Curio: My Fair Lady at 50
Monday, October 20, 2014 at 11:00PM Alexa here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of My Fair Lady. Although not my favorite movie musical, unlike the Smackdowners this summer, I always have a blast returning to it. Despite the many charms of Audrey Hepburn's performance, I love re-writing history and imagining how different a film it would be had Julie Andrews returned to the role. Even more intriguing is imagining if Elizabeth Taylor (who wanted the role) had played Eliza. For better or for worse, its Pygmalion story continues to be reinvented, with the latest incarnation being the ABC comedy Selfie (worth a watch for John Cho).
Some curios, vintage and handmade, to celebrate 1964's Best Picture after the jump...
Original Czech poster available at Orson & Welles.
Miniature Eliza Doolittle doll available at Uneek Doll Designs.
Vintage talking (!) Rex Harrison doll available here.
Handmade birthday card available here.
LP cover journal available here.
Original movie program (with ticket stub!) available on ebay.
Reader Comments (8)
What is it about A Hepburn and staircases? No one worked a staircase like she did...up or down.
Love that Czech poster.
In one of the lives I didn't get to live, I worked on the Costume Design team from My Fair Lady, had a blast doing so and, as a wrap-up party we all got drunk and threw hats at each other! :)
Seriously, the costumes are divine in this movie!
Carmen -- Yes!
Awesome! It's easy to forget, but this is probably actually one of my all time favorite movies. Among friends who don't like musicals, I'll usually bring up this and Singin in the Rain. Which sometimes.. will do the trick. :)
Some very cool stuff. Having just read Roadshow! about the decline and fall of big, splashy studio musicals where Lady was discussed that movie program from a roadshow engagement is particularly interesting.
It will be an eternal regret that Julie wasn't given Eliza despite how charming Audrey is in the part. Even more than the oddity of Liz Taylor in the part is the thought of Connie Stevens, God help us, as Eliza Doolittle. She campaigned heavily for it. The mind reels! Also considered the two big Shirley at the time, Jones and MacLaine. I love both women but how completely wrong either would have been.
The film is marvelous as it is, if a bit long, but it's fun to consider an alternate version with Julie Andrews as Eliza, Cary Grant as Henry Higgins, who of course famously turned it down and said he wouldn't even see it if they didn't cast Rex Harrison and James Cagney, who was considered, as Alfred Doolittle.
I so love this movie and saw it as a girl on the screen in my hometown. The color is glorious from the opening flowers to the last scene in the study. The Audrey question will always be open............my favorite Eliza is actually Wendy Hiller. With all of the controversy concerning her voice and Julie, Miss Hepburn was a terrific actress for the part: sly, smart, naïve and strong all at the same time. MFL also had the best supporting cast. Beside Stanley Holloway, we enjoy Gladys Cooper, Wilfrid Hyde-White and my personal favorite: pre-Sherlock Jeremy Brett.
Although I do love the forever beautiful Audrey Hepburn, and admire her brilliant work in films such as ''Breakfast at Tiffany's and "Two for the Road', I have to confess that I was not equally impressed by her performance in 'My Fair Lady", and for many reasons. First, at the age of 36, she was no longer a flower girl - according to Shaw, Eliza should be 20 or so. Sadly, Miss Hepburn did not master the accent the role required, neither did her limited vocal range allow her to look and sound natural in the musical numbers - that Marni Nixon voice was ubiquitous in those days. In addition, to me she had difficulty being a guttersnipe - her sophisticated image was prevalent. Did the beautiful,charming, elegant Audrey, whose talent was remarkable in dramas like "The Nun, really have a flair for comedy to handle those demanding scenes in Covent Garden and at Henry Higgins' home? Therefore, to me, Audrey was at her best when Eliza Dolittlle became a lady - which she was all the time - wearing those really wonderful costumes. Another thing, unlike Lerner and Loewe had hoped, the Oscar winning picture was not filmed in London: most of the time we have the feeling we are watching a play, not a movie. One thing I can tell you: watching the few videos featuring Julie Andrews and listening to the Broadway cast album make it clear for me why Alan & Lerner chose her to be Broadway's Fair Lady (and why they were deeply disappointed she was not in the film version) - the 'loverly' Julie was practically perfect for the role of Eliza Dolittle in every way. On the other hand, I quite agree with you - what a blast it is to watch "My Fair Lady"; it is so beautifully crafted, Audrey looks great and Rex Harrison and Stanley Holloway both shine as Professor Higgins and Alfred Dolittle. What a great event its 50th anniversary is!
Beautifully crafted film, indeed--but doesn't hold up nearly as welll as "A Hard Day's Night" "Dr. Strangelove" or its #1 competitor for Best Picture, "Mary Poppins."