Review of My Fair Lady (1964) by Jeff B — 05 Dec 2010

In this all time classic movie, Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) makes what seems like an impossible to win bet. He bets that he can take a simple flower girl with a cockney accent named Eliza Doolittle(Audrey Hepburn with Marni Nixon singing), and turn her into a prim and proper lady. Together, with his friend Colonel Hugh Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White), They teach Eliza phonetics, manners and ways of speech set to great and wonderful music.

Here is what is good about My Fair Lady:

1) Music: My Fair Lady, based of a classic Broadway show, boasts some of the best music of all time. The musical includes classic songs like "I Could Have Danced All Night", "The Rain In Spain", "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" and many others.

2) Marni Nixon: For the few that don't know, Audrey Hepburn only sang "Just You Wait" and the first line of "I Could Have Danced All Night". Julie Andrews, who originated the role of Eliza on Broadway, could not be in the film adaptation. So they cast Audrey Hepburn for the role of Eliza, who does a brilliant job as Eliza. However, feeling that her singing voice was inadequate, the production team hired Marni Nixon to do the signing for Audrey. Marni's voice is absolutely wonderful, and it's a shame she hasn't got the praise she so wonderfully deserves.

3) Rex Harrison: Rex Harrison originated the role of Henry Higgins on Broadway, and plays the role in the film adaption as well. Rex Harrison's portrayal of Henry Higgins, for me, was the highlight of the movie. Henry Higgins is one of those characters that's an absolute tool but is still lovable at the same time, and Rex Harrison plays that character all too well.

4) Audrey Hepburn: It's hard, borderline impossible to talk about a film with Audrey Hepburn in it to not talk about Audrey Hepburn. She was a truly captivating and wonderful actress, who steals the screen every time she's seen. Although she does not do her own singing in the film, her acting is still top notch.

5) Family Friendly: This film is one of those movies you can sit down and watch with your little kids without a worry.

My Fair Lady is a classic movie perfect in anyway shape and form. Rumors have it Hollywood working on a remake of the film. In the immortal words of Henry Higgins, "DAMN!DAMN!DAMN!".