My Fair Lady (1964, Musical Comedy)

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Jeremy Brett, Stanley Holloway, Gladys Cooper, Bill Shirley, and Marni Nixon. Based on the play by: George Bernard Shaw. Director: George Cukor.

Audrey Hepburn is the fairest of fair ladies! She is gorgeous! She is so thin that every dress makes her look like a majestic queen. The producer, Jack Warner, did not want to take a chance with Julie Andrews because she was an unknown stage actress. The producer invited Andrews to take a screen test, but Andrews refused, so nothing became of the Andrews-issue. Besides according to the producer, Andrews was not photogenic enough to play the celebrated role of Eliza Doolittle. I do agree! The scene where Eliza Doolittle sings "I Could Have Danced All Night" from her bed is breathtaking! Audrey Hepburn is such a babe! :-)

Furthermore, I prefer Marni Nixon's voice over Julie Andrews any day! You see, Audrey Hepburn could not sing. Well, she could. In fact, she insists that she was promised that the film would use her vocals, so Hepburn went through extensive musical training in preparation for filming the movie. Then, when it was determined that Hepburn's singing would be dubbed, Hepburn was very upset. She left the set without saying a word. She returned the next day, apologizing for her " wicked behavior". Marni Nixon was chosen to sing Miss Doolittle's soprano songs. Ninety percent of Audrey Hepburn's songs are dubbed, but the first verse of "Just You Wait" is all Audrey Hepburn. Ninety seconds later Marni Nixon takes over, and then, Hepburn finishes the song. This whole dubbing-issue is considered to be the main reason for the Academy Award controversy. Audrey Hepburn was not even nominated for her performance while Julie Andrews won a Best Actress statuette for Mary Poppins. Even though the producer chose to cast Hepburn over Andrews, I still think that to be a pretty ridiculous argument to snub Audrey Hepburn. All came out well! The world was blessed with Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Marni Nixon blessed us with her sensational voice! I have both soundtracks. I have done the comparisons, and there is no comparison. Marni Nixon is in another sphere of distinction! :-)

There were several competitions for casting. According to Hepburn, the next choice for playing Eliza Doolittle was Elizabeth Taylor, who wanted the part desperately. According to the producer, he would have offered the role to Shirley Jones. The part of Eliza's father was given to James Cagney originally, but when he dropped the project at the last minute, the role was given to Stanley Holloway, the actor who played the part on Broadway. Holloway was going deaf, which provided the crew with some interesting predicaments. Still, Holloway was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. The leading male role of Henry Higgins is also re-created by the Broadway actor, Rex Harrison, who also was not the first choice. The producer had his heart set on Cary Grant. Not only would Cary Grant not play Henry Higgins, but if Rex Harrison was not cast in the role, he wouldn't even go see the picture. Jack Warner listened to Grant's advice and cast, Rex Harison as Henry Higgins. We see other Broadway actors playing in a million dollar movie, so why couldn't Julie Andrews play her Broadway role? The evidence rules out the she's-a-stage-actress reason, so why? Well, I return to my previous argument. Andrews is not a total babe! She is nice-looking, but is nothing when compared with the exquisite Audrey Hepburn!

Of course, Audrey Hepburn is not my only reason for my enthusiasm for this movie. I love the music of Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe! The music is addictive, and I have been in love with My Fair Lady for years. Without a doubt, this is my favorite musical. The memorable music makes me laugh and cry and contemplate my life. The songs are wonderful! I remember singing various songs like "Without You" through the halls of Kern Valley High School. I remember "On the Street Where You Live" and ' Lady Kent of Cambridge'! :-) These memories are what make this musical my favorite.

I find the 1964 version better than the Broadway version because the singers led by the talented Marni Nixon, the accomplished Rex Harrison, the hilarious Stanley Holloway, and the dreamie voice of Bill Shirley, who sings as Eliza's slighted suitor, played by Jerome Brett. According to George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, Eliza marries her dreamboat, Freddie. Thank goodness Alan Jay Lerner changed the whole story, by adding much-needed music and enhancing the romantic plot between Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins. They made a very dry Pygmalion into an entertaining love story! Even though I am a Freddie-fan (mainly because of his remarkable voice), the musical has a better ending than Shaw's play. The Henry Higgins-relationship might be very unrealistic and romanticized, but those are the trademarks hopeless romantics have grown to love!

Henry Higgins is a tolerable character, and can be a particularly funny guy. His " Hymn to Him" number is a show-stealer. Rex Harrison plays this role, winning his Best Actor Oscar, rightfully so. He was unable to lip sync his musical numbers, so a cordless microphone, one of the first ever developed, was attached underneath his tie. Harrison had so much practice singing Higgins's numbers on Broadway, so of course, he would usually perform his lyrics perfectly. Harrison seldom had to retake scenes, which greatly impressed the whole crew. I could not imagine anybody, but Rex Harrison playing Henry Higgins, not even Cary Grant. I adore Cary Grant, but there are just some roles that he was never meant for. And this role was meant for Rex Harrison!

As you can see, I simply love My Fair Lady! I find the 1964 version of this musical exceptional! Sensational movie! :)