Customer Reviews

Pygmalion (1938) - Essential Art House

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I won't dwell on the wonderful qualities of this adaptation of Shaw's most famous theater piece. I won't tell you how superb the actors are. I won't insist that this film is a must for your collection. I'll simply recommend that you purchase this edition rather than paying a premium for the Criterion Collection DVD, which virtually the same disc. There are no extras on either, and spending up to twice as much for a brief essay on an insert is simply not reasonable.

After a lifetime of watching the musical and singing those great songs, I finally obtained the REAL story -- and what a treat! THIS is theater at its best. Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller play their parts with such excellence and class that the musical version seems like a rather overdone remake in comparison. No extravagant costumes or snazzy tunes are needed with acting of this high caliber. Truly a necessary addition to the collection of anyone who appreciates pure top notch theater.

This a perfect film - perfect script, both leads are perfect, direction is perfect, I can go on and on... I loved the ending, of course, she should stay with Higgins. Eliza is the intelligent girl, remember, and what woman in her right mind would choose a dull and helpless Freddie (mediocrity itself) over a genius and success, as charming as Leslie Howard?! She is smart and brave, she won't be frightened by his manners, she'll learn how to deal with him. Has anybody noticed that at Higgins' mother reception, professor is the only one really interested in what Eliza is telling, not how she is telling it? They are true equals, and there is a great chemistry between them.
The quality of the DVD leaves a lot to wish for - some scenes haven't been digitally redone, no extras, no subtitles.

While the acting in this film (especially Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard's) is excellent, I really disliked the altered ending. The ending is NOT Shaw's ending nor did Shaw approve of the ending. While I understood the themes Shaw was trying to convey throughout most of the film, the altered ending left me questioning, "What am I supposed to take away from this film? What am I supposed to learn?"

After a bit of research, I realized that having Eliza reunited with Higgins goes against the entire structure of the play. Higgins is not supposed to be rewarded. In his own epilogue to the play (written in 1941), Shaw clearly displays his disgust with the ending of this film adaptation. Higgins is NOT supposed to receive a happy ending because Higgins REFUSES to alter his behavior.

Because of the ending, I recommend the 1973 BBC adaptations, which follows Shaw's epilogue.

Even though the acting in the 1973 adaptation is quite inferior to the 1938 adaptation, I still believe this 1938 adaptation is worthy of 3 stars while the 1978 adaptation should receive no more than 2 stars. (I would have given this 1938 film adaptation 5 stars except for the ending, which is the same as the ending in "My Fair Lady", although it pre-dates the musical.)


However, this said, if you can accept the altered ending, by all means purchase this 1938 Leslie Howard adaptation.

Charles Laughton was Shaw's first choice for this film, gratefully; he was talked out of it. Leslie Howard delivers one of his great performances as Higgins. He captures the snide sarcasm, without hitting it with a hammer. Howard was famous for underplaying and even taught this to his friend, Humphrey Bogart. Bogart's second child is named in his honor.

The problem with Harrison is that he is far too old for the part and even older for the film. It is hard to suggest a romance under those conditions. Howard is in his early 40s and looks a bit younger. Shaw did not consider this a love story but it clearly becomes that, more than the social satire that was intended.

Harrison also declaims the role, as if he was a bit hard of hearing. One can understand this approach on stage but it gets tiresome on film, where subtlety is appreciated. Howard explores the nuances of the role without over-blowing the emotion. He mines it for every comic twist. His timing is infallible and Hiller is the perfect foil for his tyranny.
Watch his eyes, he has some of the most expressive peepers in the business and knew how to use them for the camera. (Ronald Colman was also famous for his ability to act through his eyes.) Howard was nearsighted and loved playing roles that allowed him to wear his glasses. There are several such parts in his catalogue. Suggest you check out `The Stand In," with Bogart. Of course the "Scarlet Pimpernel," is a must. "Pimpernel Smith," a wonderful remake of his original film.

