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Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) is a young lady who scrapes by as a street vendor, selling violets. She's selling them one rainy night in the Covent Garden area after the opera, and she learns that Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) has been listening to her brash Cockney speech. Henry is an irascible speech professor who laments the "murder" of the English language, and he can tell where people are from just from their speech patterns and accents. Henry meets Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White), who had come to London to see Henry since they share a love of worldwide speech. We get our first song, "Why Can't the English Learn to Speak?", and afterwards Henry boasts that he can make anyone a master of the proper English language within 6 months. Pickering says he would love to see Henry succeed in this fashion with Eliza, but Eliza winds up kicking her basket away because of Henry's smugness. Henry then drops a stack of coins into it for her before he and Pickering leave. This brightens her mood and she sings "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" with everyone else in the streets.
Meanwhile, Eliza's dustman dad Alfred (Stanley Holloway) is roaming the streets with his buddies seeking out Eliza to bum some money off of her so he can hit the pub. He eventually finds her and convinces her to give him "half a crown" so he can muster some liquid courage before going home to her stepmother, who he keeps claiming he'll marry eventually. Alfred heads to the pub and Eliza walks home pondering the things Henry said about her earlier.
Henry and Pickering are at the Higgins estate going over dialects and vowel sounds with the aid of recording equipment, charts and about 863 tuning forks. Housekeeper Mrs. Pearce (Mona Washbourne) alerts Henry that a young lady has come for speech lessons. Henry is excited until he hears Eliza's shrill voice fill the room. She wants to better her speech to own and operate a flower shop. Not surprisingly, Henry's conceit eventually gets Eliza bawling. Henry gives her his handkerchief and remarks that's her first lesson on being a lady. Pickering reiterates that he'd love to see Henry follow up on his claim from the night before, and he offers to pay for everything necessary for Eliza's lessons as a wager if he succeeds. Henry calls her a "guttersnipe". Pearce sorta defends her, and then Pickering does the same, but Henry keeps on with his verbal vitriol. Eliza finally has enough and starts to leave, but Henry offers her chocolates, which gets her to stay. Henry explains to Eliza exactly what the lessons will entail, but still exaggerates with stuff like failure would result in her head getting cut off. Henry also remarks that Eliza needs an entirely new wardrobe and orders that her old clothes be disposed of.
Pearce brings Eliza upstairs. Eliza sees the bathtub and thinks that's where the clothes gets washed. She soon realizes that's where SHE gets washed, and Pearce tells her to strip down and get into the hot water. Eliza fights Pearce and the other girls who are trying to get her clean. Pickering and Henry hear the commotion. Pickering also wants to make sure this wager and arrangement will be on the up-and-up, and Henry won't take advantage of the young lady. Henry says he has no desire at all to take advantage of any woman ("An Ordinary Man").
Days later, Alfred and his friends gets tossed out of a bar, and he says things will turn around in time "With a Little Bit of Luck". Alfred makes his way to Eliza's house but someone else is there now. The woman tells Alfred the address of where she's now living, and Eliza requested only a birdcage and a Chinese fan from the old residence, but no clothes. Alfred decides to take the items to Eliza personally, plus he sees an opportunity for financial gain since Eliza sounds like she's got a sugar daddy.
At the estate, Eliza is hooked up to machinery hearing and attempting to properly pronounce vowel sounds. So far she's still shrill though, as her "A"'s have the cockney accent. Henry receives a letter from an American millionaire who wants Henry to join his Moral Reform League. Henry tells Pearce to toss the letter. Alfred arrives and is brought upstairs to Henry. Alfred acts like he's trying to protect his daughter's virtue, but when Henry gleefully says he'll throw Eliza back to him, Alfred veers in the other direction and actually wants £5 from Henry in exchange for her. Henry is horrified yet impressed by Alfred's honesty (Alfred refuses to accept anything more than the £5) and natural gift of rhetoric, plus he's amused by Alfred's brazen explanation for his apparent lack of morals. Henry gives Alfred the £5 and as Alfred leaves, he runs into Eliza, who has stormed out of the recording room. Alfred officially gives his "blessing" for Eliza to stay with Henry, and leaves. Henry tells Pearce to send Alfred's name to that millionaire in America, and then orders Eliza back into the room to keep working on her vowels. Henry retreats to his bedroom, and an angry Eliza sings "Just You Wait" as she envisions Henry in front of a firing squad. The song ends and Eliza sees that Henry saw and heard her singing and dancing, so she sheepishly goes back to trying to pronounce her vowels.
