I don't know what's sillier—one, that Higgins' method of teaching is having her say words until she inexplicably will start to say them right; or two, that it worked.
My Fair Lady is one of the all-time great musicals, no doubt about it. Hadn't seen it since I was a kid, but with adult eyes and ears, it not only still stands up, but becomes even more interesting. Its attack on the class system via language, its takedown of the elitist upper crust, its empowerment of women (note not only the suffragettes in the background but how the story doesn't resolve into the usual romantic formula) and the poor (an effect of America's lack of an aristocracy)... it's all much more socio-political a story than you'd imagine. Whether or not she sings her own songs, Audrey Hepburn is never not watchable as Eliza Doolittle, but it's Rex Harrison's Professor Higgins and his faux wife Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) who are my favorites characters. Harrison in particular manages to portray an arrogant, elitist misogynist and make us like him. And the movie certainly doesn't skimp on the songs, which have particularly good rhyming schemes. Great from start to finish.
Had Higgins and Pickering been more honest about their feelings for each other, we would have been spared a few songs, like Why Can’t a Woman Be More Like a Man.
The music itself and cinematography were great! However, Mr. Higgins was a horrible person and treated Eliza horrendously. The movie should not have ended the way it did, but I suppose it was a product of its time.
The linguistics aspect was also completely erroneous of course. It is not possible to teach someone just by making them repeat vowels over and over again. This movie also highly supports a prescriptivist view on language and that one must speak "proper English" which is highly outdated and incorrect.
Oh god, the first half was unbearable. I almost didn't get through Hepburn's obnoxious squalling. The misogyny and language superiority complex was easy in contrast. Not a favorite, but not terrible.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 18
jamesmcavoy
Oh my, Higgins really needs a slap in the face.dvdllr
I don't know what's sillier—one, that Higgins' method of teaching is having her say words until she inexplicably will start to say them right; or two, that it worked.Siskoid
My Fair Lady is one of the all-time great musicals, no doubt about it. Hadn't seen it since I was a kid, but with adult eyes and ears, it not only still stands up, but becomes even more interesting. Its attack on the class system via language, its takedown of the elitist upper crust, its empowerment of women (note not only the suffragettes in the background but how the story doesn't resolve into the usual romantic formula) and the poor (an effect of America's lack of an aristocracy)... it's all much more socio-political a story than you'd imagine. Whether or not she sings her own songs, Audrey Hepburn is never not watchable as Eliza Doolittle, but it's Rex Harrison's Professor Higgins and his faux wife Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) who are my favorites characters. Harrison in particular manages to portray an arrogant, elitist misogynist and make us like him. And the movie certainly doesn't skimp on the songs, which have particularly good rhyming schemes. Great from start to finish.julex
Audrey Hepburn blows my mindWithACamera
Had Higgins and Pickering been more honest about their feelings for each other, we would have been spared a few songs, like Why Can’t a Woman Be More Like a Man.Forzelius
Eliza's original speech manner was..not that...bad..?TheIronLady
The music itself and cinematography were great! However, Mr. Higgins was a horrible person and treated Eliza horrendously. The movie should not have ended the way it did, but I suppose it was a product of its time.The linguistics aspect was also completely erroneous of course. It is not possible to teach someone just by making them repeat vowels over and over again. This movie also highly supports a prescriptivist view on language and that one must speak "proper English" which is highly outdated and incorrect.
highsoul
.Good music .Wonderful story ..:D.jchero
Oh god, the first half was unbearable. I almost didn't get through Hepburn's obnoxious squalling. The misogyny and language superiority complex was easy in contrast. Not a favorite, but not terrible.HeikoScharnberg
Every song a smash hit.Alfredo Garcia
The Rain in Spain stays Mainly in the Plain.?Hippiemans
Great musical although they shouldn't have dubbed Hepburn's singing. She's nothing short of amazing as Eliza.IreneAdler
Sweet story with a lovely Audrey HepburnTheMajor
AAA, EEE, III, OOO, UUUUUUUUU!!!A beautiful movie.
ecnered
A GREAT MUSICAL!!!Showing items 1 – 15 of 18