Movie Meme: My Fair Lady

This week’s prompt is Black and White.

Whether it be a silent film, a 40s film, a 50s film or a modern film with a black and white twist, I would love to read about the film that gets you going from this genre. It doesn’t even have to be a black and white movie. It could be a movie about something black and white (admittedly, all I can think about is a penguin, but I’m sure there’s plenty more options out there!)

The lovely Hannah over at MetalMummy has set the theme and so we have 'Black and White'. Yes I know that 'My Fair Lady' was filmed in colour, but she does say it doesn't have to be a black and white film. And I just don't love 'Roman Holiday' enough to choose it over this one. So the reason that I have chose this film comes from this:

How absolutely stunningly beautiful are these dresses? God, Cecil Beaton was a master!

Not forgetting of course, the inimitable line, "Come on, Dover, move yer bloomin' arse!"

I first watched this film when I was approximately 10 years old and I was completely and utterly captivated by the Cinderella story. Even at that young age I watched the entire thing from start to finish, all 2 hours and 50 minutes of it.

Favourite quotes:

• My Aunt died of influenza, or so they said. But it's my belief they done the old woman in.
• You impudent hussy!
• I ain't dirty! I washed my face and hands before I come, I did.
• I shall not feel alone without you, I can stand on my own without you. So go back in your shell, I can do bloody well without…

Oh the songs, the songs are fantastic! They really do complement the story so well. I was devastated that Audrey Hepburn didn't sing the musical numbers in the film: "Most of Audrey Hepburn's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, despite Hepburn's lengthy vocal preparation for the role. A dubber was required because Eliza Doolittle's songs were not transposed down to accommodate Audrey Hepburn's "low-mezzo voice". Audrey Hepburn sang most of "Just You Wait", as well as the reprise to the song, herself, showcasing her ability to sing perfectly at ease when the songs were set in a reasonable tessitura. Audrey also sang one or two lines, elsewhere in the score, such as 'Sleep, sleep, I couldn't sleep tonight!' in "I Could Have Danced All Night"."(IMDB)

Wrong, wrong, wrong! She was more than capable of singing in that film; has no-one heard her singing 'Moonriver' in Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn are a phenomenal pairing, although the age difference has always concerned me slightly. Other considerations for the role of Henry Higgins: Cary Grant and Peter O'Toole. Most surprising performance? Jeremy Brett as Eliza's suitor.

I'm not going to try and sell it to you anymore, go and watch it. I defy you not to love 'I could have danced all night', and 'I've grown accustomed to her face'.

Now pop over to the linky and see which other films you can be persuaded to watch!