My Fair Lady

What’s the Story?

Audrey Hepburn stars as Eliza Doolittle in director George Cukor's adaptation of the Broadway musical based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. In 1912 London, cockney street peddler Eliza is handpicked by linguistics professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) on a bet that he can reshape her into an aristocrat. Higgins has his work cut out for him -- Eliza turns out to be quite the spitfire. As he struggles to teach Eliza how to speak, walk, and behave like a proper lady, his friend Colonel Pickering sits back and enjoys the wild ride. Eliza's ultimate transformation is spectacular, and even Higgins is surprised by how she handles herself at upper-crust gatherings. He's also surprised at how he himself is transformed when it comes to his feelings for his fetching prottgg. With music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe, this musical is truly a classic.

Is It Any Good?

With witty songwriting, comical and charismatic performances of the two leads (Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison), and lush costumes and sets, My Fair Lady still engages after forty years. Hepburn's unique comic flair is especially effective in the race scene at Ascot.

The film delights people of all ages, although some (also of any age) may grow weary of a few songs that stay a verse or two past their welcome. The Special Features on the film's DVD provide an insight into how this classic might have been even better. Compare the versions of "Show Me" and "Loverly" originally sung by Hepburn with the final film's dubbing of Marni Nixon's impersonal soprano...you'll rue the studio's decision not to leave Hepburn's sweeter, more urchinesque voice on these tracks.