See what “My Fair Lady (musical)” is in other dictionaries. My Fair Lady Characteristics of the musical My Fair Lady

Two talented young authors - composer Frederick Lowe and librettist Alan Jay Lerner would never have composed their most famous musical, My Fair Lady, if not for another star couple - Rodgers and Hammerstein. The creators of “Oklahoma” refused to cooperate with film producer Gabriel Pascal, who was toying with the idea of ​​making a musical performance out of Bernard Shaw’s famous play “Pygmalion” and had been unsuccessfully trying to find the authors for a long time. Lowe and Lerner appreciated the quality of the dramatic material - despite the fact that the play was published in 1912, the themes that it touched upon - the individual and his rights, the relationship between men and women, the culture of language - and culture in the broad sense of the word - are relevant at all times.

The plot of the musical, which was originally called My Fair Eliza, largely follows Shaw's play.

Phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his linguist colleague, Colonel Pickering - he undertakes to turn a London flower girl named Eliza Doolittle, whom they meet on a rainy evening in Covent Garden Square, into a real lady. Higgins sets aside six months to rid the girl of her common pronunciation and teach her good manners. After this period, she will have to appear at the embassy ball, and if no one guesses about her social origin, Pickering will pay all educational expenses, and Eliza herself will be able to go to work in a flower shop. The offer sounds tempting, and Eliza moves into the professor's house. In search of her daughter, her father, the scavenger Alfred Doolittle, comes there, and he manages to beg five pounds from Higgins as compensation for being deprived of a wet nurse.

Learning is not easy for Eliza, sometimes the callousness and tyranny of the teacher bring her to tears, but, in the end, she begins to make progress. And yet, her first outing (and the professor takes her not just anywhere, but to the races at Ascot, where the flower of the English aristocracy gathers) is unsuccessful: having learned to pronounce words correctly, Eliza did not stop speaking the language of the lower classes of London - which shocks the professor’s mother and charms Freddie Aynsford-Hill, a young man from an aristocratic family.

The day of the embassy ball arrives. Eliza passes the exam with flying colors, despite the attempts of Higgins' former student - the Hungarian Karpathy - to find out who she really is. After the ball, Higgins revels in his success, completely ignoring the girl, which causes her to protest. A conversation takes place between her and the professor, from which it becomes clear that Eliza has changed not only externally, but also internally, that she is not a toy in the hands of the professor, but a living person.

The heroine leaves Higgins' house, meets her admirer Freddie along the way, who constantly hangs around her house, and goes with him to the poor neighborhood where she once lived. A surprise awaits Eliza there - Father Dolittle got rich and finally decided to marry her mother. It turns out that after his visit to the house of Professor Higgins, he, amazed by the natural oratorical gift of Eliza’s father, wrote a letter to the famous philanthropist, recommending Mr. Dolittle as the most original moralist of our time. As a result, the London garbage man inherited a huge inheritance - and with it all the vices of bourgeois society, which he so condemned. But he is not interested in his daughter’s problems, and Eliza goes to the house of Professor Higgins’ mother, who sincerely sympathizes with her.

Soon the professor himself appears there. There is another skirmish between him and Eliza, during which Eliza tells Higgins that she can live just fine without him. She doesn’t even need to go to work in a flower shop - she can give phonetics lessons, and there will definitely be no end to students. Outraged, Higgins goes home. On the way, he finally throws off his mask and admits to himself, and therefore to the viewer, that, in general, he is used to Eliza - such an awkward declaration of love from the lips of a convinced bachelor. In his office, he plays a recording of his student’s voice, made when she first appeared in his house. Eliza quietly enters the room. Noticing the girl, Higgins straightens up in his chair, pulls his hat over his eyes and says his catchphrase: “Eliza, where the hell are my night slippers?”

