Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway.

Directed By: George Cukor

Reliving a 1964 classic in the days of 2010 can be an enthralling experience. One of the breathtaking musical extravaganzas of all time that garnered 8 Academy awards statuettes, including Best Picture is sure to bring back memories of the early days of the silver screen.

The plot is pretty simple and is an adaptation from ’’Pygmalion’ (1912) by George Bernard Shaw and the stage musical many years later. Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering (Wilfred Hyde-White), that he could take the local Cockney flower girl who has no society standing and turn her into one of societies finest in six months. The demure, unrefined, Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) is put to the rigors day and night. Higgins turns Eliza into royalty, with an aristocratic accent. The fun lies not so much in the makeover, but rather how Henry goes about changing Eliza to what he wants. Despite the inevitable confrontations, Eliza downsizing Henry to his mother, and leaving him to fall in love with someone else, Higgins’ heart goes out to her. Having grown accustomed to her face, he can’t do without her.

The acting is impeccable. The music timeless. You have classics like I could have danced all night, The rain in Spain, The street where you live, With a little bit of luck and Get me to the Church on time the list goes on and on. Harrison singing voice comes closer to speaking on pitch than actual singing on some songs. The movie is worth seeing just for the songs alone.

The movie is long at 166 minutes, but mind you, with such a plot and great music, time flies. Add to that the Special Features of an hour that showcases snippets from the LA Premiere, the gala dinner with interviews, Harrison’s speech, Academy Awards highlights and more, this is simply ‘loverly’.

Rating: *****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira