Hill (George Hamilton) learning the ropes of being a gentleman-thief from the redoubtable Ace of Diamonds (Joseph Cotton). Unfortunately, there is a reason these fine gents weren't cast in the original films, and despite good performances (and direction) all around, the magic just didn't strike this time. Three female movie stars (Carroll Baker, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Lilli Palmer) play themselves as the burglar's wealthy victims. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- George Hamilton, Joseph Cotten, (more)
- 1967
The literal translation of the German title is "Pairings." Alice (Lilli Palmer) and Edgar (Paul Verhoeven) are a married couple who have argued during most of their 20-year marriage. Alice's cousin Kurt (Karl Michael Volger) arrives to visit them in the North Sea island home after an extended stay in the United States. Kurt tries to help the psychotic, dysfunctional couple with their problems, but he soon has trouble of his own when he finds out they are into satanic rituals. The kindly cousin is battered by the mood swings of the malevolent married couple. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lilli Palmer, Paul Verhoeven, (more)
- 1966
Beloved French comic Fernadel displays his flair for the dramatic in this somber drama. Quantin (Fernadel) is a mild-mannered husband whose wife Isabelle (Lilli Palmer) constantly bothers him for not having enough money to spend on their daughters. When the eldest daughter is unable to come home for her birthday, Quantin and a young teacher go to the city to bring her home for the celebration. It is there he discovers that his beloved daughter has become a prostitute. His daughter is never shown on camera as the father and the teacher who loves her painfully discover her sordid secret. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fernandel, Lilli Palmer, (more)
- 1965
Brassac (Jean Gabin) is a drunken veterinarian who can't resist bringing home stray animals and humans. Lilli Palmer plays his long-suffering wife Marie. When he brings home the prostitute Simone (Michele Mercier), Brassac is not sure he is acting out of concern or lust. He beats up the pimp who comes looking for Simone, and Brassac is happy when she later falls in love with his neighbor, and they make Brassac a "grandfather." ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Michele Mercier, (more)
This big-budget, big-studio espionage film is set in the last years of World War II. George Peppard, Tom Courtenay and Jeremy Kemp parachute into Germany, with orders to destroy the Nazis' rocket base at Peenemunde. Featuring Sophia Loren as the wife of the Nazi collaborator whom Peppard is pretending to be, Operation Crossbow failed badly in its first release; MGM, deciding that the title misled moviegoers into thinking that the picture was a "Robin Hood" derivation, cleared up matters by renaming the film The Great Spy Mission. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, George Peppard, (more)
- 1965
Kim Novak's decolletage, rather than the lady herself, is the true star of The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders. This rambunctious filmization of Daniel Defoe's "naughty" novel stars Novak as a poverty-stricken 18th century damsel who rises to the top of society surrendering her virtue--time and time again. After several wealthy patrons and husbands, our heroine finds true love with roguish highwayman Richard Johnson (who briefly became Novak's husband in real life). The film's best moments belong to its largely British supporting cast, especially Leo McKern as a myopic bandit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kim Novak, Richard Johnson, (more)
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