MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
#0MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:49pm
I remember seeing the Audrey Hepburn MY FAIR LADY film several years ago, and falling asleep in the middle.
The film was on television last night, so I thought I would give it another try:
I didn't like it. I enjoyed some parts, but I thought Hepburn's acting was horrific in many spots of the film. In addition, a lot of the songs I did not enjoy and were boring and put me to sleep.
Why is this considered such a great, classic film?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#1re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:50pmI actually found this on VHS in my house and was considering watching it tonight. I didn't because I'm sick and I fell asleep instead.
#2re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:50pmI really like the movie!
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#3re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:51pm
haha emcee.
actually, I didnt mind this movie. not one of my favorites, but I do enjoy watching it on occasion.
am i right, however, to think that that wasnt audrey hepburn singing? or does she really sing?
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#4re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:52pmI hate the movie. but I really liked the Cameron Mackintosh Royal National revival... brilliant. Updated On: 2/25/05 at 10:52 PM
#5re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:52pmIt is Marni Nixon singing.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#6re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:52pmNo, it was Marni Nixon - the same woman that dubbed for Natalie Wood and some of Rita Moreno in WEST SIDE STORY. She was on Broadway last year as Guido's mother in NINE.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#7re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:53pmNixon also dubbed for Kerr in The King and I.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#8re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:55pmWow, I didn't know that! That's pretty cool. However, she sucked in NINE - there's a reason she wasn't infront of the camera...
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#9re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:56pm
ahh thank you
see, it's just always different for me when the singer is dubbed. with the exception of Minnie Driver, cuz her singer you actually see.
But in this case, ts tsk Audrey
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#10re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:59pm
You actually see Minnie Driver's singer? She's in the opera scenes, it's not really a difference.
Tsk Tsk Audrey? What do you mean? It's not her fault she can't sing, have you seen BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S?
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#11re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 10:59pm
"Why is this considered such a great, classic film?"
Unfortunately, much of what you seemed not to like is the result of your personal taste, so nothing really can be said to help you understand. While you found many of the songs boring, many others have found it one of the stronger scores ever written. It spawned many standards, and received much airplay on the popular radio stations at the time.
Probably it's best regarded feature is its book - which isn't too hard to come up with, as it's taken almost verbatim in parts from Shaw's Pygmalion.
It's also considered to have a strong cast (Audrey's casting and everything about her performance has always been hotly debated), led by the definitive work of Rex Harrison in his most famous role.
Aside from that, the film received a sumptuous budget, which was grandly spent on the settings and costumes. The orchestrations are first-rate, and the overall feel of the film is 'grand'.
Believe me, there are many who agree with you. I know of two prominant posters who have serious problems with it. One HATES the ending, and the other much preferred the tone and direction of the original stage production.
#12re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:05pm
It ALWAYS comes down to personal taste and opinions.
I do agree it has a strong book, great costumes and sets, and great performances. However, at least half the songs bore me - they don't seem to help the film out at all.
What surprised me was the range of Hepburn's acting (and who cares if she sang or not?). By "range," I mean in certain scenes she was brilliant. In others, she was awful. So awful that I laughed in some moments.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#13re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:06pmwhen will Cameron bring his production to Broadway? that would be awesome...
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#14re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:07pm
Well, Capn, as you said, it all boils down to personal taste. I liked her work in it, but many others have not.
Katherine Hepburn thought Meryl Streep was awful, too - so who's to say in the end?
I know I enjoy it immensely, and am elevated and joyful every time I watch it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#15re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:09pmI've talked to people who walked out of the London production - they said they found it insulting. Starting off by cutting the Overture wouldn't really be the way to grab my attention - much less affection - either.
#16re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:11pmthe overture wasn't cut. just reorchestrated into a prologue thingy... I really liked it, but I guess not liking most stagings of my fair lady much to begin with made me a fan. Updated On: 2/25/05 at 11:11 PM
#17re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:15pmmunku, I have, nvm about the Tsk tsk, it was an inside joke my friend and I had...
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:54am
The London production of a few years ago was offensive, in my opinion. Poorly executed and quite unattractive to the ear and eye. Let it remain a memory.
Updated On: 2/26/05 at 12:54 AM
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#19re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 12:56amI love this movie. The costumes are beautiful.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
Phantom487
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/04
#20re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 1:16am
I'm with CapnHook... I too hadn't seen the movie version in years, and saw it on TCM last night. I liked everything about it except Audrey Hepburn. She's just bad! It's SOOOO obvious she's not really singing, and her acting is just awful. This had the potential to be a good film... Audrey ruined those chances. WHY WASN'T JULIE ANDREWS CAST AS ELIZA IN THE FILM???
Don't get me started about mis-casting to title roles in movie musicals. Carol should have done the Hello Dolly movie... Angela should have been Mame! Why they cast other random people, instead of the people who made these roles famous is beyond me!
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#21re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 1:19am*hugs copy of DVD* Quit picking on Audrey! Updated On: 2/26/05 at 01:19 AM
Dolly_Levi
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/8/04
#22re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 2:30am
Not to worry about Julie Andrews. Not doing My Fair Lady on screen, left her available to create Mary Poppins, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, beating out Ms. Hepburn's Eliza.
As previously mentioned Rex Harrison was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his work in the film (he also won the Tony for his Higgins).
Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.
Carol Channing
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#23re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 7:10amNot to quibble too much, Dolly, but she couldn't 'beat out' Ms. Hepburn's Eliza because Audrey wasn't nominated. With the exception of a Golden Globe nomination in the musical/comedy actress category, her performance was essentially shunned by the critical community.
wildcat
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
#24re: MY FAIR LADY Movie Musical
Posted: 2/26/05 at 7:34amThe casting of these performers in the movie versions isn't random, it's based on who is considered to be the biggest box office draw at the time. You would be aghast at the number of roles that Elizabeth Taylor was first choice for: SOUTH PACIFIC, MAME, DOLLY...it's almost as if the movie producers had never seen the stage shows. Nowadays it seems that the latest faces on the music scene are the first to be considered. The fact that RENT is being filmed with most of the original cast is astounding considering Hollywood's reluctance to use Broadway performers.
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