Pygmalion

Pros: Outstanding screenplay; superlative performances; soundtrack by Honegger; strong direction; good Criterion restoration
Cons: Many viewers will still prefer the musical remake, My Fair Lady (1964)

One of the amazing things about watching old movies is that you sometimes find yourself swooning over an actor or actress who is now deceased or very ancient. Presently, I find my heart and mind filled with thoughts and images of Dame Wendy Hiller, born ...

Pros: Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard are excellent as Eliza and Higgins.
Cons: The changes that Shaw makes to the script adversely effect the story.

This is the movie based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. I would like to stress based on. While the basic story is the same, and much of the dialog is the same, certain scenes have been altered ...

Pros: Beautiful performances by the principal actors
Cons: Flawed, and, to a modern audience, distasteful ending.

The ending of the play _Pygmalion_ is open, but the one thing that you can be certain of is that Eliza is _not_ going to marry Higgins. The open ending was so unsatisfactory to the audience that Shaw wrote a prose sequel in which, after castigating, for...

Pros: The play, and especially the accents, as Shaw wanted. Maybe better than the musical.
Cons: Hard to find any.

PYGMALION (1938), with Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard, will be a landmark in literary and cinematic history. This was the first authorized* film version of George Bernard Shaw's 1914 stage sensation, and it was accomplished by the producer (Gabriel ...

Pros: Excellent script. Superb casting in the leading roles.
Cons: Shadowy lighting from black & white era may be offputting to some viewers.

As those who are familiar with MY FAIR LADY have already figured out, I deliberately titled this review to reflect the relationship between PYGMALION and MFL. (The lyrics "words, words, words..." are the first sung by Eliza Doolittle in the song "Show ...

Pros: script, direction, casting, story
Cons: supporting characters, unconvincing ending

According to Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a sculptor who succeeded in bringing his marble statue of a woman to life. George Bernard Shaw used the legend of Pygmalion as an analogous title for his London stage play, which told the story of a street...

Pros: wicked satire stays intact
Cons: can still be construed as romantic comedy

One of the great atrocities of the American cinema is 1964's "My Fair Lady," which I prefer not to blame on star Audrey Hepburn or director George Cukor. Their own personal styles did not fit that monstrosity of overspending and bad taste....

Pros: acting, early on it's funny
Cons: politics, satire doesn't work, humour doesn't last

It is impossible for me to fully like this film. The reason for why is summed up completely in the final line, “Where the devil are my slippers?”. As Higgins says it, he is reclining in his comfortable chair, taking Eliza completely for granted....

Pros: Acting and Direction
Cons: Seems a bit dated now

All things considered, "Pygmalion" is a much better movie than the glossy 1964 remake by George Cukor. Rex Harrison cannot pull off the arrogance that Leslie Howard positively drips.

Phonetics instructor, Henry Higgins, plucks a Cockney...