Movies - Billy Liar

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	Movies - Billy Liar

Billy Liar (1959) is a novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, film, musical and TV series.

The semi-comical story is about Billy Fisher, a working-class 19-year-old living with his parents in the fictional town of Stradhoughton in Yorkshire. Bored by his job as a lowly clerk for an undertaker, Billy spends his time indulging in Walter Mitty-like fantasies and dreams of life in the big city as a comedy writer. However, with three girlfriends on the go, his tendency to overimagination comes at a cost.

The play is set in one Saturday. Act 1 in the morning. Act 2 in the early evening and Act 3 at night.

Characters

William "Billy" Fisher - The title character, Billy is 19 living with his parents Alice and Geoffrey and also his grandmother, Florence Boothroyd. Billy practically lies to everyone he comes across, lies include his dad losing the chance to be a "World Champion" after having a leg amputated and telling his parents his friend Arthur's mother being pregnant then saying it was a miscarriage when he finds out Alice was to send Arthur's mother a present for the baby. Billy works as a clerk for an undertaker's called Shadrack & Duxbury, his friend Arthur Crabtree also works for the same firm. Billy is also engaged to THREE girlfriends in the play and is always talking about an offer for a script-writing job for a famous comedian in London.

Alice Fisher - Billy's mother. Alice is always rushing about tidying up and looking after her mother that she never gets a chance to sit down for more than a few seconds.

Geoffrey Fisher - Billy's father. Geoffrey uses the word "bloody" in his sentences so often it has lost all meaning. Geoffrey has been a successful removals businessman so his family live middle-class lives despite him and Alice having Working-Class upbringings. Geoffrey has a short temper but otherwise rarely shows emotion.

Florence Boothroyd - Billy's grandmother. Florence talks to the sideboard more than her own family and is always drinking out of a pint-pot. Florence falls ill in Act 2 and is taken upstairs. But at the beginning of Act 3 the mood in the Fisher household is sombre and dark, as Florence dies in the day. Florence is seen in Act 1 & 2.

Arthur Crabtree - Billy's friend. Arthur works at Shadrack & Duxbury's with Billy, but Billy is never really at work, and this Saturday is no exception. When we first see Arthur and Billy together they go into a routine including them putting on thicker Northern accents than they normally do. Despite this tomfoolery in Act 1. Arthur's mood towards Billy changes in Act 3. Arthur is only seen in Act 1 & 3.

Barbara - One of Billy's fiances. Barbara is always eating oranges and in Act 2 meets Billy's parents and tells Geoffrey ofher and Billy's plans of a cottage in Devon. To which Geoffrey doesn't take much notice, but enough to criticise Billy's laziness that could lead to the cottage plans not reaching fruition. Barbara is only seen in Acts 1 & 2.

Rita - Rita is 17, is short, but comes across as a 'hard lass'. She mimics Billy at every one of his excuses, Rita is Billy's other fiancee and is only seen in Act 2 & 3 demanding her engagement ring. Billy says it is at the jeweller's but really it is on Barbara's finger.

Liz - Scruffy Lizzie, as she is known to everyone, is Billy's third girlfriend and the only one Billy actually wants to elope with, despite being scruffy and in need of a new skirt. Billy pretends not to be interested in her, believing her to be out of town, but when Billy is told by Arthur that she's back in town he reacts in a way that shows he is still smitten with her. Liz is only seen in Act 3.

Play

In 1960, the novel's author, journalist Waterhouse, cowrote a three-act stage version with Willis Hall. The action took place on a single set combining the living room, hallway and porch of the Fisher household. The first production opened in the West End of London with Albert Finney in the title role. It has since been produced all over the world, and has become a favourite with amateur groups.

Film

The 1963 film was directed by John Schlesinger and featured Tom Courtenay (who had understudied Albert Finney in the West End play) as Billy and Julie Christie as Liz, one of his three girlfriends. Mona Washbourne played Mrs Fisher, and Wilfred Pickles played Mr Fisher. Rodney Bewes, Finlay Currie and Leonard Rossiter also had roles.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Billy Liar ]

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