History Film / MyFairLady

Eliza shows up for speech lessons at Higgins' residence the day after overhearing him boast to fellow language enthusiast Colonel Pickering that, if he taught her how to speak correctly, he could pass her off as a duchess. Although initially reluctant to take her on as his student, Higgins agrees after Pickering wagers that he won't be able to make good on his boast. Unfortunately for Eliza, she is almost immediately subjected to all sorts of humiliating comments and insane training methods.

After having substantial difficulty grasping her lessons, Eliza finally breaks through after a [[PetTheDog rare kind word]] from Higgins. This prompts him to take her out on a practice run in an upper class setting. He brings her to his mother's box at Ascot where, in spite of her perfect accent, she exhibits many traces of her lower class roots including grammatical errors, bringing up her family's history of alcoholism, and shouting vulgarities as the horses race. Here, she meets Freddy Eynsford-Hill who instantly falls for her in spite of and, in part, because of these flaws.

The embarrassing incident at Ascot prompts Colonel Pickering to advise Higgins to quit and give up the bet. However, Higgins continues with the lessons and the three attend the Embassy Ball as originally planned. Another slip-up like at Ascot would mean embarrassment in front of some of Europe's most influential people including the Queen and Prince of Transylvania. To add to the tension, Zoltan Karpathy, a former student of Higgins' who uses his skills to detect and blackmail impostors, is also in attendance. This time, all goes according to plan and Eliza not only dances with the Prince of Transylvania, but also leaves Karpathy believing that she's a Hungarian princess.

Things start to go south after the ball when, instead of congratulating Eliza and including her in the celebration, Higgins ignores her in favor of patting himself on the back. This is a huge blow to Eliza, who had come to think of Higgins as a friend. Worried that she won't be able to make a living now that he has no use for her, she has an argument with Higgins before leaving to find her own way in the world. Meanwhile, Higgins is angry and confused by her outburst and by his own feelings for her. The rest of the film involves them figuring out what to do with their lives and whether or not to maintain their relationship now that the experiment is over. Whether or not it works out in the end is ambiguous.

The filming of the movie took place at the time of President Kennedy's assassination; actress Creator/AudreyHepburn made a speech to the cast and crew on the day.

''My Fair Lady'' is a 1964 musical film from Creator/WarnerBros, adapted from [[Theatre/MyFairLady the popular play]] by the same name. It was directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and stars Creator/AudreyHepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Creator/RexHarrison as Henry Higgins. The film was very well received, winning 8 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and follows Eliza's transformation from a poor Cockney flower seller to a proper lady as she takes speech lessons from arrogant Professor Higgins.

* HeManWomanHater: Henry is very misogynistic, though he insists he's not. In fact, he's got two whole songs dedicated to whining about how much he dislikes women ("A Hymn to Him" and "An Ordinary Man"). The end of the play may have helped him get over it, but again, it's up to viewer interpretation.

* SpiritedYoungLady: Eliza's uncouth behavior got Freddy's interest.

* PinkProductPloy: The DVD covers from 2004 and 2009 have pink backgrounds. (The 2004 cover actually uses a 1964 poster which was pink to begin with.)

''My Fair Lady'' is a 1964 musical film from Creator/WarnerBros, adapted from [[Theatre/MyFairLady the popular play]] by the same name. It was directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and stars Creator/AudreyHepburn as Eliza Doolittle and RexHarrison as Henry Higgins. The film was very well received, winning 8 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and follows Eliza's transformation from a poor Cockney flower seller to a proper lady as she takes speech lessons from arrogant Professor Higgins.

* CurseCutShort: While singing "Without You", Eliza nearly tells Higgins he can go to Hell -- but replaces it with "Hertford, Hereford, and Hampshire" (echoing Higgins' speech exercise from earlier).

* TheEdwardianEra: 1912, to be precise. ([[FridgeHorror Makes one rather wonder]] about Freddy's [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI fate]].)
** In a flash of FridgeBrilliance, this may imply a case of DeathOfTheHypotenuse.
** In 1912, Edward VII had been dead for two years so strictly speaking the New Georgian Era.
*** The scene at the recetrack, where everyone (except Henry Higgins) wears black and white, is based on the real fashions of the time - they were in mourning after the death of the old king. A recent touring production went even further by dressing everyone in black only and using a paperboy announcing the King's death as a scene-changing device.
*** In historical terms, the Edwardian Era lasted from the death of Queen Victoria until the First World War.

