MY FAIR LADY film :lucky Julie

I disagree with you. The movie is 'sound'-stage bound, no doubt, but it has other charms. Hepburn is game but a bit miscast for the Cockney scenes, though her comic timing is terrific and her scene at the racetrack is simply superb. She's utterly beguiling during her "princess" moments. Harrison is a bit of a cold fish but so is the role so it works, and Gladys Cooper makes for a chatty and delightfully blunt Mrs. Higgins. The screenplay retains much of the libretto and much of Shaw, which the libretto interspersed, which means there is a lot of witty dialog. I do think the direction is rather stodgy and flat, which makes several scenes seem hopelessly stagebound, but the score remains superb and the film is far more entertaining than I was willing to give it credit for when I first saw it. That's simply my opinion, of course.

Call_me_jorge said: "Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if we got a remake of this and other golden era musicals, like The King and I."

Both these stories are so deeply problematic by today's sensibilities that any actual movie remake would require a modern perspective. MFL is easier to make feminist (she makes the choice to go to Higgins, and doesn't back down etc.), so with right leads - it can be a fantastic film. Do think they will need to cut it short by a lot.

Valentina3 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if we got a remake of this and other golden era musicals, like The King and I."

Both these stories are so deeply problematic by today's sensibilities that any actual movie remake would require a modern perspective. MFL is easier to make feminist (she makes the choice to go to Higgins, and doesn't back down etc.), so with right leads - it can be a fantastic film. Do think they will need to cut it short by a lot."

Ooh, deeply problematic by TODAY's sensibilities. Well, let's just bury 'em then, huh? Because no audience member can actually see beyond their 2019 noses and understand context, when the shows take place - what a dopey world, but this too shall pass, I guarantee you.

gregnyc2 said: "In retrospect, Im guessing it was the luckiest career move ever for Julie Andrews that she wasnt cast? This studio production, so thick and lifeless."

I agree the movie is a bit of a bore -- I find the last half hour or so interminable. I don't think the quality of the movie itself would have damaged her career as it was one of the biggest box office hits of the year. However, it might have prevented her from being in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music and THAT would have been tragic.

I think of the big three from 1964-65, the film adaptation of My Fair Lady as aged the worst because of direction and how dull it feels as a whole. Plus I think the revival and it's re-staged ending proved that this story can work in modern eyes because that's the kind of thing that even George Bernard Shaw would approve of. Personally I would love a new film version with Greta Gerwig directing it due to how lovely and almost music-like the 2019 film version of Little Women turned out and have Anne Hathaway and Tom Hiddleston play Eliza Dolittle and Henry Higgins, they are talented actors who could do wonderful things with it.

Globefan said: "Musical Master said: "I think of the big three from 1964-65, the film adaptation of My Fair Lady as aged the worstbecause of direction and how dull it feels as a whole. Plus I think the revival and it's re-staged ending proved that this story can work in modern eyes because that's the kind of thing that even George Bernard Shaw would approve of. Personally I would love a new film version with Greta Gerwig directing it due to how lovely and almost music-like the 2019 film version of Little Women turned out and have Anne Hathaway and Tom HiddlestonplayEliza Dolittle and Henry Higgins, they are talentedactors who could do wonderful things with it."

Greta Gerwig directing My Fair Lady is a great idea"



And Julie could now play Mrs.Higgins - requires no singing.

I have always felt that the movie was too stage bound, and would have benefitted from opening it up, with real outdoor scenes and some imagination. That is the same criticism I have of TKAI. That said, there are a lot of excellent scenes throughout in what I view as a Tier 2 film. Re Tier 1 adaptations, there are not a lot; I would single out Fiddler, Hair, Sound of Music, and Chicago. There are probably others, but damned if I can think of one.

I would also point out that a lot of people must have loved the movie; adjusted for inflation, it is one of the 20 highest grossing movies ever. I know that doesn’t mean a lot; however, this type of movie would have been a financial fiasco were it not so well reviewed and if word of mouth had not been so positive.

Updated On: 4/12/20 at 10:17 PM

I agree, location shooting would be perfect and also if the studio can take a risk then they can cast a theater star to play Eliza kind of like how Rachel Zegler is playing Maria in the 2020 West Side Story film. Don't know who though there are so many actresses to choose from.

The Distinctive Baritone said: "My Fair Lady is offensive only to people looking to be offended. Henry Higgins is clearly meant to be a raging a**hole, and the musical in no way condones his behavior. When done right, he’s funny in the same way Larry David is on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

MFL does not need to be “fixed” or rethought. Also, Eliza is a strong female character and a great role. The show is a true classic, as is the movie."

This. The revival's alteration of the ending was dumb.