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Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper ... see more see more... , Jeremy Brett , Theodore Bikel , Mona Washbourne , John Holland , John Alderson , Frank Baker , William Beckley , Marjorie Bennett , Oscar Beregi Sr. , Betty Blythe , Walter Burke , Robert Coote , Natalie Core , Maurice Dallimore , Henry Daniell , Roy Dean , Brendan Dillon , Pauline Drake , Harvey B. Dunn , Isobel Elsom , Martin Eric , Joe Evans , Charles E. Fredericks , Sam Harris , Monika Henreid , Clyde Howdy , Kendrick Huxham , Lillian Kemble-Cooper , Phyllis Kennedy , Colin Kenny , Alma Lawton , Queenie Leonard , Moyna MacGill , Laurie Main , Owen McGiveney , John McLiam , Carol Merrill , John Mitchum , Barbara Morrison , Alan Napier , Marni Nixon , Pat O'Moore , Richard Peel , George Pelling , Barbara Pepper , Hilda Plowright , Jack Raine , Dinah Anne Rogers , Victor Rogers , Wendy Russell , Bill Shirley , Geoffrey Steele , Grady Sutton , William Taylor , Gwendolyn Watts , Ron Whelan , Ben Wright , Ben Wrigley , Diana Bourbon , Colin Campbell , Nick Navarro , Michael St. Clair , James Wood , David Robel , Ayllene Gibbons , Sid Marion , Orville Sherman , Paulle Clark , Tom Cound , Allyson Daniell , Anne Dore , Raymond Foster , Stanley Fraser , Jack Greening , Eric Heath , James O'Hara , Nick Wolcuff , Andrew Brown , Andrea Libman , Whoopi Goldberg , Chantal Strand , Brittney Irvin , Jim Byrnes , Shannon Chan-Kent , Christopher Gaze , Christopher Plummer , Mackenzie Gray , French Tickner , Marilyn Lightstone

At one time the longest-running Broadway musical, My Fair Lady was adapted by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe from the George Bernard Shaw comedy Pygmalion. Outside Covent Garden on a rainy evenin... read more read more...g in 1912, dishevelled cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) meets linguistic expert Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison). After delivering a musical tirade against "verbal class distinction," Higgins tells his companion Colonel Pickering (Wilfred Hyde-White) that, within six months, he could transform Eliza into a proper lady, simply by teaching her proper English. The next morning, face and hands freshly scrubbed, Eliza presents herself on Higgins' doorstep, offering to pay him to teach her to be a lady. "It's almost irresistable," clucks Higgins. "She's so deliciously low. So horribly dirty." He turns his mission into a sporting proposition, making a bet with Pickering that he can accomplish his six-month miracle to turn Eliza into a lady. This is one of the all-time great movie musicals, featuring classic songs and the legendary performances of Harrison, repeating his stage role after Cary Grant wisely turned down the movie job, and Stanley Holloway as Eliza's dustman father. Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza on Broadway but producer Jack Warner felt that Andrews, at the time unknown beyond Broadway, wasn't bankable; Hepburn's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, who also dubbed Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961). Andrews instead made Mary Poppins, for which she was given the Best Actress Oscar, beating out Hepburn. The movie, however, won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Harrison, and five other Oscars, and it remains one of the all-time best movie musicals. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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87% liked it

166,248 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

36 critics

G, 2 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: George Cukor, Scott Heming

Release Date: December 25, 1964

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DVD Release Date: August 5, 2003

Stats: 8,105 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (8,105)

  • cosmo313
    March 8, 2012
    cosmo313
    This is George Cukor's lavish, large budget musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's comedy Pygmalion, and the result is something actually quite spectacular. I've always looked at this stroy as being maybe a bit girly, but it's really not the case. It's a very entertaining, a... read morend actually quite hilarious (at times) look at class differences and finding one's place in life.

    Rex Harrison is Professor Henry Higgins, a wealthy, cultured, and highly educated lphoneticist who makes a bet with his colleague Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) that he can take an uncouth cockney flower girl (Audrey Hepburn) and transform her into a duchess by the time the Embassy Ball comes around. It's a tale as old as time, but a quite endearing one nonetheless, especially since several more versions have been filmed since this one, namely Pretty Woman and She's All That.

