''Lily in Love'' (alternative English title: ''Playing for Keeps'', Hungarian title: ''Játszani kell'') is a 1984 Hungarian-American co-production in English starring Christopher Plummer,

Maggie Smith Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (born 28 December 1934) is an English actress. With an extensive career on screen and stage beginning in the mid-1950s, Smith has appeared in more than sixty films and seventy plays. She is one of the few performer ...

and

Elke Sommer Elke Sommer (; born Elke Baronin von Schletz, 5 November 1940) is a German actress. She appeared in numerous films in her heyday throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including roles in ''The Pink Panther (1963 film), The Pink Panther'' sequel ''A S ...

and directed by Károly Makk. The film is the third cinematic adaptation of Ferenc Molnár's play about comedic deception and romance ''Testőr'' after '' The Guardsman'' (1931) and '' The Chocolate Soldier'' (1941).

Plot

Fitz Wynn (Christopher Plummer), a successful and truly talented but overly satisfied stage actor, wants to star in a new movie written by his wife Lily (Maggie Smith). She does not feel her Fitz is right for the part, and explains to him why and what she is looking for in the role. With the help of his old friend and business partner Jerry (Adolph Green), Fitz orchestrates his own transformation into Roberto Terranova, a blonde Italian alter ego who seems to be exactly what Lily wants for the role. During production of the film in Hungary, Fitz becomes alarmed as Lily seems to fall for his portrayal of Roberto.

Production

In 1977 Smith had starred in a triumphant Toronto stage revival of ''The Chocolate Soldier'', the musical adaptation of the original play. This film was the first screen appearance for Aaron Lustig. According the Smith's biographer, she referred to the film as "the ghoulash" and admitted to not understanding the Hungarian director's direction. She also called her co-star "Christopher Bummer."

Cast

* Christopher Plummer as Fitzroy Wynn / Roberto Terranova *

as Lily Wynn *

as Alicia * Adolph Green as Jerry Silber *

Rosetta LeNoire Rosetta LeNoire (born Rosetta Olive Burton; August 8, 1911 – March 17, 2002) was an American stage, film, and television actress. She was known to contemporary audiences for her work in television. She had regular roles on such series as ' ...

as Rosanna

Reception

The film received positive reviews at the time of its release. In ''The New York Times'', Vincent Canby proclaimed Plummer's performance as "possibly the best thing he's ever done on the screen." The ''Los Angeles Times'' noted the film's faulty make-up effects: "In this post-" Tootsie” era Plummer’s disguise really must be convincing and not the mere superficial theatrical convention that it is. It’s impossible to believe that he could fool anyone, let alone his wife (who is not sure when she’s first on to him). This is a pity, for Plummer has never been better on the screen."‘Lily In Love' for the Indulgent" by Kevin Thomas, ''Los Angeles Times'', July 5, 1985 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-05-ca-9233-story.html

References

External links