My Fair Lady is a 1964 American musical comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor. It is an adaptation of the 1956 Lerner and Loewe stage musical, which in turn was based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 stage play "Pygmalion."
The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, a poor Cockney flower-seller, and Rex Harrison as the snobbish phonetics professor Henry Higgins. The story revolves around Higgins' bet that he can teach Eliza to speak "proper" English and make her presentable in the high society of Edwardian London. The film received critical acclaim and won 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The running time of the film is 170 minutes, and it was produced by Warner Bros with a budget of $17 million, grossing $72.7 million at the box office.
Plot
My Fair Lady is set in 1910s London and revolves around a snobbish phonetics professor, Henry Higgins, who agrees to a wager that he can make a crude flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, presentable in high society.
A chance meeting between Professor Higgins and Colonel Hugh Pickering leads to a bet to transform Eliza into a refined Victorian lady with an aristocratic accent.
The story follows Eliza's transformation and her successful posing as a mysterious lady of noble rank at an embassy ball. However, Higgins' callous treatment of Eliza and his indifference to her future prospects lead her to walk out on him, leaving him mystified by her ingratitude.
Trailer
Cast
- Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle
- Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins
- Stanley Holloway as Alfred P. Doolittle
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Colonel Hugh Pickering
- Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Higgins
- Jeremy Brett as Freddy Eynsford-Hill
- Theodore Bikel as Zoltan Karpathy
The film was directed by George Cukor and written by Alan Jay Lerner, based on the stage musical of the same name by Lerner and Frederick Loewe, which in turn was based on George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion”
Director: George Cukor
Writer: Alan Jay Lerner
Box Office (Gross USA): $72,632,653
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre: Musical
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 1964
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 9, 2020
Themes & Reception
The themes of My Fair Lady revolve around social class, transformation, and the power of language. The film explores the impact of social status on individuals and the possibility of transcending one's class through education and refinement. It also delves into the complexities of human relationships and the dynamics of power and control.
In terms of reception, the film was widely acclaimed. Critics praised its entertainment value, music, and performances. It won 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was described as "wonderfully entertaining and extraordinarily welcomed" by The New Yorker and "an irresistible hit" by Variety. The film's art direction, costume design, and cinematography were also highly commended for their attention to detail and visual appeal.
Visual Styles & techniques
The visual styles and setting of My Fair Lady have been significant aspects of its various productions. The 1964 film and subsequent stage productions have showcased distinct visual elements and settings that contribute to the overall aesthetic and atmosphere of the story.
In the original 1956 Broadway production and the 1964 film adaptation, the visual style emphasized the Edwardian era, with elaborate costumes and sets that reflected the opulence and class divisions of the time.
The film's costume designer, Cecil Beaton, created iconic costumes that captured the essence of the period, such as Eliza's white lace gown and oversized picture hat. The set design and costumes were integral in portraying the contrast between the lower and upper classes, particularly in scenes like the races at Ascot, where Eliza's transformation is put to the test.
In a more recent 2018 revival at Lincoln Center, the visual style took a contemporary approach while still maintaining the historical context. The set design incorporated art that referenced new styles like Fauvism and Cubism, intentionally clashing with the Edwardian paneling, to depict Professor Higgins as a man with ideas beyond traditional wealth and misogyny.
The PlayMakers Repertory Company's 2023 production of My Fair Lady also sought to bring a fresh, contemporary approach to the classic. Director Tyne Rafaeli emphasized the importance of delving into the organic relationships between characters and the world around them, making the story relevant to modern audiences.
Setting
Eliza's home: A modest dwelling in the slums of London, where Eliza lives with her father, Alfred Doolittle.
Professor Higgins' house: A well-furnished and elegant residence where Eliza takes lessons from Professor Higgins, who aims to refine her speech and manners.
Ascot races: A prestigious horse racing event where Eliza's ability to converse with the upper class is tested, showcasing the contrast between the lower and upper classes.
Embassy Ball: A high-society event where Eliza, now transformed into a refined lady, makes her debut in the upper class.
The visual style of the 1964 film adaptation, directed by George Cukor, emphasized the Edwardian era with elaborate costumes and sets that reflected the opulence and class divisions of the time.
The film's costume designer, Cecil Beaton, created iconic costumes that captured the essence of the period, such as Eliza's white lace gown and oversized picture hat.
In more recent productions, the visual style has evolved to reflect contemporary interpretations while still maintaining the historical context. For example, the 2018 revival at Lincoln Center incorporated art that referenced new styles like Fauvism and Cubism, clashing with the Edwardian paneling to depict Professor Higgins as a man with ideas beyond traditional wealth and misogyny.
Trivia
Historical Impact: George Bernard Shaw's play, "Pygmalion," on which "My Fair Lady" is based, was the first time the expletive "bloody" was ever heard on the British stage.
Casting: Julie Andrews, who originated the role of Eliza Doolittle on Broadway, lost out on the role of the leading lady in the film adaptation. The role ultimately went to Audrey Hepburn.
Production Cost: "My Fair Lady" was the most expensive Warner Bros. movie produced at the time, with a budget of $17 million. Despite its high production cost, the film became one of the biggest box office hits of the 1960s, grossing $72.7 million.
Fun Fact
A fun fact about My Fair Lady is that the title of the musical was derived from the last line of the nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down." The words "my fair lady" were taken from this nursery rhyme, and they became the title of the iconic musical. This interesting tidbit adds a whimsical connection between the musical and a beloved children's rhyme.
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