Adapting “Pygmalion” for musical theater, the authors tried to treat the text of the original source as carefully as possible, and yet the emphasis in the play shifted - the story of the transformation of the main character from a vulgar flower girl into a charming young lady came to the fore, and Shaw’s philosophical reasoning faded into the background , if not in the background. In addition, the heroine of Pygmalion eventually marries Freddie and opens a flower shop, and then a vegetable shop (this is stated in the afterword to the play, written by the playwright himself, who did not really believe in romantic love). Bernard Shaw's Eliza has no illusions about Higgins - "Galatea does not fully like Pygmalion: he plays too much of a god-like role in her life, and this is not very pleasant." Eliza Low and Lerner still returns to her teacher - the public would not accept the separation of the main characters. Alan Jay Lerner himself explained his decision to change the ending: “I omitted the afterword to My Fair Lady because in it Shaw explains how Eliza ended up with Freddie instead of Higgins, and I - may Shaw and heaven forgive me! “I’m not sure he’s right.”

The very first listeners of materials for “My Fair Lady” were Broadway star Mary Martin (South Pacific, Peter Pan) and her husband Richard Holliday. When Mary Martin heard that Lerner and Lowe were adapting Pygmalion for musical theater, she immediately wanted to hear what they had come up with, eyeing the lead role in a future musical. After reviewing several issues (including The Ascot Gavotte and Just You Wait, 'enry 'iggins), Martin did not say anything to the authors, but immediately complained to her husband: “How could it be that these sweet boys have lost their talent?” Halliday later relayed her words to Lerner, adding that Just You Wait was very reminiscent of Cole Porter's I Hate Men from Kiss Me Kate and that The Ascott Gavotte "just isn't funny." This reception, given to the future “Beautiful Lady” by the very first listeners, made a very painful impression on Lerner and even became the cause of real depression. However, neither Lerner nor Lowe still saw Eliza Doolittle in Mary Martin and had no intention of inviting her to the play. The role went to aspiring singer Julie Andrews. Subsequently, Lerner and Lowe themselves teased each other when their work was not going well, quoting Mary Martin: “These sweet boys have lost their talent.”

The Broadway premiere of the musical took place on March 15, 1956. The show immediately became wildly popular; tickets were sold out six months in advance. However, the stunning success of the musical was a complete surprise for its creators: “Neither I nor F. Lowe believed that we were the heroes of the occasion. It’s just time for something bright, theatrical, something different from the meeting of two lonely people in a dark alley. And “Lady” went on the posters.” For a year after the premiere, Lowe came to the ticket office, where people eager to watch the show had been queuing since night, and treated them to coffee. Lowe was looked at as if he were crazy, and no one could believe that he was the composer who composed “My Fair Lady.”

The musical was performed on Broadway 2,717 times. It was translated into eleven languages, including Hebrew, and was successfully shown in more than twenty countries. The original Broadway cast recording sold more than five million copies, and George Cukor's film of the same name was released in 1964.

Despite the incredible beauty of the film, fans of the musical were disappointed. They expected to see Julie Andrews in the role of Eliza, and the role went to Audrey Hepburn - by that time she, unlike Julie, was already a film star. There was no replacement for Rex Harrison, who played Higgins on Broadway, and the eccentric professor successfully moved from the theater stage to the big screen, for which he received a well-deserved Oscar.

The musical “My Fair Lady” is still loved by the public. Thanks to producer Cameron Mackintosh and director Trevor Nunn, the show can be seen in London. The role of Professor Higgins in the premiere cast was played by Jonathan Pryce (Peron from the film adaptation of Evita), and Miss Dolittle by singer and actress Martine McCutchin.

In Russia, “My Fair Lady” has been on the posters of musical and drama theaters for many years. The musical was performed at the A. Kalyagin Theater “Et Cetera” (Moscow). In the production by Dmitry Bertman (artistic director of the Helikon-Opera Theater), the flower girl from Tottenham Court Road turned out to be Muscovite Liza Dulina, who lives next to the Hammer and Sickle station. The action of the play took place partly in Moscow, partly in London, where Slavic professor Higgins brings his Galatea, the bearer of the colorful Moscow vernacular. The main storyline of the musical was preserved, but otherwise this production bore little resemblance to the original source. In its classic version, the play has been on stage at the Moscow Operetta Theater for several years. On January 18, 2012, the Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg) hosted the premiere of the musical “My Fair Lady” staged by the Chatelet Theater in Paris. The director of the performance is the famous Canadian director Robert Carsen, the choreographer is Lynne Page. Lerner and Lowe's classic show was the first musical staged at the legendary Russian opera house.