* HeManWomanHater: Henry is very misogynistic, though he insists he's not. In fact, he's got a whole song dedicated to whining about how much he dislikes women ("An Ordinary Man"). The end of the play may have helped him get over it, but again, it's up to viewer interpretation.
** ''Two'' whole songs -- there's also "A Hymn to Him" ([[RefrainFromAssuming a.k.a.]] "Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?").

* HypocriticalHumor: As they prepare for the ball, Pickering [[INeedAFreakingDrink downs a glass of port]] and curses Higgins for his constant serenity. Before they leave, however, Higgins peeks over his shoulder and quaffs some alcohol, too.

* AdaptationDecay: [[AvertedTrope Not enough, really]]. One peculiarity about the film is how it uses the old stage directions, even the [[MediumAwareness meta]] jokes that don't work in a movie setting. Instances of this include Higgins doing a short jig at the horse race -- a CallBack to "I Could Have Danced All Night" -- but without the knowing laughter of a live audience, he merely looks a like a lunatic. He also sets a teacup on his hat, a gesture which would be funny on-stage, but looks ''really'' odd in this context.

* BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord: [[EnforcedTrope Enforced]] when Higgins asks Alfie point-blank how much he wants. Alfie insists on beating around the bush, seemingly on principle.

* {{Bowdlerization}}: The name of the oily language expert was changed from Nepomuck to Zoltan Kaparthy, because St. John Nepomuck (as Shaw was well aware) was a Catholic saint and patron of the confessional.

* CannotStandThemCannotLiveWithoutThem: Eliza and Henry, to each other.

-->'''Higgins:''' Oh, Pickering, for God's sake [[LampshadeHanging stop being dashed and do something!]]

* DrJerk: Henry Higgins himself, though he's [[NotThatKindOfDoctor technically a professor of linguistics and not a doctor per se.]]

* MeaningfulName: A name like Doolittle totally makes sense for someone like Eliza's father. Eliza herself, [[UnfortunateName on the other hand...]]

* AmbiguousDisorder: Higgins, who comes from noble stock, is such an offensive and crass boor that his mother has banned him from her social circle. This is illustrated at the horse races where sumptuous hats and tuxedos are on display; enter Higgins, crashing the party in his usual, dusty-looking tweed. Higgins' out of control ego could suggest some kind of narcissistic personality disorder or, considering his obvious genius, a high-functioning form of Asperger's.

''My Fair Lady'' is a 1964 musical film from WarnerBros, adapted from [[Theatre/MyFairLady the popular play]] by the same name. It was directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and stars Creator/AudreyHepburn as Eliza Doolittle and RexHarrison as Henry Higgins. The film was very well received, winning 8 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and follows Eliza's transformation from a poor Cockney flower seller to a proper lady as she takes speech lessons from arrogant Professor Higgins.

* ItsAllAboutMe: "You Did It".
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Henry. Maybe there's some gold in there somewhere, but you'd be hard pressed to find it. Not quite JerkWithAHeartOfJerk territory, but YMMV.
* KavorkaMan: Alfie. There's a reason he departs for his wedding as if it were his own funeral.

* LicensedPinballTables: Played with; there are actually two {{Pinball}} games based on ''My Fair Lady'', though both of them were unofficial {{Spiritual Licensee}}s.
** Creator/{{Gottlieb}} released ''Fair Lady'' in 1956, capitalizing on the success of the Broadway play, with illustrations of the masked women from the embassy ball.
** Then in 1966, Creator/{{Gottlieb}} released ''Pinball/{{Mayfair}}'', riding the coattails of the film adaptation.

* MayDecemberRomance: What may have happened between the 21-year-old Eliza and the much older Higgins, who is at least twice her age.

* MissingMom: Seeing as Eliza's father remarries, and his side comments about his old wife are along the lines of "You look just like her, Eliza" and "Just like her, you never give me money!" it can be safely assumed Eliza's mother is dead.
** He didn't "re" marry, actually...
-->Pickering:"...marriage isn't so frightening; you married Eliza's Mother."
-->Doolittle: "Who told ya that, guv'ner?" [Gives Pickering a headshake and a slightly leering wink.]

