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Rated: G
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, et al.
Director: George Cukor Review
Hollywood's legendary "woman's director," George Cukor (The Women, The
Philadelphia Story), transformed Audrey Hepburn into
street-urchin-turned-proper-lady Eliza Doolittle in this film version of
the Lerner and Loewe musical. Based on George Bernard Shaw's play
Pygmalion, My Fair Lady stars Rex Harrison as linguist Henry Higgins
(Harrison also played the role, opposite Julie Andrews, on stage), who
draws Eliza into a social experiment that works almost too well. The
letterbox edition of this film on video certainly pays tribute to the
pageantry of Cukor's set, but it also underscores a certain visual
stiffness that can slow viewer enthusiasm just a tad. But it's really star
wattage that keeps this film exciting, that and such great songs as "On
the Street Where You Live" and "I Could Have Danced All Night." Actor
Jeremy Brett, who gained a huge following later in life portraying
Sherlock Holmes, is quite electric as Eliza's determined suitor. --Tom
Keogh
------------- "My Fair Lady" is the
legendary director George Cukor's crowning achievement. Every element of
this movie works, from its sumptuous photography by veteran cameraman
Harry Stradling, to the glorious costumes and sets created by Cecil Beaton.
The music is incomparable. Frederick Loewe's melodies are lovely and
infectious and Alan Jay Lerner's lyrics are every bit as witty and
touching as the dialogue originally written by playwright George Bernard
Shaw for "Pygmalion". "My Fair Lady" is the musical version of
"Pygmalion". The transformation of the illiterate, unwashed
Eliza Doolittle into the breathtaking "Fair Lady" of the film's title is
inspiring to see. This is one of Audrey Hepburn's best roles, and she is
perfection as Eliza Doolittle. She is thoroughly convincing as the Cockney
flower girl who transcends her humble roots to end up dancing with a
prince at an embassy ball. Hepburn expertly translates Eliza's tenacity,
vulnerability, intelligence, and grace into a beautiful and timeless
performance. Yes, it's true that Julie Andrews (who created
the original Eliza on Broadway) was bypassed for this role. However, this
was purely a business decision made by studio head Jack Warner. He did not
want to risk such a lavish, expensive production on a relative newcomer
such as Andrews was at the time. So he went with the safe bet, Hepburn, as
Eliza Doolittle. Audrey was an established star with a great track record.
But Andrews soon recovered from this disappointment to make two
blockbusters of her own, "Mary Poppins" and "Sound of Music". Not a bad
trade-off I'd say. Anyway, I enthusiastically recommend
that you buy "My Fair Lady" on DVD or VHS. It is one of the best musicals
ever written for stage or screen. You'll see what I mean.
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