Many films can be found on Amazon and other sites and are worth having. "Pygmalion," is beautifully restored and there is a wonderful new Shaw box with Wendy Hiller in "Major Barbara," featuring a younger and better suited Rex Harrison. "Caesar and Cleopatra," with Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains. There are many more great films out there and his real genius, is tragically unappreciated in GWTW. It was his least favorite role, and the one for which he is best remembered. A shame.....

"Pygmalion," only suggests the realization of a romance at the very end and that was as intended. We are confident that they get together but Shaw leaves us wondering how and when.

For those who only know Leslie Howard from GWTW, this film is a revelation. He hated "Wind..." and only did it as a favor in return for staring in and producing Ingrid Bergman's first American film, "Intermezzo."

Howard returned to England where he directed and starred in several fine films during the war. He also did a great deal of documentary work for the war effort. He was killed in 1943 while on a trip to Portugal, when his plane was shot down by the Germans. The exact nature of that trip is still in question. He was just 50. It is not generally known that Howard was Jewish, of Hungarian extraction. He married out of the faith and was not very concerned about religion but his hatred of the Nazis is obvious from his work. Had he lived, he might have developed into a fine actor/director, such as Wells or Eastwood or Chaplin. Even so, the work that he leaves is a testament to his great talent.

A lesser known fact is, that despite a wife and two kids, he was one of the most insatiable ladies' men in Hollywood. Joan Blondel said that he could sit between two women and flirt with both and make them believe it. Bette Davis remembered that she held him at arm's length for three films. One of his children wrote that he could never avoid the female temptations of Hollywood but always came home to his family. Ironic, for a man who cultivated the exact opposite image. He was also an amazing polo player and loved horses. Surprising, that he did not play more roles that took advantage of his skills as a horseman. Actor, Director, Stud, Athlete, inside the shell of a shy, romantic, poetic, scholar.

A pretty wonderful film of the great George Bernard Shaw play.

Both Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller are terrific in the leads, and this
production brings out both the fun and wit of Shaw's words, without
losing the sharp, complex, and sometimes paradoxical political and
social observations underneath the playful extrtior.

Dated in style, yes, and it could be argued Hiller is a bit older than ideal
for the character's innocence. And some of the supporting performances
are too stagy (although some are very good indeed).

But overall this is a lot of fun, and quite thought provoking, with a
nicely ambiguous ending.

Note, this "Essential Art House' version is the same excellent transfer
as the Criterion (which owns both labels) the only difference is cost
and extras.

I'm a lover of old movies. I got this movie because I love My Fair Lady. I was not disappointed watching Pygmalion. It was very different in so many ways and very enjoyable. Pygmalion truly had my attention.

This is a screen adaptation of a George Bernard Shaw 1913 stage play based on Greek mythology. Shaw also scripted this movie adaptation.

Windy Hiller plays the part of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower seller.

Professor Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard) scholar in phonetics bets a colleague, Colonel Pickering (Scott Sunderland) that he can pass her off as a duchess in six months by adjusting her speech pattern to proper-English.

This is a classic story and played my major actors of their time and ours. Windy Hillier is also famous for her role in the "Major Barbara" (1941), many Pressburger and Powel movies, and even into today's era with "The Kingfisher" (1983) as Evelyn. Windy Hiller died 14 May 2003.

You will also enjoy the remake of this film as a musical "My Fair Lady" (1964)

This film is a must for your collection.

"Pygmalion" is the 1913 play by George Bernard Shaw that was released as "My Fair Lady" decades after this 1938 film. Although the music is great in "My Fair Lady", the cast is much better in this non-musical version. This is a wonderful film with a wonderful performance by Dame Wendy Hiller.

A friend told me about the movie called Pygmalion, like the story My Fair Lady without all the songs. It's a wonderful story, great acting, and fun to watch. So glad we bought it!