Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Stunning
Review: A brilliant adaption to this Broadway musical.
Audrey Hepburn ("Breakfast at Tiffiny's", "The Nun's Story") is perfect for the role of Eliza Dolittle. From her accent as a flower seller, all the way to the beauty of the grand ball, she plays this role as if it's who she is. Rex Harrison (Doctor Dolittle) plays Professor Higgins, as he did in the Broadway musical. He has become the only person we could ever see in this role, as well as the first person who comes to mind when thinking about this film.
The only criticism I have for this film is concerning the music. Hepburn, while I beautiful actress, is a TERRIBLE singer. Knowing this fact, the director casted someone to sing all of Hepburn's songs for her. The lip-sinking is pretty bad on some of the songs, the most noticable being on the song 'I Could Have Danced All Night' where Hepburn is not ever CLOSE to being in sink with the song. On the song 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely', the singer's voice comes out with a slightly different accent that Hepburn had. These are very slight flaws; you would only notice them if you were looking for them. All in all, this is a beautifully made movie, deserving all the awards that were given to the show.
Rating: 
Summary: So Cool!
Review: I Looove this movie! It is very good! I love this movie and highly recomend it! It is really long but I enjoyed the whole movie.
Rating:
Summary: Give it 5, give it another 5, and give it 5 more!!!!
Review: This has to be, without a doubt, one of the greatest motion pictures ever made, right up there with The Wizard of Oz, White Christmas, and the Sound of Music. Starring the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison (who reprised his Broadway and London role here), how could they go wrong? Julie Andrews played the role of Eliza on Broadway (and later in London) and when she wasn't cast in this film, it caused one of Hollywood's greatest controversies of the 1960s (possibly ever). But you forget all of that the moment Eliza (Audrey) opens her mouth on screen as this delightful movie begins to unfold. And we all think about just how much better the film would have been if it had Julie Andrews, but if Andrews had starred in this film, who would've played Mary Poppins? Hepburn DOES have what it takes to act the part, and maybe she is a little old (at 35 when the movie was filmed) but you can't tell at all. It was widely known around Hollywood that Hepburn couldn't sing (she was wonderfully dubbed by Marni Nixon), but we do hear some of her vocals in the film. When she sings "Just You Wait," about half of the song is sung by Hepburn herself, with the rest being sung by Nixon. You can easily tell because of the variations between Nixon's and Hepburn's voices, and those are Audrey's lyrics we hear. Hepburn also sings her own lyrics in the reprise of "Just You Wait." No matter what genre of movies you like, this is A MUST in any collection.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful Movie, and Challenging!
Review: (. . .)Watch the movie twice, three times... look for the subtle and not-so-subtle comments about class systems, gender roles, and the realities of the haves and have-nots. It parodies and lampoons, using irony and sarcasm in the midst of wit.It is an odd movie in that it brings both the stereotypical liberal and conservative messages to the table.... hammering half of those messages and supporting the other half. Funky, huh? The linguists and poetics in this engaging musical will pull in the most erudite bookworm, without insulting the less avid reader. Based on George Bernand Shaw's famous play, "Pygmalion", which, in turn, is based on a famous myth about the love between Pygmalion and Galatea, is thoroughly literary. Charged with archetypal questions, it does not preach, but shows what it wants to say, letting the viewer decide. OK... I'm done with all that intellectual hoity-toity stuff... Audrey Hepburn is incredible, showing us that classic beauty is more than a smile. Effervescent and light, she tells us "The rain in Spain..." You know the rest. Whether she is a Hungarian princess or a flower-selling street girl, she shines with glamour and dignity. Harrison, likewise, is grand as linguist of world-wide proportions. He delivers his lines with delectable articulancy, taking on hard monologues as if they were children's verses. Love is defined here awkwardly... is it because they are used to each other, need each other, attracted to each other? Is it because they are unimaginably incapable of living their lives without each other? Love is never as simple in real life as it is often protrayed: but not here! You'll soak in the full breadth of love's complexities. Enjoy this movie. I fully recommend "My Fair Lady." Anthony Trendl
Rating:
Summary: One of the great musicals
Review: This great musical is not without controversy. The snubbing of Julie Andrews in favor of the elegant but less-tuneful Audrey Hepburn is still a source of debate. George Cukor felt more comfortable with the famous Audrey, who wasn't allowed to sing but cleaned up nicely as Eliza Doolittle, flower seller urchin turned faux duchess. But Ms Andrews showed her Oscar-winning stuff in Mary Poppins (same year, can you believe it?) and certainly could dress for success as she showed later in Victor, Victoria. So we are left wondering what My Fair Lady would have been like with the unforgettable voice of Andrews. That may be the only weakness, however. After all these years, the sets, the otherwise superb cast, the glorious costumes and above all, Lerner and Lowe's matchless score are still magical. If you are a costume buff, check out the incredible skill used to stage the Ascot Racing Day scene. The clothes are all black, white and grey, but each uses a slightly different shade of white or grey so that the scene doesn't look flat and cartoonish. Many musicals just don't make it on the big screen. This one soars.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully entertaining!
