Tom Courtenay gives a beautiful performance as Billy Fisher, an undertaker's clerk in Yorkshire who escapes into grandiose daydreams, in John Schlesinger's 1963 British comedy Billy Liar. Based on Keith Waterhouse's 1959 novel, the film is part of the Angry Young Man movement, though Billy is more daft than angry.
A Dreamer in a Drab World
Billy lives with his parents and works a mundane job, but his inner life is anything but ordinary. He imagines himself as the ruler of Ambrosia, a fictional Ruritanian kingdom. He also aspires to be a comedy writer, crafting absurd scenarios in his head. However, his real-life love life is a mess: he has proposed to two women, shy Barbara (Helen Fraser) and Rita (Gwendolyn Watts), while being drawn to the stunning Liz (Julie Christie), who encourages him to pursue his dreams in London.
The Problematic Ending
Despite its reputation, the film's ending has always troubled this reviewer. Billy loses his nerve and fails to leave for London, a defeat that clashes with his comic fantasies. According to the review, this loyalty to unhappiness is at odds with Waterhouse's own escape from provincial life and Courtenay's real-life journey, as detailed in his autobiography Dear Tom: Letters from Home. The ending may reflect Billy's pathological lying rather than his fantasies, but the reviewer remains unconvinced by the film's overall praise.
Courtenay's Enduring Talent
Courtenay's performance is nonetheless superb, showcasing the actor's enduring skill. He continues to deliver outstanding work today. Billy Liar returns to UK cinemas on 31 July.
