Tuesday, July 24, 2012

My Fair Lady by George Cukor, 1964 (G)



with Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Wilfred Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Jeremy Brett, Theodore Bikel, Mona Washbourne, Isobel Elsom, John Holland, Alan Napier, Marni Nixon
From the director of The Philadelphia Story, Pat and Mike, Adam's Rib, Keeper of the Flame...

In this classic cinematic version of the Broadway smash, Audrey Hepburn is at her most radiant as Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl transformed into a poised duchess by Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison, reprising his Broadway role). The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

When I was in school, the English teacher (I am French), to make us work out our British accent, put us to learn "Why can't the English teach their children how to speak" and as a demonstration, the entire movie for several classes. No complain, since we didn't have homework in the meantime. I really liked the songs, the style, Huggins' house, the costumes for the race, the stiffness of the education, perhaps was a bit displeased with her being so predictably in love with her teacher, but the sense of humor was good enough it made me very happy Higgins had to change his macho attitude to get her. Anyway, refreshing, witty, a little bit deranging in the way social classes are depicted, but after all, a very good musical, specially looking at its competition. Definitely one of my favorite.

Watch Trailer:

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