I've been a huge fan of the theatre since elementary school. In high school my passion started to extend to the classical movies which have the same theatrical flair. Well it wasn't long before I saw My Fair Lady and was instantly in love. From the story and song through the acting I was enthralled.

When I first saw My Fair Lady I came in a little after the start. Rex Harrison, who plays Prof. Henry Higgins blew me away singing about women being more like men. I didn't know what the movie was, but I burst into laughter. Such naïve pomp was enthralling, so I sat and watched.

Harrison creates a character that is fascinating. He is the stereo-typical professor lost in his own world; an exceedingly analytical man who doesn't really consider the moral aspects of what he is doing. Harrison manages to pull Higgins off as being lost in the process instead of being a diabolical monster. It's great to see Higgins portrayed as the great educator of status, but to be so aloof himself.

While Harrison's does an amazing job he's matched by Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle. Oddly enchanting as the street worn flower girl and astoundingly beautiful as a lady Hepburn embodies her role. She shows the spunky Cockney flower girl become a princess, and she does it amazingly well. At every stage the fire that lives in Eliza's heart is apparent. Audrey's eyes and hands give away so much, and her disgusted cries speak more than most words.

While these are the two main roles Colonel Pickering is also present throughout. Played by Wilfrid Hyde-White this is a character which is designed to be the polar opposite of Henry Higgins and is perfectly done here. Rather than being so analytical about things Pickering is the sympathetic gentleman in every instance. With these three roles so well performed they almost detract from the hidden gem that is Stanley Holloway.

Halloway plays Eliza's father Alfred. Alfred's attitude itself is very free and well written, but Halloway blew me away. On. of the things that is so amazing about Halloway is his ability to physically interpret situations ingeniously through the use of large and small movements. With the small little dance step that he keeps repeating there are also close shots of his face where he takes his amazing mug and just throws everything open, his eyes go wide and his grin spreads out. He's astoundingly magical and really is one of the things that elevates this movie from good to superb.

I do feel that I should point out I'm a bit disappointed in the presentation of Freddy. Freddy is a minor character that falls for Eliza and, in the 1938 Pygmalion movie, is a wonderful character. David Tree brings a certain bumbling character to Freddy that makes him more alive, and a bit more believable, that Jeremy Brett just doesn't bring to the table. Brett doesn't bring the character down but he doesn't elevate him, like Tree does, either.

I'm going on here about the actors and how well they portray the characters, but I haven't even hit upon the story. The story, for those who don't know it is that of a Cockney, Eliza, who is taken by Higgins on a bet: He can get rid of her accent and pass her off as royalty at the Queen's Ball.

The story is mostly done in prose, but it is moved along with some absolutely amazing songs. Lerner and Lowe are amazing, and My Fair Lady is no blemish on their amazing resumes. One of my favorite songs in the movie is Audrey in the flower market singing "Wouldn't It Be Lovely". The song is great and the visuals just make it wonderful. She hasn't enrolled with Higgins yet and is still at the flower market. Among the grimy workers the deep voices of the chorus bring out Eliza's dreamy tones. Watching her ride off on the back of a compost wagon with a bouquet of celery.

Every scene is well executed, the sets are gorgeous, and the movie doesn't forget it's origins on the stage. There's one scene where the streets of London are coming alive. The scene starts with an empty set and, with accompanying music a wave of people walk on set then freeze. The music alters for a few seconds then picks up again as another wave of people comes on set and freezes around the others. In several waves this happens until everybody bursts into the commotion that is a busy morning street scene. The scene at Ascot starts the same way, with everybody frozen as if the curtain has just risen, before before bursting into action.

The only complaint I have about this movie is the lovey-dovey ending. In the original Pygmalion script there's a different ending, and I think the right ending. However in for the 1938 Pygmalion movie Shaw rewrote the script with this gushy ending; I'm not pleased with the change. Even so I think that Harrison and Hepburn do an excellent job of mediating this ending and subduing the shmaltz as much as can be done.

I really am in love with this movie. It's an accurate adaptation of the musical script that's brought to life by the astounding music and magnificent performances. The acting actually manages to elevate the movie above the script by mitigating some of the shmaltz and heightening some of the differences which make the moral points. I was lucky enough to get a chance to see it on the big screen (Tulane University showed it) and I was blown away. I now own this movie on DVD, and watch it at will. If you have not seen it you really should, if you have seen it, shouldn't you see it again?

This review was updated for the Tales Retold W/O
Pygmalion the play, the original play script
Pygmalion the movie, the movie adapted from the play
My Fair Lady the script, the musical script adapted from Pygmalion
My Fair Lady the movie, the movie adaptation of the musical

Recommended: Yes