Two women love the same man in a world of few prospects. In Budapest, Liliom is a "public figure," a rascal who's a carousel barker, loved by the experienced merry-go-round owner and by a young, innocent maid. The maid, Julie, loses her job after going out with Liliom; he's fired by his jealous employer for going out with Julie. The two lovers move in with Julie's aunt; unemployment emasculates him and a local weasel tempts him with crime. Julie, now wan, is true to Liliom even in his bad temper. Meanwhile, a stolid widower, a carpenter, wants to marry Julie. Is there any future on this earth for Julie and Liliom, whose love is passionate rather than ideal?
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Charles BoyerLiliom Zadowski | Liliom Zadowski |
 Madeleine OzerayJulie Boulard | Julie Boulard |
 Robert ArnouxLetourneur | Letourneur |
 Roland ToutainThe drunken sailor | The drunken sailor |
 Alexandre RignaultHollinger | Hollinger |
 Henri RichardThe Commissioner | The Commissioner |
 Marcel BarenceyPurgatory Cop | Purgatory Cop |
 Raoul MarcoL'inspecteur - The Detective | L'inspecteur - The Detective |
 Antonin ArtaudLe rémouleur (The Knife Grinder) | Le rémouleur (The Knife Grinder) |
 Léon ArvelL'employé du commissariat (Police station employee) | L'employé du commissariat (Police station employee) |
 Pierre AlcoverAlfred | Alfred |
 FlorelleMme. Moscat | Mme. Moscat |
| RRené SternLe caissier - Cashier | Le caissier - Cashier |
| MMimi FunesMarie | Marie |
| MMaximilienneMme. Menoux | Mme. Menoux |
 Viviane RomanceLa marchande de cigarettes - Cigarette Girl | La marchande de cigarettes - Cigarette Girl |