Our play reading group (of retired university peeps & spouses) recently finished Shaw's "Pygmalion" and -- as we often do when available -- show a film of the play we've just read for both our play reading group plus any of the hundred or so other retiree members who'd like to attend.
We thought that this 1938 film was absolutely superb. It fully captured Professor Higgins' lack of any personal concern for Eliza, her growth and developing inner conflict, and Col. Pickering's valuable humanity with Eliza. Almost all the characters were very nicely and fully brought to life except, IMO, perhaps one and that's Eliza's father, Alfred Doolittle. While this film does give an initial view of him that's quite adequate (e.g., in his willingness to "sell" Eliza for 5 pounds), it's not quite as detailed or adequate (IMO) as the play in depicting his misery as the recipient of a grant that makes him wealthy. (But that's a small point and perhaps mainly just me.)
A TRULY EXCELLENT film -- Wendy Hiller as Eliza is absolutely SUPERB!
We thought that this 1938 film was absolutely superb. It fully captured Professor Higgins' lack of any personal concern for Eliza, her growth and developing inner conflict, and Col. Pickering's valuable humanity with Eliza. Almost all the characters were very nicely and fully brought to life except, IMO, perhaps one and that's Eliza's father, Alfred Doolittle. While this film does give an initial view of him that's quite adequate (e.g., in his willingness to "sell" Eliza for 5 pounds), it's not quite as detailed or adequate (IMO) as the play in depicting his misery as the recipient of a grant that makes him wealthy. (But that's a small point and perhaps mainly just me.)
A TRULY EXCELLENT film -- Wendy Hiller as Eliza is absolutely SUPERB!