The greatest Irish playwright and publicist George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin in 1856. A brilliant orator, mocker and intellectual, he was actively involved in the public life of Great Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over the ninety-four years of his life, Bernard Shaw composed 65 plays, 5 novels, and a huge number of critical articles and reviews. In his works he acts as a master of intellectual drama-discussion, built on sharp dialogues, full of paradoxical situations, destroying all traditional ideas about the theater. Shaw's plays castigate political reaction, normative morality, hypocrisy, and hypocrisy. In 1925, the writer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Shaw accepted the title of Nobel laureate, but refused the money. "Pygmalion" is not the only work of Shaw that became a musical. The plays Caesar and Cleopatra (the musical Her First Roman) and Arms and the Man (Chocolate Soldier) were also adapted for musical theater. In Russia, Pygmalion was first staged in Moscow in 1914. Julie Andrews starred as Eliza on Broadway, but in the film version of the musical, Audrey Hepburn played the title role. The actress's work in this film was assessed ambiguously. Firstly, she did not sing herself, although there is a recording of two songs from the musical performed by Audrey. Apparently, her vocals did not seem bright enough for such a grandiose film project, so it was decided to involve Marni Nixon, a singer who already had experience dubbing a star - it was in her voice that Natalie Wood, who played the role of Maria in the film adaptation of West Side Story, and Deborah Kerr sang. who played the main character in the film version of the musical “The King and I.” Interestingly, neither Natalie nor Audrey won the American Academy Awards, for which both films were nominated. Audrey was also reproached for the fact that she was not very convincing in the role of a simple London flower girl and that her innate aristocracy could not be hidden by any makeup and distorted speech. This is not surprising - the actress is truly “blue blood”. Audrey was born in Belgium, her mother is a Dutch baroness. The full name of the actress is Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston. And yet, Audrey, unexpectedly for her angelic appearance, demonstrates the bright talent of a character actress, and the more striking is her transformation from a vulgar scruff into a radiant beauty. Would such a transformation have happened to the prim and proper Julie, who, moreover, had more modest external characteristics? Julie was very worried that she did not get the role of Eliza. Andrews' candidacy was supported by Rex Harrison, but there was criticism on her side. Right up until the very start of filming, Julie hoped, if not to play herself, then at least to duplicate Hepburn. But it didn’t work out. However, ironically, in 1964, when My Fair Lady was released, it was Julie who won the Oscar for Best Actress (Mary Poppins).

Year of creation: 1964

Country: USA

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Co.

Duration: 170

Musical comedy "My fair lady» - a film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, based on the work of Bernard Shaw"Pygmalion".The plot of the film largely follows the famous play.


The composer created the music for the film “My Fair Lady”Frederick Law,and wrote the script and lyricsAlan Jay Lerner.


Professor of PhoneticsHenry Higgins (Rex Harrison) - a confirmed bachelor. He makes a bet with his colleague, ColonelPickeringthat in three months can transform an illiterate London flower girlEliza Dolittle (Audrey Hepburn) into a real lady.


The professor undertakes to teach a girl who speaks street slang, high-society manners and perfectly correct speech. After the stated period, Eliza must be presented at the embassy ball, and if none of those present guess about her low origin, the colonel will recognize the professor’s victory and pay all the expenses for the girl’s education.

Eliza herself hopes that good pronunciation will allow her to get a job in a flower shop.


Musical " My fair lady"managed to become a legend even before the film was made.


Audiences first saw this production on Broadway on March 15, 1956. Shaw's play was incredibly popular, and tickets were sold out six months in advance. Today the musical "My fair lady"has been played on Broadway for over2100 once. It was successfully demonstrated in two dozen countries and was translated into 11 languages. The main roles in the musical were played byRex Harrisonand aspiring singerJulie Andrews.

