My Fair Lady: 5. 0th Anniversary Edition Blu- ray Review. The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe wrote a handful of memorable musicals, but 'My Fair Lady' remains undeniably their crowning achievement, and stands, along with 'Oklahoma!,' 'South Pacific,' and 'West Side Story,' as one of the most revered, revived, and quintessentially classic theatrical shows in history. Though most people remember the movie version of 'My Fair Lady' for its melodic score, captivating performances, witty script, and colorful sets and costumes, few realize George Cukor's Oscar- winning adaptation also stands as an awe- inspiring success story in the field of film preservation and restoration. Faded, scratched, and almost crumbling after years of neglect, 'My Fair Lady' presented a monumental challenge for Robert A. Katz, who in the early 1. Film fans will forever appreciate their efforts (I still remember my open- jawed reaction when I first viewed the 2. DVD), but unfortunately the first Blu- ray rendering of 'My Fair Lady,' released back in 2. More on that in our video review section below, but thankfully Harris returned to personally oversee this 5. At last, all the impeccable artistry, lavish style, and beguiling sophistication of this beloved musical - which took home eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture - is on full display. And it's so luscious, you'll want to eat it with a spoon. George Bernard Shaw's scintillating tale of how Henry Higgins, an egotistical elocution expert, turns Eliza, a flower- peddling guttersnipe, into the epitome of grace and refinement in old London is well- known, and although many scoffed at the idea of wrapping songs and dances around Shaw's refined prose, most skeptics ate their words when 'My Fair Lady' premiered on Broadway in 1. Warner quickly joined the chorus of admirers and paid the then astronomical sum of $5 million for the screen rights. Rex Harrison, who originated Higgins on the stage, quickly signed on to reprise his role, but Warner believed his co- star, Julie Andrews, who at that time had yet to make a feature film, lacked the national renown to draw large enough crowds to make what surely would be a pricey film successful. Much to Andrews' disappointment, Audrey Hepburn would play Eliza. Hepburn, surprisingly, wasn't even nominated.)Much has been written about the controversial hiring of Hepburn, a non- singing actress, for such a major musical. And although professional dubber Marni Nixon (who was also the voice double for Deborah Kerr in 'The King and I' and Natalie Wood in 'West Side Story') eventually would be hired to record 9. Hepburn still turns in a spirited, passionate performance worthy of Oscar recognition. More dimensional than Higgins, Eliza brims with complexities, and Hepburn boldly depicts her inner struggles, yet shades her portrayal with a fragility and tenderness that is, at times, heartbreaking. As is mentioned on the disc's commentary track, Andrews' Cockney accent might have bested Audrey's, but nobody can play a princess like Hepburn, whom many still regard as Hollywood's most regal and glamorous star. Harrison, of course, so embodies Higgins, it's tough to tell where the character ends and the actor begins. Relishing every nasty putdown and thunderous rant, Harrison romps through the film with an infectious energy and debonair style that make us somehow forget his character's cruel and exasperating nature. Like Eliza, we wind up embracing Higgins' faults and (almost) forgiving his shameless sexism. Furk.net is your personal secure storage that fetches media files and lets you stream them immediately You can use it to stream video or listen to your music from PC. Alien Resurrection is the bad movie. Simply put, Jean-Pierre Jeunet was the absolute wrong choice for this film. His award-winning quirky French visual. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Blu-ray comes close to perfection with top scores all around making it one of the best Blu-ray's ever Martha and her professor husband. When he ultimately confesses 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face,' the admission resonates like shockwaves from an earthquake, and we think maybe he's not such a hopeless case after all.'My Fair Lady,' however, is so much more than Hepburn and Harrison. Cukor directs the feature in a Minnelli- esque fashion, with meticulous attention to color, set decoration, and costumes. Pacing can drag at times — an extraneous subplot involving Eliza's father easily could have been excised if it didn't include two of Lerner and Loewe's best tunes — but, on the whole, he keeps things moving while maintaining a frothy, ethereal feel that perfectly complements the material. This is big- budget moviemaking at its opulent best, and every penny is well spent. Finally, what would 'My Fair Lady' be without its score? It doesn't matter a whit who sings them; they're part of our musical heritage, just as 'My Fair Lady' remains one of the last great musical achievements of 2. And to think we almost lost it.. The Blu- ray: Vital Disc Stats. The 5. 0th anniversary edition of 'My Fair Lady' arrives on Blu- ray packaged in a shiny metallic fold- out case that houses two BD- 5. DVD. In my review of the previous Blu- ray release of 'My Fair Lady,' I complained about the packaging's lack of panache: . Why not a digibook or a collector's edition with fancier packaging and a commemorative booklet? Once the disc is inserted into the player, the animated menu with music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it. The Video: Sizing Up the Picture. It's no secret Paramount's 2. My Fair Lady,' while far from awful, was a huge disappointment to classics aficionados and those who revere this award- winning musical. Even the man who spearheaded the movie's stunning 1. Star Trek: Into Darkness Khan vs. Klingon squad (1080P BluRay Quality). Why choose Veniceapartment? Over 10 years of experience Booking online. Professionalism and courtesy. Robert A. Harris, railed against the release, advising consumers to steer clear of it. Yet out of something bad often comes something good, and thankfully, Harris convinced Paramount executives 'My Fair Lady' - due to continued deterioration - warranted another restoration, which he again personally oversaw. This time, the film has been remastered in 4k from an 8k scan of the original negative, as well as other surviving 6. Blu- ray release lacked); and more than 1. The result is an astoundingly gorgeous 1. AVC MPEG- 4 transfer that makes this 5. Gone are all the faint white speckles that plagued the prior edition, gone are all the hazy, diffused edges that sporadically appeared in various scenes, and gone is the muted contrast that kept the image from truly popping off the screen. Though I hesitate to use such terms as . Never have I seen such impeccable resolution, color timing, balance, and depth in a digital transfer of a film produced prior to 1. All the elements work in sync to create a fluid image that's consistently filled with so much detail it's often difficult for the eye to concentrate on the principal actors during the initial viewing. The opening scene at Covent Garden, which has always been a bit problematic, has never looked better. The sequence is brighter and crisper than ever before, with heightened texture levels in the columns, more detail on Eliza's straw hat, and greater contrast on the glistening rain- soaked cobblestones. The rest of the film is equally impressive. Mirror images are razor sharp, as are the book spines in Higgins' library. The heavily patterned wallpaper jumps off the walls, background elements in high and low angle shots are crystal clear, and details in rugs, pillows, and costumes (such as the tweed weave in Higgins' jacket and the chiffon, lace, feathers, and furs that adorn the ladies' gowns) are beautifully rendered and perfectly stable. As they did in the previous release, the lush blacks, vibrant whites, and distinct grays that dominate the horse- racing scene at Ascot stand out well, as does Eliza's peach outfit during the 'Show Me' number. Faint grain preserves the film- like feel but never calls attention to itself, and close- ups, though sparingly employed, showcase fine facial details well. Sumptuous colors - from bold primaries to delicate pastels - flood every frame, maximizing the impact of Cecil Beaton's exceptional production design, and flesh tones always appear natural (although Harrison's perennial tan seems a little out of character for an erudite Englishman like Higgins). No defects, such as noise, crush, banding, or pixelation, are visible, and any digital enhancements have been judiciously applied so they blend seamlessly into the film's fabric. This transfer, along with the equally spectacular restored version of 'Spartacus,' sets the bar for classic movie digital presentations, and will be the new standard against which future releases will be measured. It will thrill casual viewers and persnickety videophiles alike, and deserves more than five stars.
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