Ruth Leon recommends… Pygmalion – the original movie

Pygmalion – the original movie

  Speaking of classics, I saw an excellent production of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion at the Old Vic last week starring Bertie Carvel as Higgins and the ubiquitous Patsy Ferran as Eliza. Naturally, since it’s still running, it’s not yet on video or film but this is, the original English language movie version (there was a previous German language film) starring a very young Wendy Hiller as Eliza and Leslie Howard as Higgins.

If you can, do go to see the play while it’s running at the Old Vic but don’t miss comparing it with this 1938 movie which demonstrates for all time the extraordinary verbal dexterity of Shaw and his ability to write, way back in 1913, thoroughly modern and significant comedies.

The reason for his choice of Wendy Hiller for Eliza Doolittle (and it was Shaw’s choice, not that of the director Anthony Asquith) becomes apparent quite early in the film although her cockney accent is far from authentic. She had a spirit which Shaw admired and he subsequently insisted on casting her in several of his plays such as Saint Joan and Major Barbara which call for feisty young women. Consequently, she was for some years Shaw’s favourite actress.

Read more