On October 21, 1964, the movie adaptation of My Fair Lady premiered in New York City at the Criterion Theatre, following months of anticipation and record-breaking early ticket sales. This immensely popular film is based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion, which was later transformed into a Broadway musical in 1956. The highly anticipated film received widespread acclaim and numerous awards, and it has become one of the most beloved films in cinematic history.
A Timeless Tale
The story of My Fair Lady follows the relationship between Professor Henry Higgins, a confident phonetics professor, and Eliza Doolittle, a young flower girl with a thick accent. After noticing her speech while selling flowers on the streets of London, Higgins approaches Eliza with a proposal: to take speech lessons that will allow her to pass as a lady of high society and improve her job prospects.
The story explores the transformative relationship between its two main characters, focusing on themes of identity, class, discrimination, and personal growth. As Eliza learns to navigate the complexities of social expectations, both characters experience significant change. Although the original work, Pygmalion, was written over a century ago, its central themes continue to resonate with contemporary society, making it relevant and engaging for even today’s audiences.
Controversial Casting
The film featured Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins and Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle. Harrison had originally played the role in the Broadway version of My Fair Lady and reprised it for the film. Although his Broadway co-star was Julie Andrews, the director chose to cast Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, hoping that Hepburn’s star power would drive higher ticket sales.
Although Audrey Hepburn may have played a role in the record-breaking early ticket sales, the decision to recast Julie Andrews faced considerable criticism. Julie Andrews starred in Mary Poppins in the same year as My Fair Lady and won an Academy Award for Best Actress, while Hepburn was not even nominated for her role as Eliza Doolittle.
Awards and Recognitions
My Fair Lady was in theaters for 87 weeks and grossed nearly $73 million worldwide. It won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Rex Harrison. The film was a significant commercial success and an award-winning production, creating a lasting legacy.