* NiceHat: The racetrack scene goes crazy with this. ''Every lady'' has a hat nicer than the previous one. Eliza's hat is just massive, including the [[FluffyFashionFeathers loads of feathers on the side]].

* NoSympathy: The servants express more compassion for Higgins than his hapless student (Doesn't rest / Doesn't eat / Doesn't touch a crumb!) [[DescriptionCut Cut]] to Higgins munching on cakes while Eliza is wasting away.
** Also, while trying to practice with marbles in her mouth, Eliza accidentally swallows one, but Higgins simply replies "Doesn't matter, I've got more", and puts more into her mouth.

* ObsessionSong: "On the Street Where You Live". Considering that Freddy continues to wait outside for several days: possibly weeks -- this song can get creepy for some viewers.
** One really should consider that he has no other polite way of contacting her, due to Higgins. It's not as if he could just text her.
** The text of the musical says that he arrives at the house after Ascot. Six weeks later is the Transylvanian Embassy Ball, and the day after that is the first time we see Freddy again. He's been on that street for SIX WEEKS.

* ParentalAbandonment: Eliza's father pushes this into borderline abuse levels as he not only leaves all of his children to fend for themselves, he takes their hard-earned money for himself to waste on alcohol. (And he ''brags'' about this, no less!)
** The line immediately following his proud description of his parenting style? "You've got a good heart, Alfie..."

* PetTheDog: After a full day of nonstop, grueling exercises, an exhausted Higgins finally offers Eliza a few soft words of encouragement. At this, her voice instantly transforms into an impeccable upper class accent.

* PimpedOutDress: See the photo; also, her gown for the Embassy ball.

* PrincessForADay: Well, for several months. Eliza's training is to help her pass as a "lady."
* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: It seems Higgins' contempt for his pupil lies in the fact that he abandoned academia; Zoltan uses his linguistics abilities "more to blackmail and swindle than teach."
** Since Eliza mentioned straight to Higgins that she might become a linguist like him as her way of getting back at him, [[UnreliableNarrator you should wonder whether Zoltan really is as devious and conniving as Higgins claims]].
*** Still, Zoltan did say of the Greek Ambassador's birth origin "I keep his secret, but I make him pay. I make them all pay.", so the character himself seems to confirm the blackmail accusation.
* PygmalionPlot: Duh.
* RagsToRoyalty: Well, upper middle class. And she ''was'' able to be taken for nobility.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Both Eliza and Henry deliver these to each other. Several times. Henry even gets a Reason Your Speech Sucks Speech.
** Eliza even gets a Reason You Suck ''Song'' ("Just You Wait").

* RomanticFalseLead: Freddy
** Or Higgins. It's left very ambiguous.

* SmugSnake: Higgins throughout most of the musical.

* SpotOfTea: It is set in England, after all!

* StalkingIsLove: Freddy. 'Nuff said.
* StealthInsult: Eliza gets Higgins with a few. Higgins isn't so good at being stealthy with insults, but doesn't understand why he has to be.
** Which is about the best you can hope for from Higgins. "I've [[AnAesop learned something]] from your idiotic notions."

* TalkAboutTheWeather: While in public, Higgins advises Eliza to stick to mundane topics: the weather, and everyone's health. It backfires.
** Mrs. Higgins, disgusted with every word that comes out of her son's mouth, [[IronicEcho echoes this advice]] in the end.

* TrainingFromHell: ''Linguistics'' training from hell, although not as over-the-top as some examples.
* {{Tsundere}}:
** Eliza is Type A, though this largely comes through from being around Higgins; when left with her Cockney friends, she's more Type B.
** Higgins himself is a type A, notably when he meets Eliza at his mother's. He'll get close to being kind to Eliza, realise what he just said and promptly insult her.
* TheVillainSucksSong: "Without You" is this, as well as being a bit of a AntiLoveSong. Also "Just You Wait".

* PinkProductPloy: Every DVD cover since 2004 has a pink background. (The 2004 cover actually uses a 1964 poster which was pink to begin with.)

*** The scene at the recetrack, where everyone (except Henry Higgins) wears black and white, is based on the real fashions of the time - they were in mourning after the death of the old king.

