My Fair Lady

There are some films that are best described as entertaining, others that can even move up to great. Still fewer get elevated to the rarefied level of classic. Sure many movies make a claim to this title but only a precious few have the title and the quality to back it up. These films shoe up on list after another of the top movies of all time. They not only assisted in defining their respective genres they redefine film itself. One such film became part of the collective consciousness of film lovers everywhere in 1964; ‘My Fair Lady’. This was one of the last great screen renditions of a popular Broadway musical made towards the conclusion of the golden age of the big budget Hollywood Musical. I remember seeing this film with my parents in a lush theater in the city. Back then going to see a movie wasn’t just a way to kill a couple of hours, it was a very special event. The theaters were lush places with velvet curtains and well padded seats. The entire audience would become silent as the curtain parted and the lights went down. For the millions of people who could not make the trek to New York city to watch a live shoe films like this ere the next best thing. ‘My Fair Lady’ was an experience that delighted the entire family. It had it all; Drama, comedy, romance and, of course elaborate musical numbers with song that would stay in your head long after the lights come back up. This film will endure through time as a masterpiece. In case you consider this just another corny translation of an old stage play then you haven’t seen it. Now Paramount has released a DVD edition that is a real keeper. Even after 45 years the performances hold up as the award winner they were. Before there was ‘Hairspray’ or ‘The Producers’ there was ‘My Fair Lady; it remains in a class all its own.

By the time this film premiered the stage version was already beloved by the audience since it opened in 1956.it was based on Pygmalion by famed playwright George Bernard Shaw and since it contains themes that are so universal that everyone can relate it should come as no surprise that variation of this story are constantly being made. The book for the play and the screenplay used here came from the very talented hand of Alan Jay Lerner and his writing partner, Frederick Lowe. Learner started his career with popular radio and early television stars such as Andy Williams and Jack Benny. Among the illustrious lists of musicals they gave the world are such wonders as "Gigi’, ‘Brigadoon’, and ‘Camelot’. Their lyrics and music are legendary and many of their songs have become true standards in the music industry.

Directing a film like this has to be far more difficult than you might think. It has to remain faithful to the intimacy of a stage production but also provide the grandeur and splendor that audiences demand from a big budget musical like this. Fortunately once again George Cukor had the vision to carry the audience off to a pageantry of brilliant colors and enchanting music. That’s right, I used the terms pageantry and enchanting because they are the only ones that truly describe this film. There is just something enduringly magical about this movie. It is not that he had much in the way of experience with this kind of film but he certainly deported himself like a well seasoned professional.

The heart of the story is transformation. Taking the original premise turning a lifeless statue into a beautiful living woman, this modern fairy tale has an uppity professor transforming a young woman from the lowest social strata into a lady of culture and taste. Even though there is no formal caste system in our current society people still are quick to judge someone by their accent, clothing and social deportment. It hast to be considered here that just about everyone enjoys a good old fashion rags to riches story. This is the foundation of the traditional American dream that no matter how humble you origins to can achieve your dreams. By now most people are familiar with the story. Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) is a renowned expert in phonetics. All he needs to know about a person he can instantly surmise from the way he speaks. For Higgins the only thing that matters us the pronunciation a person employs in their verbal communication. He is a confirmed bachelor keeping wing his strongly misogynistic attitude that is reinforced with an over developed tendency towards hubris. One afternoon while sitting with his new friend, Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White), he boasts that by teaching a low born person how to speak properly he can get the upper crust of society to accept someone they would normally shun. To prove his point he takes in a cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) from the street with the intension of teacher her proper English. As you might imagine the Professor has more than met his match with the exasperating, strong willed young woman.

This film is one of the classic romances with a unique twist; there is nothing in the way of physical contact or the typical trappings of a love story. The closest you get to romantic dialogue is when Higgins admits that he has grown accustomed to her face. This movie provides look at the most memorable roles for two of the screens biggest stars. Let’s face it we just don’t have movie stars like this anymore. If this film is not in your collection it is far from complete.

Posted 10/01/09