My Fair Lady

I watched My Fair Lady for the first time last night, and I have to say I was surprised at what a good movie it was. After all, it was a musical, and there aren't that many musicals that I like.

A young girl, Eliza Dolittle, is a common flower seller. She meets a man named Professor Higgins, a professor of language and dialects, and his colleague, Colonel Pickering. They make a bet that they can turn her into a "lady" who speaks proper english in six months, and pass her off as a lady at a ball at buckingham palace. The rest of the movie is detailing the long, arduous process of teaching her to speak, and act like a lady.

All the characters were very well written. I find it hard to believe after the type of movies that are made nowadays that I liked every single character in the movie (except the student of Higgins at the end, who was supposed to be the target of contempt). It's rare in movies today that all characters seem to be likeable with personalities that shine through. Higgins came off as a male chauvinist, Pickering an aloof english gentleman, Eliza as an outspoken cockney girl, and Mr. Dolittle as an immoral, but humorous father.

I especially enjoyed the song "I'm an ordinary man". I believe this is what Katie's mom imagines going through my head. I figured I'd share the song lyrics...

Well after all, Pickering, I'm an ordinary man,

Who desires nothing more than an ordinary chance,

to live exactly as he likes, and do precisely what he wants...

An average man am I, of no eccentric whim,

Who likes to live his life, free of strife,

doing whatever he thinks is best, for him,

Well... just an ordinary man...

BUT, Let a woman in your life and your serenity is through,

she'll redecorate your home, from the cellar to the dome,

and then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you...

Let a woman in your life, and you're up against a wall,

make a plan and you will find,

that she has something else in mind,

and so rather than do either you do something else

that neither likes at all You want to talk of Keats and Milton,

she only wants to talk of love,

You go to see a play or ballet, and spend it searching

for her glove, Let a woman in your life

and you invite eternal strife,

Let them buy their wedding bands for those anxious little hands...

I'd be equally as willing for a dentist to be drilling

than to ever let a woman in my life, I'm a very gentle man,

even tempered and good natured

who you never hear complain,

Who has the milk of human kindness

by the quart in every vein,

A patient man am I, down to my fingertips,

the sort who never could, ever would,

let an insulting remark escape his lips

Very gentle man...

But, Let a woman in your life,

and patience hasn't got a chance,

she will beg you for advice, your reply will be concise,

and she will listen very nicely, and then go out

and do exactly what she wants!!!

You are a man of grace and polish,

who never spoke above a hush,

all at once you're using language that would make

a sailor blush, Let a woman in your life,

and you're plunging in a knife,

Let the others of my sex, tie the knot around their necks,

I prefer a new edition of the Spanish Inquisition

than to ever let a woman in my life I'm a quiet living man,

who prefers to spend the evening in the silence of his room,

who likes an atmosphere as restful as

an undiscovered tomb,

A pensive man am I, of philosophical joys,

who likes to meditate, contemplate,

far for humanities mad inhuman noise,

Quiet living man....

But, let a woman in your life, and your sabbatical is through,

in a line that never ends comes an army of her friends,

come to jabber and to chatter

and to tell her what the matter is with YOU!,

she'll have a booming boisterous family,

who will descend on you en mass,

she'll have a large wagnarian mother,

with a voice that shatters glass,

Let a woman in your life,

Let a woman in your life,

Let a woman in your life I shall never let a woman in my life.