    This particular telling of the story though is one that's quite special. It's rightly regarded as a classic, and one of the best musicals ever. I won't disagree. The music is great, as is the singing ,even though Harrison mostly talk-sings, and Hepburn got dubbed over by someone else. Now that's I've finally seen this version, I'm able to see yet another musical that has been quite influential on Seth MacFarlane, mostly with his show Family Guy. Not only did they make an episode that's a nonmusical remake of this film's presence, but Rex Harrison (his appearance, voice, and mannerisms) is one of the primary influences on the character of Stewie.

    The story evolves as you think it might, with there being lots of ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and some successes as well as missteps. For the longest time though, the film prrogresses in a rather realistic way by starting to end rather bittersweetly instead of a sappy romantic happy ending. However, shades of this latter ending do start to rear their head, but not enough so to make me totally angry or derail things. Also, while a lot of the music is good, it's not all great, so these reasons are mainly why I'm giving such an otherwise extremely great and well made film a half star less than perfect.

    Could the film be better? Sure. But not by much, As it stands, this is a very fun movie that's far more enjoyable and engaging than the premise might make it seem. The performances are iconic, the sets and costumes stunning, and the tunes are pretty memorable. Give this one a go. It definitely lives up to its reputation.
  • fb100000257973100
    February 18, 2012
    fb100000257973100
    My Fair Lady is one of those musicals that try to not compare to the source material, but base on it's own terms. If I was to base on it's source material, I would be here for days talking about the ending of this film and why I feel that it was unnecessary. But seeing as how thi... read mores is based on the film, let's move on.
    I never saw this classic film until I got news that I was going to be in my high school's production of the musical of the same name (similar with Fiddler On The Roof). When I first watch this film, I had no expectations and walked in clean minded. What I got was two hours and fifty minutes of a movie that I had seen so many parodies of that I was able to know exactly what was happening and when. Did this take away from the film's charm? No, but for a new generation of viewers, this basically means that they won't have the privilege of being shocked at the events of the film.
    The main thing that shocked me about this film is how beautiful and clean this looks. This film was made during a time when color was still relatively new and here it embraces the idea of making this colored in such a gorgeous way that you can't help but admire all that you see. Everything from the dirt poor streets to the magnificent set used for the Ascot Race is... stunning. Yeah, that is the best way to describe this film in terms of looks: magnificent. In a day where almost all films have computer graphics, this film reminds us why we love classic films all over again.
    I am still puzzled as to why Julie Andrews did not reprise her role in the film adaption, but in a way, I am kind of glad that Audrey Hepburn played the main female lead. Not only because it meant that Julie Andrews could now play in Mary Poppins, but also because Hepburn would later go on to make the film's main female cockney memorable with her use of the cockney voice. My only complaint is that she never does any of her own singing in this film. Sorry, but that is a distraction to me. I put up with it for as long as I can, but one can only take so much before you wish they allowed her to sing.
    Rex Harrison is wonderful as he embodies this role. As I said, I was in an adaption of My Fair Lady and as such, I had to go and watch other performances to understand how this, being the play, would work. One thing I noticed is that no one can preform Professor Higgins at all. Well, not nearly as good as Harrison. He made this role forever in one image and that is all that we need. Many have imitated his Oscar winning performance, but no one has been able to equal him.
    That takes me back to what I said earlier: this film is embedded in our pop culture. You don't have to see the film to know how things play out, but you do need to in order to see why this film is really remembered for what it is: a wonderful musical that not only charms people, but continues to delight people with it's off-key romance and songs that are beyond fun to sing to.
  • moonrivers
    June 9, 2011
    moonrivers
    One of the best musicals ever made, Cinderella as an Cockney English flower girl and her fairy godmother , a dyed-in-the-wool English linguistic specialist ... and confirmed bachelor. Sophisticated and endearing, certainly the dream can be derided, but ...it's savvy presentation... read more makes for delectable entertainment.
  • jennifxu
    May 31, 2011
    jennifxu
    I can't stand Audrey Hepburn's voice, those songs, or Rex Harrison's being. Why, oh why, did it win that Oscar?
  • 76Majikat
    December 21, 2010
    76Majikat
    A simplistic tale of class divide, a memorable array of songs and whilst Hepburn's interpretation of the humble Flower Girl's speech was quite over the top, Hepburn and Harrison were matched well in starring in this film together.