More phonetic exercises as we hear the "Servants Chorus (Poor Professor Higgins)". Henry tries to get Eliza to properly say "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain." It comes out instead as "The rine in spine sties minely in the pline." A test utilizing a megaphone and a flame is to show that the "H"'s should be pronounced properly in certain words, and when they are, the flame will flicker with every "H" word in the sentence "In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly ever happen." When Eliza tries it, the only time the flame moves is when she says, of all things, "ever", which she throws a huge "H" in front of, shooting the flame high into the air. Later, she isn't paying attention to the flame and she sets her page with the sentence on it ablaze. Hearing the constant Cockney accent causes Henry to slip one time and talk about a "pline cake". A third test has Eliza try to pronounce words clearly with marbles in her mouth. None of these tests work out, and it's now 3AM, and everyone is exhausted, but Henry doesn't want to quit until she makes a breakthrough. It's been 6 weeks and she needs to make that breakthrough. Eliza cries and is prepared to throw in the towel, but Henry quells his attitude and gives an eloquent speech about the beauty and history behind the English language, and tells Eliza not only can she succeed, but she WILL succeed. Eliza picks up the microphone and properly pronounces "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain." Henry and Pickering perk up and ask her to say it again. She does so. And then a third time. And then the "hurricanes" sentence. Eureka! Suddenly she's got it. Everyone sings and dances ("The Rain in Spain"). Henry decides it's time to bring Eliza into public to demonstrate her ladylike speech and manners. Everyone heads to bed, but Eliza is so excited she doesn't even want to sleep ("I Could Have Danced All Night").
Ascot racetrack the next day. Henry is a bit underdressed but is excited to show off Eliza to his mother (Gladys Cooper). Mrs. Higgins just hopes Henry doesn't insult everyone around him. Pickering arrives with Eliza, and Eliza meets everyone with a proper "How do you do?". Pickering is nervous and says so to Henry, wondering if this is a good idea, but Henry tells him she's been told not to speak of anything except the weather and health. One young man, Freddy (Jeremy Brett) is eyeing Eliza up. In conversation with a group of socialites, Eliza somehow works the "Rain in Spain" and "hurricane" sentences into the mix. However, when asked questions, her conversation veers into talk of influenza and how she suspects her aunt was poisoned by her uncle. Henry and Pickering can sense things are going awry. Freddy doesn't think so though, as he just laughs and flirts at everything she says.
Everyone heads to Mrs. Cooper's private box to see the race. Eliza gets told by Freddy which horse to root for, and she does so. The horse isn't doing well though, so eventually the proper cheers turn into a loud cockney "Move your bloomin' arse!" Everyone is shocked. Some women pass out. Henry and Pickering hide their heads. Eliza realizes she's slipped. As everyone leaves, Mrs. Higgins tells Henry to give up his project with Eliza, who he's been trying to mold like a living doll.
Back at the estate, Eliza is feeling a bit down. Pickering sits with her to console her. Freddy comes to the house with flowers for Eliza. Pearce answers the door and says Eliza doesn't want to see anyone right now, so he leaves the flowers with Pearce and says he'll wait for Eliza outside ("On the Street Where You Live"). Pickering wants to call off the wager, as he feels Eliza has been through enough. Henry refuses and still plans on bringing her to the Embassy tonight, despite the afternoon snafu. Eliza comes back downstairs, having gotten into her formal gown. Henry offers her his arm as they head out.