* GotMeDoingIt: The voice exercises start getting to poor Pickering after awhile. "'Ave you troid the ploin cayke?"

* SpringtimeForHitler: Higgins sarcastically writing a letter of recommendation for Alfred Dolittle, calling him "one of the original moralists in England." An American philanthropist dies and bequeaths a fortune to Alfie.

** Higgins asks Pickering where one can find a Ladies' Dress Shop. Pickering replies so quickly, Higgins asks how he would know. Pickering clears his throat and says "Common knowledge" (despite having just arrived in London from years living in India).

* BritishAccents: Received Pronunciation ("Queen's English") as enforced by Henry Higgins. A wide variety of other, more ''common'' ones, especially during the opening scenes.
-->Eliza: "''Eeyyyyaaaoooowwww!!''"
--->(...)
-->Higgins: "How many vowel sounds did you hear altogether?"
-->Pickering: "l believe l counted 24."
-->Higgins: "Wrong by 100. To be exact you heard 130."

* TheEdwardianEra: 1912, to be precise. ([[FridgeHorror Makes one rather wonder]] about Freddy's [[WorldWarI fate]].)

After having substantial difficulty grasping her lessons, Eliza finally breaks through after a rare kind word from Higgins. This prompts him to take her out on a practice run in an upper class setting. He brings her to his mother's box at Ascot where, in spite of her perfect accent, she exhibits many traces of her lower class roots including grammatical errors, bringing up her family's history of alcoholism, and shouting vulgarities as the horses race. Here, she meets Freddy Eynsford-Hill who instantly falls for her in spite of and, in part, because of these flaws.

'''''My Fair Lady''''' is a 1964 musical film from WarnerBros, adapted from [[Theatre/MyFairLady the popular play]] by the same name. It was directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and stars Creator/AudreyHepburn as Eliza Doolittle and RexHarrison as Henry Higgins. The film was very well received, winning 8 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and follows Eliza's transformation from a poor Cockney flower seller to a proper lady as she takes speech lessons from arrogant Professor Higgins.

he always treats me as a lady and always will.''"\\

-- '''Eliza Doolittle'''

My Fair Lady is a 1964 musical film from WarnerBros, adapted from [[Theatre/MyFairLady the popular play]] by the same name. It was directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and stars Creator/AudreyHepburn as Eliza Doolittle and RexHarrison as Henry Higgins. The film was very well received, winning 8 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and follows Eliza's transformation from a poor Cockney flower seller to a proper lady as she takes speech lessons from arrogant Professor Higgins.

* IWantSong: Eliza's "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?": she wants a cosy warm room, a comfy chair, and lots of chocolate.

Eliza shows up for speech lessons at Higgin's residence the day after overhearing him boast to fellow language enthusiast Colonel Pickering that, if he taught her how to speak correctly, he could pass her off as a duchess. Although initially reluctant to take her on as his student, Higgins agrees after Pickering wagers that he won't be able to make good on his boast. Unfortunately for Eliza, she is almost immediately subjected to all sorts of humiliating comments and insane training methods.

* BreakTheHaughty: Mrs. Higgin's favorite sport with her son, and delights in Eliza putting him in his place in front of her.

* PassFail: The plot is driven by Higgin's bet that he can train a rough, low-class flower girl into passing as a member of the aristocracy.

Things start to go south after the ball when, instead of congratulating Eliza and including her in the celebration, Higgins ignores her in favor of patting himself on the back. This is a huge blow to Eliza, who had come to think of Higgins as a friend. Worried that she won't be able to make a living now that he has no use for her, she has an argument with Higgins before leaving to find her own way in the world. Meanwhile, Higgins is angry and coufused by her outburst and by his own feelings for her. The rest of the film involves them figuring out what to do with their lives and whether or not to maintain their relationship now that the experiment is over. Whether or not it works out in the end is ambiguous.

My Fair Lady is a 1964 musical film from WarnerBros, adapted from [[Theatre/MyFairLady the popular play]] by the same name. It was directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and stars Creator/AudreyHepburn as Eliza Doolittle and RexHarrison as Henry Higgins. The film was very well received, winning 8 {{Academy Award}}s and follows Eliza's transformation from a poor Cockney flower seller to a proper lady as she takes speech lessons from arrogant Professor Higgins.