Review: First of all, this is the first musical I have ever purchased, and I am ever so glad I did! This film is so joyously upbeat and the music is fantastic! Audrey Hepburn is very endearing as the Cockney waif and although it is not her voice you hear in her songs it's her performance that impresses me, and it doesn't really matter that it's Marni Nixon's voice dubbed in (sorry Marni!). Anyway, this film is a real treasure, and the restoration of the original negative is commendable. If you want a real old fashioned, feel-good flick you should consider "My Fair Lady". I know it's a terrible cliche, but they really don't make 'em like this anymore!
Rating:
Summary: My Fair Lady DVD
Review: The My Fair Lady DVD delievers in almost all ways, most importantly with crisp gorgeous restored images and a "loverly" soundtrack. This was though, available on the LaserDisk, and the DVD is not really an improvement upon it. Special features include a very interesting commentary by those involved in the film, including the singing voice for Eliza Dolittle, and cut scenes where Hepburn actually sings her own part. There is also trailers and a My Fair Lady promontional included. I was dissapionted that above these standard features which are almost always on a DVD, nothing special was there. I would have liked to more information on costume and set design, (maybe costume sketches) or historical information about the musical on stage and film. But, if you are looking for the best quality version of a quality musical, the DVD is certainly your best bet.
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous Music
Review: Lerner and Loewe's musical version of George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" is a pleasure from beginning to end. The casting is superb. Rex Harrison's Henry Higgins is appropriately stodgy and Audrey Hepburn's gamine Eliza Dolittle is tremendous. Hepburn, revoiced by soprano Marnie Nixon, gives an excellent performance as the Covent Garden flower seller "made" proper by Higgins' linguistic expertise. Special kudos are due a very amusing Wilfred Hyde-White as Alfred P. Dolittle, Eliza's father, who attempts to cash in on his daughter's training. A particularly pleasant surprise in this film is a young Jeremy Brett, known to many as Sherlock Holmes in his later years, portraying Freddie Aynsford-Hill, Eliza's wealthy suitor. I do not know whether Brett was revoiced or did his own singing; in either case his performance is outstanding. If you are an admirer of musical theatre, or of any of the actor cast in this production, this is a must for your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Sublimely 'Loverly'
Review: My Fair Lady is a feast for the senses. The story of poor girl makes good is lavishly portrayed in one of the most successful transformations from stage to screen. The exquisite Audrey Hepburn proves more than a match for Rex Harrison and the rest of the consummate cast. Lovers of period costume will delight in the wardrobe, and those that enjoy the charm of the musical lyric will be captivated by Marni Nixon's renditions. This will also appeal to the Anglophile who can never get enough of the London of old. Both sad and funny My Fair Lady is a bittersweet confection that will be sure to delight.
Rating:
Summary: A great musical!
Review: I highly recommend this musical movie to anyone. The songs and costumes are lovely. I'd give it five stars if I could. It's a movie for the entire family to enjoy. Audrey Hepburn gives one of her best performances of her career. She as well as Julie Andrews will both always be remembered in the roe of Eliza. Rex Harrison reprises his broadway role as Henry Higgens, which he does brilliantly, and Jeremy Brett is supberb as Freddie- Heinsferd- Hill. He's a very wonderful actor as well.
|
