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My Fair Lady, The Fair Movie of 1964
The turning of Eliza Doolittle from a dragon-tailed guttersnipe to a duchess in the 1964 movie, My Fair Lady with the lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe is a joy to watch.
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The turning of Eliza Doolittle from a dragon-tailed guttersnipe to a duchess in the 1964 movie, My Fair Lady with the lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe is a joy to watch. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” this story sheds the light on the upper and lower classes. George Cukor directed this movie won eight Oscars in 1965.
This movie is one of my favorites. I cannot tell you the number of times that I have seen it. I have a great appreciation for the characters and the music even adds more enrichment even if Audrey Hepburn does not actually sing the songs.
Rex Harrison who plays Professor Henry Higgins performed the role on Broadway originally and the first one thought to fill the role. This very much independent bachelor has no need for a woman and is so busy with his work is oftentimes only thinking of one thing – himself.
Eliza Doolittle who is portrayed by Audrey Hepburn performs wonderfully has the dragon tailed guttersnipe. You cannot help but feel sorry for her when she learns of her real predicament when she becomes involved with Henry Higgins. Her goal is to speak well and these lessons mean much to her considering what she puts with.
Colonel Hugh Pickering who is played by Wilfrid Hyde-White is excellent as the intermediary who sympathizes with Eliza, yet philosophizes constantly with Higgins. You can tell he has the same interest in language as Higgins.
The one character who is lots of fun is Alfred P. Doolittle who is performed by Stanley Holloway. He would rather not work if he does not have too and is happy to say so, but is very stupid when it comes to marriage. He splits with his first wife and after a deal he makes with Henry Higgins, is given enough money to get married again even when he would rather be freewheeling and single.
The story is well cast and well performed and George Cukor does an excellent job of bringing the story to the screen. The one shame is that this movie is not shown on television more often, but then since musicals are a dying bred. The one thing that can be said about this movie is that it is a classic.
