Lilith (1964) on Netflix
Vincent Bruce, a war veteran, takes work as an occupational therapist at a private clinic for wealthy patients. There he meets Lilith Arthur, a young patient with schizophrenia.
- Netflix3.9/5
- IMDb6.8/103,618 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes86%
Trailer
Plot summary
Vincent Bruce returns from military service and takes a position at Poplar Lodge, a private psychiatric clinic that treats wealthy patients. One of the residents there is Lilith Arthur, a young woman with schizophrenia, whose fragile beauty draws everyone she meets. Vincent is fascinated by her, and something about her calls his mother to mind, a woman who was mentally disturbed. He works closely with Lilith and helps her come out of seclusion and leave the grounds for a day in the country. They also spend time alone together on outings away from the other patients. Among the other residents are Mrs. Yvonne Meaghan and Stephen Evshevsky.
Cast
- Robert Reillyas Bob Clayfield
- Jeanne Barras Miss Glassman (uncredited)
- Maurice Brenneras Mr. Gordon (uncredited)
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Lilith (1964)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Warren Beatty thought director Robert Rossen was making a mess of Lilith and told him so; in frustration he deliberately mumbled his scenes, earning the nickname "Whispering Jack Smith" after a 1920s singer.
- Lilith was chosen as the official American entry to the 1964 Venice Film Festival but was withdrawn after press reports that festival director Luigi Chiarini had disparaged its artistic merit.
- Lilith was only Gene Hackman's second film and his part was a single scene; three years later Warren Beatty remembered him and cast him as Clyde Barrow's older brother Buck in Bonnie and Clyde, his breakout role.
- Robert Rossen, already weakened by illness and medication when filming started, finished Lilith in complete exhaustion; Jean Seberg attributed this partly to his constant confrontations with Warren Beatty over how to play his role.