When starting filming, director George Cukor chose to replaceAndrewsto a more famous oneAudrey Hepburn,which initially caused disappointment among fans of the musical. There was no replacement for the leading male role in the musical, andRex Harrisonsuccessfully moved from Broadway to the big screen. This work became the actor’s finest hour - he received a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actor in the film “My Fair Lady.”

Another contender for the role of Eliza Dolittle wasElizabeth Taylor. The choice of the actress for the main role caused some hype in the press. Audrey Hepburn was 10 years older than her heroine, did not have outstanding vocal abilities and had a reputation as a born lady. Despite vocal lessons,Audreycouldn't handle the musical numbers, and Hepburn's voice became an American singerMarni Nixon. The actress was very upset by this fact and believed that she could not cope with the role.


Movie " My fair lady"received the following awards: – 8 awardsOscarin the categories: “Best Film”, “Best Director”, “Best Actor”, “Best Artists”, “Best Cinematographer”, “Best Composer”, “Best Costumes”, “Best Sound”. — 5 awardsGolden Globein the categories: “Best Film”, “Best Director”, “Best Actor”, “Best Actress”, “Best Supporting Actor”. —British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award (for best foreign film).

You can watch the entire film in my "Cinema" section.

Design: Valeria Polskaya

Read the original: http://www.vokrug.tv/product/show/My_Fair_Lady/

In two acts, eighteen scenes.
Libretto and lyrics by A. J. Lerner.

Characters:

Henry Higgins, professor of phonetics (baritone); Colonel Pickering; Eliza Doolittle, street flower girl (soprano); Alfred Doolittle, scavenger, her father; Mrs. Higgins, the professor's mother; Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, society lady; Freddie, her son (tenor); Clara, her daughter; Mrs. Pierce, Higgins' housekeeper; George, ale-keeper; Harry and Jemmy, Dolittle's drinking buddies; Mrs. Hopkins; Higgins' butler; Charles, Mrs. Higgins' chauffeur; constable; flower girl; embassy footman; Lord and Lady Boxington; Sir and Lady Tharrington; Queen of Transylvania; ambassador; Professor Zoltan Karpaty; housemaid; servants in the Higgins house, guests at the ball at the embassy, ​​peddlers, passers-by, flower girls.

The action takes place in London during the reign of Queen Victoria.

The libretto of “My Fair Lady” uses the plot of “Pygmalion” by B. Shaw, one of the most popular comedies of the 20th century. The librettist significantly changed the source material. He turned a three-act comedy into a performance consisting of almost two dozen scenes, which sometimes replace each other like film stills. The greater fragmentation of the action allowed the authors of the musical to expand the panorama of life in London and its various social strata. The musical clearly shows what Shaw's play only talks about in passing: the everyday life of the poor quarter, the people around whom Eliza grew up, and on the other hand, high society, aristocrats at the Ascot races, at a high-society ball. The music of the play, always bright and melodic, sometimes takes on the features of irony. The composer widely uses the rhythmic intonations of waltz, march, polka, and foxtrot; You can also hear habanera, jota, and gavotte here. The structure of My Fair Lady is a musical comedy. The image of the main character is most fully reflected in the music.

First action

First picture. Covent Garden Square in front of the Royal Opera House. Theatrical drive on a cold, rainy March evening. A crowd is crowded under the colonnade of St. Paul's Church. Freddie Eynsford-Hill accidentally touches the basket of a flower girl sitting on the steps, scattering bouquets of violets. Flower girl Eliza Doolittle is outraged. She demands in vain to pay her for the destroyed flowers. The crowd notices that a gentleman is recording her every word. This is Higgins. To those present, who suspected him of being a police agent, he explains that his profession is phonetics. By the peculiarities of pronunciation, he determines where each of those who spoke to him is from. About the smart gentleman with a military bearing, Higgins says that he came from India. Pickering is shocked. Having introduced themselves to each other, Higgins and Pickering find out that they have long dreamed of meeting each other. After all, both are interested in the same science. Higgins wrote down everything Eliza said in phonetic symbols, since the girl interested him with her terrible pronunciation, as well as continuous slang expressions. Her language, says Higgins, forever determined her social position. But he, Higgins, could teach her impeccable English in six months, and then she could climb the social ladder - say, not sell on the street, but join a fashionable store.

