Pygmalion

The musical adaptation, "My Fair Lady", is better-known but this version is simply better. The musical waters-down and sweetens what here shines as an intensely clever satire about the ambiguous relationship between an insufferable upper-class wretch and his protégé, a lovable simpleton. Shaw adapted the script from his play himself and so his wit remains undiluted. To top it off it's directed by the sensitive and intelligent Anthony Asquith with great acting from Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller.

Better than 'My Fair Lady'.

Probably a cut above MY FAIR LADY; Leslie Howard and Rex Harrison are closely matched in their Higginses (their respective approaches are rather different), but Wendy Hiller's Eliza is simply more believable than Audrey Hepburn's, and the brisker pace (it's over a hour shorter) helps as well. And the altered ending from the original play works better, whatever Shaw's objections.

I never thought such a wonderfully rude romance story could have me in tears because of it's underlaying sweetness! The dialogue was incredible! I guess that's down to George Bernard Shaw who wrote the play. It escapes all the clichés to reach it's clichés! And this is another time when Leslie Howard takes my breath away. And what can be said about Wendy Hiller? She was his equal here. She's such a presence that's not based on being the most prettiest girl in the room. An exceptional character!

I haven't seen My Fair Lady so I can't really compare the two, but this was a generally enjoyable fare, and I appreciate that the film avoided the temptation to turn this into a typical Hollywood happy-ending romance.

My Fair Lady if it was funnier, shorter, concise, and ruder. Who else wants to call someone a crumpled up cabbage leaf after seeing this?

I've never seen My Fair Lady, but I can't imagine the story being done any better than this. It's a hell of a script, tight as can be and moving the story along with maximum efficiency, as well as providing some wonderful comic dialogue for Howard, Hiller et al. It's not particularly cinematic, but it's such fun that it doesn't really matter.

A fantastic, perfectly executed film. The performances are excellent, the story is endearing and thoughtful, and the film is really funny as well.

Like most people, my primary knowledge of Shaw's play comes from My Fair Lady. Asquith's rendition lacks the song and spectacle of the Audrey Hepburn/Rex Harrison movie, but the wit shines much brighter. Leslie Howard (also a co-director) and Wendy Hiller are quite memorable in their roles, and the supporting cast is uniformly superb. The film lacks a certain flourish, but makes up for it with the great performances, tight pacing, and of course Shaw's brilliant words.

Howard and Hiller (and the supporting cast, as astutely directed by Asquith and Howard) are very effective conduits for George Bernand Shaw's witticisms (every word is a delight).

A far sharper take on the source material than My Fair Lady, despite the dialogue being largely identical; the poor people are actually poor as opposed to just picturesque, Higgins is an actual asshole, the stakes are higher and the ending... still just as pasted on. Hiller and Howard both shine.

An utter delight. Wendy Hiller triumphs as Eliza Doolittle: every nuance, every fleeting emotion is there for us to grasp. Astonishing. Leslie Howard kept getting those rather bland leading man roles in Hollywood, so it's easy to forget just how good an actor he could be when given a smug prig like Higgins to sink his teeth into. And, rather surprisingly for GBS, it's well-paced and engaging. The Honegger score leaves something to be desired--still, better than those Lerner & Loewe songs.

Smart dialogue throughout. Great delivery by both costars and lots of fun.

Wonderful dialogue and good acting performances.

Wendy Hiller is a terrific Eliza Doolittle, while the inimitable Leslie Howard is simply the most perfect embodiment of Henry Higgins imaginable: his cold, caustic wit has never been put to better use. With Shaw adapting his own play (and subsequently winning and disavowing the writing Oscar), none of the brilliance of the dialogue is watered down, and Asquith's direction is flawless.

Star Rating: ★★★★

Has a completely different feel from the more famous My Fair Lady but you know what it still works.

essentially it's the exact same movie as my fair lady, except it's missing the music and a couple subtle differences. i prefer the acting in this one, but the fact that my fair lady preserved the script and even the set design so perfectly that it's hard to appraise one having seen the other. what it comes down to is that both of these movies are great so take your pick, if you prefer a musical with slightly degraded acting or a movie with nuanced differences, sans music. take your pick.

Represents classical British cinema at its best! Sterling performances by Howard, Hiller, and Lawson. Shaw liked the movie, even with the altered ending.

Funny film with good ol' English.

A simple tale elevated by some exemplary filmmaking & performances. Leslie Howard can be a bit much, though.

A long gap since I watched My Fair Lady, I enjoyed this adaptation as well. My Fair Lady is the colorized, costumized, musicalized, a little bit sillier AND Hepburnized version of Pygmalion more than another treatment of the same play. Neither suffers from this.

My Fair Lady is just no fun without the songs

Classic film and must see.