Customer Reviews

Pygmalion

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First of all, this is not a review of the play, which is brilliant. My rating is solely based on the quality of the DVD, which I found to be very disappointing.
Criterion has made a name for itself by distributing good if not excellent quality versions of movies on DVD. Having said that, I would like to warn people that the audio quality of this DVD is an absolute disaster. I returned the first DVD thinking the reason the audio wouldn't play was because I received a bad disk. However, the replacement Amazon sent was just the same. If you purchase this DVD, you might be lucky enough to get it to work, but I think I can safely say that you will be very disappointed in the audio of this DVD.

Having looked at the reviews of this movie, I find it annoying that so many of them are based on the VHS tape version. (I suppose that when you click on 'See all customers reviews' it scans the entire database giving you everything related to this play.) This seems to be a disservice to someone looking for the quality of the media not the quality of the play.

Until now, Criterion has been recognized as the undisputed leader in film resoration for transfer to DVD. With PYGMALION, they make a very disappointing stumble. The package states that this is a "gorgeous new transfer, with digitally restored image and sound". I'm sure this is what they intended, but the product does not reflect either restored image or sound. It is, on the whole a good print, though not at all up to the normal Criterion quality. It is - in places - terrible. And the sound is all over the map. Yes, it can be heard, but because of a poor audio mix, one has to raise and lower the volume with almost every scene. Criterion remains by far the best distributor of DVDs, but they should be told by their consumers that in this case, the product is plainly not deserving of the Criterion name.

This superlative, award winning film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play is as delightful today as when it was first filmed, nearly sixty five years ago. This ageless story, based upon greek mythology in which an ivory statue of a maiden, Galatea, is brought to life by the prayers of its sculptor, Pygmalion, features a professor of linguistics, Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard), who takes a cockney flower seller, Eliza Doolittle (Wendy Hiller), and bets that, within a matter of six months, he can turn her into a lady who can pass in high society without betraying her lowly origins.

Leslie Howard, wonderful in the role, is the quintessential Henry Higgins, playing him as an arrogant, aristocratic misogynist whose own mother (Marie Lohr) barely finds him tolerable. Henry makes his bet about his prospective success with Eliza with his friend, the kindly Col. George Pickering (Scott Sunderland), a wealthy gentleman who bankrolls the costs of Eliza's transformation from guttersnipe to royal pretender.

Wendy Hiller is perfectly cast in the role of Eliza, having a certain earthiness about her, which makes her so believable as the cockney upstart. Yet, she has enough of an incandescence about her, so as to make her believable in her transition from gutter to drawing room. Scott Sunderland is wonderful as Col. Pickering, the buffer between Henry and Eliza. Marie Lohr is excellent as Mrs. Higgins, Henry's exasperated mother. The scene in which Eliza has tea with Henry's unsuspecting mother and her guests is one of the funniest on the silver screen. Look also to a wonderful, comedic foray by Wildred Lawson, as Eliza's father, Alfred Doolittle.

All in all, this is a film that has withstood the test of time. The precursor for the musical adaptation "My Fair Lady", Pygmalion reigns supreme. Nominated for four Academy Awards and winning two, this is the definitive adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play, sharp and witty. Deftly directed by Leslie Howard and Anthony Asquith, it is simply a magnificently acted, comedic film, and one that those who love classic, vintage films will enjoy. Bravo!

This superlative, award winning film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play is as delightful today as when it was first filmed, nearly sixty five years ago. This ageless story, based upon greek mythology in which an ivory statue of a maiden, Galatea, is brought to life by the prayers of its sculptor, Pygmalion, features a professor of linguistics, Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard), who takes a cockney flower seller, Eliza Doolittle (Wendy Hiller), and bets that, within a matter of six months, he can turn her into a lady who can pass in high society without betraying her lowly origins.

Leslie Howard, wonderful in the role, is the quintessential Henry Higgins, playing him as an arrogant, aristocratic misogynist whose own mother (Marie Lohr) barely finds him tolerable. Henry makes his bet about his prospective success with Eliza with his friend, the kindly Col. George Pickering (Scott Sunderland), a wealthy gentleman who bankrolls the costs of Eliza's transformation from guttersnipe to royal pretender.

Wendy Hiller is perfectly cast in the role of Eliza, having a certain earthiness about her, which makes her so believable as the cockney upstart. Yet, she has enough of an incandescence about her, so as to make her believable in her transition from gutter to drawing room. Scott Sunderland is wonderful as Col. Pickering, the buffer between Henry and Eliza. Marie Lohr is excellent as Mrs. Higgins, Henry's exasperated mother. The scene in which Eliza has tea with Henry's unsuspecting mother and her guests is one of the funniest on the silver screen. Look also to a wonderful, comedic foray by Wildred Lawson, as Eliza's father, Alfred Doolittle.

All in all, this is a film that has withstood the test of time. The precursor for the musical adaptation "My Fair Lady", Pygmalion reigns supreme. Nominated for four Academy Awards and winning two, this is the definitive adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play, sharp and witty. Deftly directed by Leslie Howard and Anthony Asquith, it is simply a magnificently acted, comedic film, and one that those who love classic, vintage films will enjoy. Bravo!

A pretty wonderful film of the great George Bernard Shaw play.

Both Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller are terrific in the leads, and this
production brings out both the fun and wit of Shaw's words, without
losing the sharp, complex, and sometimes paradoxical political and
social observations underneath the playful extrtior.

Dated in style, yes, and it could be argued Hiller is a bit older than ideal
for the character's innocence. And some of the supporting performances
are too stagy (although some are very good indeed).

But overall this is a lot of fun, and quite thought provoking, with a
nicely ambiguous ending.

Note: If the film itself is all you really care about, you can get the
same excellent transfer as the Criterion in the Janus 'Essential Art House'
version for less money. The only difference are the extras. (Criterion
also owns the 'Essential Art House' label, and puts out stripped down
versions of a number of films that way)

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film is based on the play by George Bernard Shaw. The film was even scripted by Shaw so it definately is the best version of the film.

The story later inspired the much more famous musical film "My Fair Lady" I have not seen "My Fair Lady" so I am not one to compare.

The film follows a phonetics and linguistics expert, Henry Higgins. He has such a knowledge of accents that he can tell what town a person is from by hearing them speak for only a few seconds. He later makes a bet with a colleague that he can train a common girl from Cockney to speak "proper" English and fool people into thinking she is a duchess.

The Criterion DVD has no special features but the picture quality is quite good for a film of its age.

This film is one of my new favorites!

The smart script from Bernard Shaw made it possible this monumental film. The myth of Pygmalion was translated to cinema with a dazzling direction and obviously one supeb cast ; this couple Leslie Howard and the always beautiful and charming Wendy Hiller stealed the show.
The tale about a poor girl who sells flowers in Covent Garden; a gamble between two men; the awake as human being is a match against all a new world of possibilities for this woman who suudenly transforms before us and everybody in a woman with class, charming and glamour.
All the script is filled with ingenious and laughable situations with that clever sense of humor, so typical of Shaw.
This unique match will impact the life of these three people with unthinkable consequences.
A delightful movie and one of the best english comedies ever filmed.
Remade in 1964 as My fair lady. But this one is one million years light better.
A must in your collection.

George Bernard Shaw was simply ingenious when he wrote Pygmalion, and when the story was brought to the silver screen it did Shaw justice. Pygmalion is a socioeconomic drama where the distinguished Dr. Higgins (Leslie Howard) takes the a flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Wendy Hiller) under his wing in order to set a bet with Colonel George Pickering (Scott Sunderland). The bet consists of transforming the poor flower girl into a lady of class, but this also means changing Eliza's manner of speaking. Asquith and Howard illustrate several different topics such as tolerance and understanding using a familiar approach that the audience can recognize as Eliza undergoes the change. In the end, Pygmalion offers an exceptional cinematic experience.

Angle
Eddie was rightfully bumped off by gangsters. You know where he goes. "Nick" (Claude Rains), offers a choice position in exchange for a favor. There is an incorruptible judge that needs corrupting. Now if Eddie would just impersonate him and be corrupted? Well you get the idea.
There is great interaction between Paul Muni and Claude Rains. This move takes unexpected twists and turns. I may remind you a little of "The Devil and Daniel Webster "(1941) ASIN: 6302919517. However no one can play "Nick" as well as Claude Rains I kind of like the way they return to the surface. I never trusted those types of elevators. Before you write off Anne Baxter as just another personality in this film remember that she was also Nefretiri in " The Ten Commandments" (1956) ASIN: 6300215830

Pygmalion
Windy Hiller [Major Barbara (1941) ASIN: 6302969840] Plays a Cockney flower seller. Seeking a better position sees professor of linguistics about improving her speech. Professor Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard) bets that he can pass her off as a duchess in six months by adjusting her speech pattern. The Film is good however I am used to the later version "My Fair Lady" and I miss the music. This is a screen adaptation of a George Bernard Shaw play based on Greek mythology. This is a must for your collection.

Windy Hiller [Major Barbara (1941) ASIN: 6302969840] Plays a Cockney flower seller. Seeking a better position sees professor of linguistics about improving her speech. Professor Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard) bets that he can pass her off as a duchess in six months by adjusting her speech pattern. The Film is good however I am used to the later version "My Fair Lady" and I miss the music. This is a screen adaptation of a George Bernard Shaw play based on Greek mythology. This is a must for your collection.