The rain stops and Higgins takes Pickering to his place on Wimpole Street. The crowd gradually disperses. Eliza, warming herself by the fire lit by the peddlers, sings the song “I would like a room without cracks” - sad, affectionate, dreamy, with a playful refrain “That would be great.”

Second picture. Beer house on a dirty street where tenement buildings are located. Dolittle appears at the door. He is waiting for Eliza to defraud her of her earned money. When the girl appears, the garbage man tricks her into giving her a coin to buy a drink. Eliza hides in a squalid home, and Dolittle sings the cheerful couplets “God has given us strong hands,” the rollicking chorus of which is readily picked up by his drinking companions.

Third picture. The next morning in Higgins's office on Wimpole Street. Higgins and Pickering listen to the recordings. Their work is interrupted by the arrival of Eliza. She remembered what Higgins said about her, as well as his address, which he told Pickering quite loudly. She wants to learn to “speak in an educated way.” Interested, Pickering offers Higgins to pay all the expenses for the experiment, but bets that she still won’t make a duchess. Higgins agrees. He tells his housekeeper Mrs. Pierce to strip Eliza of her old rags of dubious cleanliness, wash and scrub her thoroughly, and order her new clothes. Left alone with Pickering, Higgins sets out his views on life - those of a confirmed bachelor - in the couplets "I'm a normal man, peaceful, quiet and simple."

Fourth picture. Same block of tenements on Tottenham Court Road. The neighbors are excitedly sharing the amazing news: Eliza has not been home for four days now, but today she sent a note asking that they send her her favorite things. Dolittle, hearing this, draws his own conclusions.

Fifth picture. Higgins' office on the same day, a little later. Mrs. Pierce brings a letter from the American millionaire Ezra Wallingford, who for the third time asks Higgins to give a course of lectures in his League for the Struggle for Moral Improvement. The butler announces Dolittle's arrival.

The scavenger, who is determined to profit from his daughter’s luck, makes such a brilliant speech that Higgins, instead of throwing him out for blackmail, gives him money and recommends him to the American as one of the most original moralists in England. After Dolittle leaves, the lesson begins. Higgins brings Eliza to such a state that, left alone, she invents a terrible revenge on him. Her monologue, “Wait a minute, Henry Higgins, wait a minute,” sounds parodically dark and furious.

Several hours pass (blackout). Eliza continues to teach. Higgins threatened to leave her without lunch and dinner if she failed the task. Pickering and Higgins drink tea and cake, and the poor hungry girl repeats endless exercises. The servants feel sorry for their master, who works so hard.

Several more hours pass. Already evening. Eliza is still studying, “encouraged” by the scolding of the hot-tempered professor. Nothing works out for her. The small chorus of servants sounds again.

In the dead of night, when the girl is already completely exhausted, Higgins suddenly, for the first time ever, addresses her softly, with gentle admonishments, and Eliza immediately grasps what she had been seeking in vain for so long. Delighted, all three, forgetting their fatigue, jump up and begin to dance and sing the sultry habanera “Just Wait,” which then turns into a jota. Higgins decides to give Eliza a test tomorrow. He will take her out into the world - to the races at Ascot. And now - sleep! Inspired by her first success, Eliza sings “I could dance” - with a joyful, as if flying melody.

Sixth picture. Entrance to the racecourse at Ascot. Pickering respectfully introduces an elegant elderly lady - Mrs. Higgins. He confusedly tries to explain that her son will bring a street flower girl to her box. The shocked Mrs. Higgins very vaguely grasps the meaning of his confused speeches.

Seventh picture. Mrs Higgins's box at the racecourse. It sounds like an elegant gavotte. The chorus of aristocrats “The high society has gathered here” conveys an ironic characteristic of the so-called “society”. The ladies and gentlemen slowly and decorously disperse; Higgins and his mother, Mrs. Eynsford-Hill with her daughter and son, and others enter the box. Pickering introduces everyone to Miss Dolittle, who makes an irresistible impression of Freddie Eynsford-Hill. A general conversation begins, during which Eliza, carried away, makes expressions that are completely unacceptable in polite society. This causes Freddy to become wildly amused.