We're at the fancy ball at the Embassy. Zoltan Karpathy (Theodore Bikel) finds Henry and reminds Henry that he was Henry's first student. Zoltan is now a success, knowing lots of royalty and figuring out people's speech patterns as well. Zoltan is also enamored with Eliza from afar. Henry and Pickering introduce Eliza as a cousin, but Zoltan isn't sure he believes that, so he's going to try and find out about her. Pickering is nervous again and thinks Henry should get Eliza out of here. Not so fast though, the Queen of Transylvania (!) has arrived! The Queen is charmed by Eliza's proper curtsy and later sends someone to bring her to her son so they can share a dance. Henry and Pickering beam as they see Eliza do so. Eliza later dances with Henry and Zoltan as well. After that last dance, Zoltan starts telling people something, and in time it reaches Henry. When he hears the gossip, he bursts out laughing.
Back at the estate, Henry and Pickering celebrate ("You Did It"). Eliza seems quiet though and doesn't join in. Henry explains in the song that Zoltar did discover that Eliza was a fraud as her English was TOO good, but Zoltar's conclusion was that Eliza was actually Hungarian! Henry is glad he can sleep with no future dread tomorrow. Eliza remains silent, and when everyone else leaves the room, she starts to bawl. Henry returns looking for his slippers. Eliza throws the slippers at him. Henry doesn't know why she's upset, saying that he did all this for her. Eliza just feels she was a "bet" and now she'll be thrown back to poverty in the streets. Henry continues to insult her but at the same time, also tries to cheer her up. Eliza won't leave with the jewelry (it's rented) but the ring that Henry did give her at one point, she doesn't want that either. She gives it to Henry, who tosses it into the fireplace. Eliza retrieves it once Henry leaves the room. Eliza sings a reprise of "Just You Wait"...
...while outside, Freddy has indeed waited outside for several hours, and he's reprising the "On the Street..." song. Eliza eventually exits the house with her packed suitcase. The two duet on "Show Me" and they decide to leave somewhere together. Freddy isn't sure where they're going. Eliza says they're going where she belongs.
The two take a taxi and make a stop in the streets where Eliza used to sell flowers. Eliza, wearing her fancy clothes, slowly walks around and reminisces while reprising "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?". She buys a violet from a vendor. Another vendor nearly recognizes her. While walking near a bar, she sees that Alfred comes out of it and is being treated with great respect by everyone around him. Alfred is also very fancily-dressed. Alfred and Eliza talk, and he's enjoying one last night of merriment before marrying Eliza's stepmother. Alfred has been left a large fortune by the wealthy American, saying that Henry has ruined him, since he is now bound unwillingly by middle-class morals and responsibility. Alfred and Eliza say their goodbyes, and she gets back into the taxi. Alfred and his friends sing "Get Me to the Church on Time" as he's about to tie the knot.
The next morning, Henry is shocked to find Eliza gone. He and Pickering sing "A Hymn to Him (Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?", with Henry speaking of her disappearance as being unpredictable and even obscene. Pickering puts in a call to Scotland Yard, and then heads out to look for her. As it turns out, Eliza has gone to Mrs. Higgins's residence. Henry eventually decides to go there, and is stunned to find that's where Eliza is. Eliza gives him the proper lines. Henry just proceeds to insult her, complaining how he wasted time teaching manners to that "thing." Eliza puts over Pickering for having taught her manners, saying that she is to Pickering a lady, but to Henry just a flower girl. Mrs. Higgins has a visitor so she leaves the room, but before doing so tells Eliza she has her full permission to throw Henry out if he gets lippy.
Henry and Eliza verbally battle, but in time he admits that he misses her. She reciprocates and they both admit they have developed a friendship, but Henry still finds ways to insult her during this conversation. Another song ("Without You") and Henry admitting he finds Eliza to be a tower of strength. However, she leaves, saying she'll marry Freddy and teach phonics like Zoltan. Henry tells his mother that Eliza left. She tells him to do without then, and then to herself tells Eliza she did a good job.