    It's somewhat disappointing that Eliza's voice... read more was not that of Audrey Hepburn's, but I'm sure it's because she looked the part and the person who's voice appears on the songs I hope has recognition.

    A long film, but a classic Musical.
  • deano
    September 19, 2010
    deano
    Pygmalion, the timeless George Bernard Shaw play, has been a success in every form in which it has been presented. This Oscar-Winning 1965 movie musical adaptation is no exception. Rex Harrison, as Professor Henry Higgins, is the perfect example of British class snob-bishn... read moreess. Audrey Hepburn gives a fine performance as Eliza Doolittle.
    The reason for this is simple; Hepburn brings her "own spark of divine fire", (to quote Higgins) to the role and her vulnerability, mixed with her sweet, naive charm and even her wonderfully juvenile pettishness shown in "Just You Wait" all prove what a talented actress she really is.
  • FrizzDrop
    July 13, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    My favorite musical of all time, with some of the best acting by Rex Harrison
  • sanjurosamurai
    September 29, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    my fair lady is a near perfect movie. the entire cast was perfectly chosen, possibly even to the point of being one of the most perfectly assembled casts in history, and each actor delivered perfectly, especially rex harrison in one of my favorite performances of all time. the ... read moremusic fit the story perfectly, the dialogue was masterful in all but two scenes, and the plot was enthralling from start to finish. at 3 hours the film never dulls. brilliant.
  • TomBowler
    August 1, 2009
    TomBowler
    one of the best musicals ever, my fair lady shows once again why audrey hepburn is one of the most well known names in movies
  • MissMorganLeee
    May 31, 2009
    MissMorganLeee
    jeepers...Henery Higgens is an @$% hole! he is SOOO MEAN ! and tHat whole why can women be like men? what a sexist pig!

View All My Fair Lady Reviews

Critic Reviews

Robert J. Landry
February 20, 2008
Robert J. Landry, Variety

A stunningly effective screen entertainment. Full Review

Dave Kehr
December 13, 2006
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Lerner and Loewe's musical masterwork, reimagined for film by director George Cukor. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

All things considered, it is the brilliance of Miss Hepburn as the Cockney waif who is transformed by Prof. Henry Higgins into an elegant female facade that gives an extra touch of subtle magic and in... Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The best stage musical of all time and one of the most loved romances. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Few genres of films are as magical as musicals, and few musicals are as intelligent and lively as My Fair Lady. Full Review

John Hartl
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com

Literate, funny, brilliantly cast, with a score of Lerner and Loewe songs that does not include one dud.

Michael E. Grost
August 8, 2008
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Well made musical, with more personal Cukor style and themes than is sometimes realized. Full Review

February 20, 2008
Empire Magazine

A wonderfully stylish and witty movie classic. Full Review

February 20, 2008
Film4

An elegant musical with some top class tunes -- the last of a dying breed of big-buck productions. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 25, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

One of Hollywood's best musicals. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Eliza Doolittle: I washed my hands and face before I come I did.
    • Prof. Henry Higgins: [elated] ...Eliza? ... Where the devil are my slippers?
    • Prof. Henry Higgins: But I'm used to hear say, 'Good morning' everyday. Her joys, her woes, her highs, her lows. A second nature to me now. Like breathing out and breathing in. I'm very grateful she's a woman! And so easy to forget. Rather like a habit one can always break! And yet, I've grown accustomed to the trace of something in the air. Accustomed to her... face.
    • Eliza Doolittle: Well, you have my voice on your gramophone. When you feel lonely without me you can turn it on. It has no feelings to hurt.
    • Prof. Henry Higgins: ...I can't turn your soul on.
    • Prof. Henry Higgins: Damn Mrs. Pearce! Damn the coffee! And damn you!
    • Mrs. Pearce: Oh I do hope you find her, Mr Pickering. Mr. Higgins will miss her.
    • Col. Pickering: Mr. Higgins will miss her, eh? Blast Mr. Higgins! I'll miss her!
    • Eliza Doolittle: I'm a good girl, I am!
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My Fair Lady Trivia

  • Name the movie that features this quote: "Eliza? Where the devil are my slippers?"  Answer »
  • In My Fair Lady, who played Eliza Doolittle?  Answer »
  • At the oscars who won for Best Actress, Audrey Hepburn for My Fair Lady, or Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins?  Answer »
  • Who stared as professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady?  Answer »
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