He and Clara, who are rarely in society because of their poverty, mistake Eliza’s slang for the latest secular fashion. True, Eliza pronounces all her words impeccably, but the content of her speeches shows Higgins that a lot of work is still needed.

Eighth picture. In front of Higgins' house. Freddie came here to declare his love to Eliza. He is not allowed into the house. Eliza is so upset about her failure that she doesn’t want to see anyone. But Freddie is not upset: if necessary, he will wait all his life! His song “I’ve walked this street more than once” is bright, lyrical, and full of sincere feeling.

Ninth picture. Higgins's office a month and a half later. All this time, Eliza worked hard, beyond all measure, and today is the decisive exam. They are going to a ball at the embassy. Pickering is nervous. Higgins is absolutely calm. Eliza in a ball gown is as beautiful as a vision. The colonel is showered with compliments, Higgins mutters through his teeth: “Not bad!”

Tenth picture. The landing of the embassy's grand staircase at the entrance to the ballroom. Footmen report on arriving guests. A lush, solemn waltz is heard. Mrs. Higgins, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering discuss Eliza's first success. Higgins' colleague Professor Karpati enters. He accompanies the Queen of Transylvania. His favorite pastime is identifying impostors by their pronunciation. Pickering begs Higgins to leave before Karpati meets Eliza, but he wants to see the trial through to the end.

Eleventh picture. Ballroom. Eliza enthusiastically dances with one or another gentleman, including Karpathy, who is very interested in her. Higgins watches, determined to let events take their natural course.

Second act

Twelfth picture. Higgins's office.

Tired, Eliza, Higgins and Pickering return after the ball. The girl can barely stand on her feet, but the men do not pay any attention to her. The servants congratulate the master on his success. A large ensemble scene unfolds, first featuring the exuberant polka “Well, dear friend, victory,” and then Higgins’ tale of Karpathy—brilliantly parodic, with a witty use of hackneyed Hungarian melodic turns.

Finally left alone with Higgins, Eliza furiously reveals to him everything that has accumulated in her soul. After all, her situation is now hopeless - she cannot return to her old life, and what is her future? For Higgins, everything is simple: the experiment is brilliantly completed and you don’t have to think about it anymore! The professor leaves, trying to maintain his dignity, and Eliza, choking with rage, repeats: “Well, wait, Henry Higgins, wait!”

Thirteenth picture. Wimpole Street in front of Higgins' house. Dawn. Freddie is sitting on the steps. For many days now he has left this post only to eat, sleep and change clothes. His song still sounds joyful and tender. Eliza comes out of the house with a small suitcase. The lyrical-comedy duet scene “Your speeches captivated me” unfolds. Freddie, against the will of the girl, who takes her anger out on him, runs to see her off.

Fourteenth picture. Covent Garden Flower Market, opposite - a familiar beer garden. It's early morning, the market is just starting to wake up. The same peddlers are warming themselves by the fire as on the night Eliza met Higgins. They sing her song ("That's Great"). Eliza enters, but no one recognizes her. She sees a well-dressed Dolittle emerge from the pub - in a top hat and patent leather shoes, with a flower in his buttonhole. It turns out that Wallingford, to whom Higgins once recommended him, left Doolittle a substantial amount of money in his will. So solid that Dolittle didn't have the heart to refuse it. And now he is a finished man. He has become one of the respected citizens, he has to behave decently. His long-term partner, Eliza's stepmother, also decided to become respected, and today they are getting married. His freedom was gone, his carefree life was over!

Fifteenth picture. Hall of the Higgins house, morning. Both gentlemen are shocked and upset by Eliza's departure. Higgins’s couplets “What made her leave, I don’t understand” are interspersed with Pickering’s reasoning and his telephone calls either to the police or to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with demands to find the fugitive.