While walking home, Henry realizes his feelings towards Eliza ("I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face") and when he returns to the estate, is gloomy. He sits in his chair and listens to the first tape Eliza made with her cockney accent. Eliza strolls in, turns off the record and finishes the sentence out loud in person. Henry smiles, puts his hat over his eyes and asks where his slippers are.
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Despite Hepburn's extensive vocal preparations before shooting the film, most of her singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon. Nixon claimed this was needed because most of the songs were not tonally matched with Hepburn's singing voice. Hepburn does sing most of "Just You Wait" as well a couple of lines in other songs. Brett saw his singing also be re-dubbed by another. Most of Harrison's singing was in a spoken-word style so he would record his songs live via a wireless microphone hidden under his tie. This microphone would on occasion pick up local police radio transmissions....The Eliza Doolittle character is age 19. Hepburn, when filming the role, was age 35.....Harrison was concerned Hepburn wouldn't be suitable for her role, but in later years, he would call Hepburn his all-time favorite leading lady in movies.....The paper that catches fire during the flame-and-megaphone scene actually has the screen dialogue written on it.....Did Colonel Pickering fall into the abyss? After he leaves the estate to go find Eliza, we never see or hear from him again.....Alan Napier (Alfred from the 1960's Batman TV series) has an unbilled cameo as the man who summons for Eliza to come see the Queen of Transylvania.....Upon completion, this was the most expensive film in the history of Warner Brothers.....Harrison and Holloway both starred in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady. The producers had decided to cast Hepburn instead of Broadway's Eliza, Julie Andrews.....A film remake was planned for 2008 but ultimately scrapped.....One of the categories that won an Oscar for this film was Best Adapted Musical Score, awarded to André Previn. This category was last awarded as Best Original Song Score in 1984 (Prince, "Purple Rain") but has never been officially proclaimed as a defunct category by the
Academy. It exists in the rulebook under the current name of Best Original Musical and would be awarded, according to their bylaws, if "...the field of eligible submissions is determined to be of sufficient quantity and quality to justify award competition."
My Fair Lady was tremendously popular with everyone, including the AMPAS, who threw a massive 12 nominations at it. Four categories saw awards go elsewhere: Film Editing (William H. Ziegler), Adapted Screenplay (Lerner), Supporting Actress (Cooper) and Supporting Actor (Holloway). However, there were eight Oscar wins for My Fair Lady: Cinematography--Color (Harry Stradling Sr.), Art/Set Direction--Color (Gene Allen, Cecil Beaton, George James Hopkins), Costume Design--Color (Beaton), Sound (George Groves), Adapted Musical Score (Previn), Director (George Cukor), Lead Actor (Harrison) and Best Picture. The top prize was won over Becket, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Mary Poppins and Zorba the Greek. Julie may have felt some redemption at these 37th Annual Academy Awards for not getting the Eliza Doolittle role since she won Best Lead Actress for Mary Poppins while Hepburn wasn't even nominated. (For the record, while Andrews was indeed angry about being passed over for the role, she never harbored any ill will towards Hepburn for it as she realized Hepburn had zero involvement in the decision-making process.)
Most people would probably agree with My Fair Lady winning top honors. I like Mary Poppins a lot but it's not a Best Picture to me. If I was to vote, I'd go with Dr. Strangelove. I'm just not a fan of My Fair Lady and I never really have been. The songs are nice, many are classic, but the story is quite ridiculous, and the Henry Higgins character deserves to have a shovel swung into his smug schnoz like it's a baseball bat. The May-December romance just doesn't sell to me one bit. It's completely unbelievable, as are a lot of happenstances within the story. I understand, it's a movie, the setting is another era (1912-ish), you're supposed to suspend belief somewhat, blah blah blah, but none of that works here. I don't like the story, I don't like the movie, and believe me, I've tried over the years through multiple attempted viewings. It's just too annoying. I can't do it.
But for the rest of you who do love it, and I know there are many, it's "loverly" indeed.
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