My Fair Lady

               I got really excited a couple of days ago when I saw that My Fair Lady was going to be on TCM.  It’s been quite awhile since I’ve seen the film, but every time I even see the title pleasant memories come back to me.  This is because years ago I was part of a stage production of My Fair Lady.  It is something I haven’t thought about in a long time, but as I watched the film, I started remembering everything.  I am surprised at how many memories stared coming forward.  This is what is so great about movies.  They can bring memories back from all over the place.  Thankfully with My Fair Lady nearly all of them are good.

                Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) is a flower girl with a strong Cockney accent.  As she sells her flowers on the street someone lets her know a man is watching her and taking notes.  Concerned the man is a cop, Eliza begins to protest loudly.  Fed up with her screaming, the man reveals himself to be Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison), an expert in elocution and the English language.  He believes he could take Eliza and with proper training pass her off as a person of high society, or at least someone who works in a flower shop.

                Intrigued at the possibility of working in a flower shop instead of the street, Eliza tracks down Professor Higgins and requests elocution lessons.  At first he is not interested, but with a bet from his friend Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White), Professor Higgins agrees.  He has six months to train Eliza and pass her off as a lady.  This will involve extensive training in not only language but also manners.  Fortunately Professor Higgins is up to the task.

                The question is whether or not Eliza is up to it.  She is put through repetitive and agonizing exercises that she never seems to get right.  This causes frustration for Professor Higgins and he is ready to give up until one day Eliza breaks through.  Excited at her sudden progress, Professor Higgins decides to take Eliza to the Ascot Racecourse where the very proper and high society go to watch horse races.  Eliza does very well acting like a high society lady until the horses race.  Clearly there is more work to be done.

                After more training it is time for the final test.  Eliza is taken to a ball where royalty and those of the highest society will be attending.  If she can pass there, she will be able to pass anywhere.

                Eliza succeeds in their mission beyond everyone’s wildest dreams.

                Excited about what has been accomplished, Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering talk about all the work that has been put in and how glad they are that it is over.  Neither one acknowledges the efforts of Eliza and her anger grows as the conversation continues on. 

                Clueless to Eliza’s distress, Professor Higgins treats Eliza as he always does.  It isn’t until she expresses her anger to Professor Higgins that he even realizes something may be wrong.  Thinking her feelings are irrational, Professor Higgins goes up to bed leaving Eliza alone.  When he wakes in the morning, he finds Eliza is missing and he does not have any idea as to where she might have gone.  Realizing how much Eliza has become part of his life, Professor Higgins goes in search of Eliza in hopes that he can convince her to come back before he loses her forever.

                This is a musical with a lot of memorable songs.  Even if you’ve never seen My Fair Lady you’ve probably heard some of the songs somewhere.  “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” are the two most likely.  There are also funny parts throughout the film.  Every time I see the scene where Eliza’s Cockney language slips out at the racetrack I laugh.  Just thinking about it makes me smile.  It is such a great scene.   

            Throughout the entire movie Audrey Hepburn does a beautiful job as Eliza Doolittle.  She is convincing both as the Cockney flower girl and the proper lady.  Rex Harrison is fantastic as the pompous Professor Henry Higgins, but this is to be expected.  Mr. Harrison played the character in the original Broadway cast.  Sometimes actors are so good in a part that forever after that actor is the only person seen as truly being that character.  When someone mentions Professor Henry Higgins people think of Rex Harrison.  The same goes for Yul Brynner as the King of Siam and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  There isn’t any doubt about it, Rex Harrison is Professor Higgins.  Since I will never have the opportunity to see him portray this character live, I am very glad he agreed to put his performance on film.  People will be able to see the one and only Professor Henry Higgins for all time.