Sixteenth picture. Mrs. Higgins's house, a little later. Eliza is here. Over a cup of tea, she tells Mrs. Higgins about everything that happened. Higgins bursts in and begins to rage. Mrs. Higgins leaves her son alone with Eliza, and an explanation takes place between them. It turns out that he felt how much he missed her. But the girl is adamant. Eliza’s speeches sound decisively and with inspiration: “The sun can shine without you, England can live without you.” Yes, she will not be lost: she can marry Freddy, she can become Karpati’s assistant... Eliza leaves, leaving Higgins in confusion.

Seventeenth picture. That same day in front of a house on Wimpole Street. Twilight. Higgins returns. He made an unexpected and terrible discovery: “I don’t understand what’s wrong with me, I’m so used to her eyes...”

Eighteenth picture. A few minutes later in Higgins' office. He, sadly drooping, listens to old recordings of Eliza’s arrival in his house. The girl quietly and quietly enters the room. She listens with Higgins for a while, then turns off the phonograph and gently continues for him... Higgins straightens up and sighs contentedly. Eliza understands him without words.

L. Mikheeva, A. Orelovich

Year of creation: 1964

Country: USA

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Co.

Duration: 170

Musical comedy "My fair lady» - a film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, based on the work of Bernard Shaw"Pygmalion".The plot of the film largely follows the famous play.


The composer created the music for the film “My Fair Lady”Frederick Law,and wrote the script and lyricsAlan Jay Lerner.


Professor of PhoneticsHenry Higgins (Rex Harrison) - a confirmed bachelor. He makes a bet with his colleague, ColonelPickeringthat in three months can transform an illiterate London flower girlEliza Dolittle (Audrey Hepburn) into a real lady.


The professor undertakes to teach a girl who speaks street slang, high-society manners and perfectly correct speech. After the stated period, Eliza must be presented at the embassy ball, and if none of those present guess about her low origin, the colonel will recognize the professor’s victory and pay all the expenses for the girl’s education.

Eliza herself hopes that good pronunciation will allow her to get a job in a flower shop.


Musical " My fair lady"managed to become a legend even before the film was made.


Audiences first saw this production on Broadway on March 15, 1956. Shaw's play was incredibly popular, and tickets were sold out six months in advance. Today the musical "My fair lady"has been played on Broadway for over2100 once. It was successfully demonstrated in two dozen countries and was translated into 11 languages. The main roles in the musical were played byRex Harrisonand aspiring singerJulie Andrews.

When starting filming, director George Cukor chose to replaceAndrewsto a more famous oneAudrey Hepburn,which initially caused disappointment among fans of the musical. There was no replacement for the leading male role in the musical, andRex Harrisonsuccessfully moved from Broadway to the big screen. This work became the actor’s finest hour - he received a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actor in the film “My Fair Lady.”

Another contender for the role of Eliza Dolittle wasElizabeth Taylor. The choice of the actress for the main role caused some hype in the press. Audrey Hepburn was 10 years older than her heroine, did not have outstanding vocal abilities and had a reputation as a born lady. Despite vocal lessons,Audreycouldn't handle the musical numbers, and Hepburn's voice became an American singerMarni Nixon. The actress was very upset by this fact and believed that she could not cope with the role.


Movie " My fair lady"received the following awards: – 8 awardsOscarin the categories: “Best Film”, “Best Director”, “Best Actor”, “Best Artists”, “Best Cinematographer”, “Best Composer”, “Best Costumes”, “Best Sound”. — 5 awardsGolden Globein the categories: “Best Film”, “Best Director”, “Best Actor”, “Best Actress”, “Best Supporting Actor”. —British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award (for best foreign film).

You can watch the entire film in my "Cinema" section.

Design: Valeria Polskaya

Read the original: http://www.vokrug.tv/product/show/My_Fair_Lady/

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Books

  • , Shaw Bernard. The collection includes three plays by Bernard Shaw. Among them, the most famous is “Pygmalion” (1912), based on which many films were made and the legendary Broadway musical “My Fair Lady” was staged... Buy for 335 rubles
  • Pygmalion. Candida. The Dark Lady of the Sonnets, Bernard Shaw. The collection includes three plays by Bernard Shaw. Among them is the most famous Pygmalion (1912), on which many films have been made and the legendary Broadway musical My...