PYGMALION

Leslie |Howard as Henry Higgins

PYGMALION (aka Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion/1938). Directors: Anthony Asquith; Leslie Howard.

Phoneticist Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard of The Animal Kingdom) encounters a shabby flower girl named Eliza Doolittle (Wendy Hiller of Making Love), and this leads into the latter asking the former for speech lessons so she can get a job in a shop instead of selling flowers in the gutter. Higgins has his work cut out for him, but with the help of Colonel Pickering (Scott Sunderland) and housekeeper Mrs. Pearce (Jean Cadell), he is able to work wonders and introduce Eliza to his mother (Marie Lohr). Eliza not only turns into a lady but excites the fancy of young Freedy Eynsford Hill (David Tree). But Eliza can't help but wonder: what is to become of me?

Wendy Hiller as Eliza Doolittle

Some liberties were taken with George Bernard Shaw's play, but the notion that the two lead characters were turned into a more romantic couple is not borne out by the movie. Arguably, Alan Jay Lerner based his libretto for My Fair Lady more on this movie than on Shaw's play. In any case, while you definitely miss those great songs as you begin to watch Pygmalion, after awhile you forget about that and just get pulled along by a great story and dialogue, and two very wonderful performances, along with a host of well-done supporting performances -- a particular mention must go to Esme Percy, who is excellent as Count Aristid Karpathy, a former pupil of Higgins' who is determined to find out exactly who this Miss Doolittle is. Wilfrid Lawson is also fine as Eliza's father, Alfred, although he is nowhere near as lovable as Stanley Holloway in the musical version.

Esme Percy and Leslie Howard

Some may never see anyone else as Higgins except the marvelous Rex Harrison, but Howard is also great, as well as younger and better-looking. Hiller, who was introduced in this film, is certainly not as attractive as Audrey Hepburn, but she gives a sterling performance (one might argue that Hepburn is a bit more moving in the role, however). Eliza is admirably proud and feisty and her attempts to improve both herself and her lot in life are certainly to be respected. The movie was photographed by Harry Stradling, and Arthur Honegger provided some musical cues. Despite the fact that My Fair Lady may have eclipsed this, it is still definitely worth a look. Anthony Asquith also directed such masterpieces as The Browning Version and The Winslow Boy.

Verdict: Amusing and engaging comedy with fine performances. ***.