Billy Liar

"one guy ... three girls ... one ring!"

Dec 16 1963 Not Rated 1h 38m
Comedy, Drama, Romance

A young Englishman dreams of escaping from his working class family and dead-end job as an undertaker's assistant. A number of indiscretions cause him to lie in order to avoid the penalties. His life turns into a mess and he has an opportunity to run away and leave it all behind.

Plot

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

Keith Waterhouse, Willis Hall

Directed by

John Schlesinger

Production Countries

United Kingdom

Production Companies

Waterfall Productions, Vic Films Productions

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 6 BAFTA 7 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
7,644
Average Rating
7.2 out of 10
Metascore
82
Popularity
NA