There is something truly special about an old movie that has stood the test of time. There is something even better when that film transcends its release period and becomes part of the popular culture of the globe at large. Not simply in the United States (the home of the film industry), but international cinematic awareness. That is absolutely the case with My Fair Lady, which is now out on 4K Blu-ray High Definition. For owners of the Blu-ray or DVD, this is worth the upgrade. Those of you that do not have My Fair Lady in your library, then this 4K/Blu-ray combo package is worth every cent.
The 1964 film feels fresh (if that is even possible for a film that has always emoted that sense) with the upgrade, both sonically, visually, and most importantly how a cinema story makes you feel. There was something intangible about My Fair Lady that made it an enormous success on the West End and Broadway, and then on the big screen. Of course, there was that brew-ha-ha about Julie Andrews being “replaced” by Audrey Hepburn when the story made that leap from the stage to screen. History has shown that no one can best the incomparable Andrews, but seriously… could you imagine anyone else emerging from that car looking like fancy personified than Audrey Heyburn? No, you can’t, can you?
The crux of this universally adored musical follows a “full of himself” Henry Higgins (featuring Rex Harrison dazzling us yet again) is so confident that he can morph any soul in this particular Cockney neighborhood into a sensation causing swam in high society London, he makes a wager with his best mate Colonel Hugh Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White). Guess who he chooses? The less than savory Eliza Doolittle (Hepburn) makes quite a first impression that immediately has Higgins wondering what on earth has he done!
She agrees to speech lessons and every other “self-improvement” aspect of Higgins’ efforts to turn this caterpillar into a butterfly. It is all in an effort to “increase” her job prospects and you just know that Higgins and Doolittle will clash in a simultaneously dramatic, hilarious, sonically succulent, and even a wee bit romantic manner. Things, ironically, are going swimmingly when she meets an aristocratic suitor named Freddy Eynsford-Hill (Jeremy Brett).
Over the course of the delightful three-act musical, the iconic My Fair Lady illustrates why it is one of the most beloved motion pictures of all time. The chemistry between its leads, the entire ensemble—every single element of the picture for that matter—is pitch-perfect.
This My Fair Lady 4K UHD edition pops off the screen with its 2160p/Dolby Vision video transfer that seems to exponentially amplify the incredible work done on the 2015 50th anniversary restored Blu-ray from 2015. It also possesses the same Dolby True HD 7.1 lossless audio presentation from that release as well.
It is a marvelous upgrade that not only has colors popping off the screen, but everyone’s (particularly Hepburn) persona seems even more pointed. One can immediately tell that this is a UHD upgrade worth its weight even during the opening credits. There’s white, and then there’s the My Fair Lady’s moniker in white—simply stunning. Then, there are flowers that at the time were chose for their beauty and clash with the brashness of Cockney Doolittle. Here, in the 4K, those flowers (just as an example) are crisp and bold in their purposes, whites, reds, and much more. The viewer knows instantly this is not your grandparent’s My Fair Lady. It truly is jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring.
There was a darkness to the “dirtier” side of London in the original release that somehow is retained here, yet it is as if one has put on a pair of the clearest glasses known to humankind. These London city streets are still the epitome of poor Londoners but feel even rawer. The greys are pure grey, but they are detailed in such a manner that they are nowhere near the lighter black hues that can be visually interpreted with the color grey.
The other thing that the UHD upgrade achieves is that the scenes featuring the “upper class” appear to be more visually pleasing in their attire. This is achieved through the upgrade, but also one must look to costume designer Cecil Beaton and director George Cukor who all those years ago sought to have a marked difference between the “feel” of Cockney London and that of those who inhabit “high society” London. It is impeccable the job the people who worked on this upgrade achieved. And yes, that is the best part of the entire UHD endeavor, it puts a spotlight on the brilliant work of everyone who worked on the film. For example, production designers Gene Allen and Beaton.
The lens of the time couldn’t capture the attention to detail that these artists undertook, and it took an upgrade to 4K to realize just how beautifully stunning My Fair Lady is, simply to gaze at. This is a cinematic experience of the highest order. Sharpness, texture, and tone are off the charts. One would expect this kind of visual mastery working from a print of a film such as The Matrix, but a 50-something-year-old print of My Fair Lady? Unbelievably awesome.
My Fair Lady, you will pleasantly find, contains a new 96K Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. One notices this immediately when it comes to the musical portions of the film. This is how this classic was meant to be seen.
My Fair Lady would go on to win eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Harrison, Best Director for Cukor, Best Cinematography, Color, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Gladys Cooper, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Stanley Holloway.
There is two hours of bonus content for fanatics of My Fair Lady and casual fans alike.
More Lovely Than Ever: The Making of My Fair Lady Then & Now is a terrific featurette the clocks in at just under an hour. It chronicles the making of the movie as it was shot, and also as it was upgraded. A fascinating and one-of-a-kind bonus feature is as informative as it is enlightening.
There are a few “fly on the wall” featurettes that are just an utter blast—the 1963 Production Kick-Off Dinner, the Los Angeles Premiere, and seen for the first time, the London premiere.
Also included is an entertaining featurette that features director Cukor directing Baroness Bina Rothschild and a brand newly discovered interview with Harrison. Also new are some Production Tests from the Warner Brothers archive. There is a unique featurette centered around Hepburn’s vocals—from Show Me and Wouldn’t It Be Lovely/
An incredible featurette arrives in the form of Comments on a Lady featuring in-depth interviews by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the king of musicals, and Martin Scorsese—the king of film.
There are a few new teaser trailers included, as well as The Story of Lady. The latter spotlights the play that originated the success. How Warner’s purchased the rights, casting news, and production details that are an old Hollywood fan’s dream.
Also new is Design For a Lady which takes a closer look at the intricate details of the production design—as I referred to earlier—and how they were implemented into the film itself. There’s a terrific chat with Academy Award-winning Costume Designer Beaton.
Film Grade: A+
Bonus Features: A+