Pygmalion (1938)
An early production of the Bernard Shaw story later made into the musical, "My Fair Lady." The sharp, biting wit of Leslie Howard's Professor Higgins is one of the marvels of this film.
Synopsis of Pygmalion from Rotten Tomatoes:
When linguistics professor Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard) boasts that he can pass off Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Wendy Hiller) as a princess with only six months' training, Colonel George Pickering (Scott Sunderland) takes him up on the bet. Eliza moves into Higgins's home and begins her rigorous training after the professor comes to a financial agreement with her dustman father, Alfred (Wilfrid Lawson). But the plucky young woman is not the only one undergoing a transformation.
Some background info on Pygmalion from Wikipedia:
Pygmalion is a 1938 British film based on the 1913 George Bernard Shaw play of the same name, and adapted by him for the screen. It stars Leslie Howard as Professor Henry Higgins and Wendy Hiller as Eliza Doolittle.
The film was a financial and critical success, and won an Oscar for Best Screenplay and three more nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Howard), and Best Actress (Hiller). The screenplay [was later] adapted into the 1956 theatrical musical My Fair Lady, which in turn led to the 1964 film of the same name.
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What other have said about this movie:
Leslie Howard was classy, handsome and charming with impeccable acting.
Such a beautiful movie! As a student of English literature I hope to read the original play in near future. This flawless adaptation changed my views on early cinemas and their qualities. It is on the top of my most favourite movies now. Truly, a thing of beauty is a joy forever
Oh how marvelous to see this gorgeous film again. Incredible acting. Such class...bliss. Thank you so much for posting this gem.
This is one of most beautiful movies I have seen! Wendy Hiller transforms herself from the flower girl, to the still insecure girl in the scene in which she visits Higgins' mother (one of the most hilarious scenes I have watched in a movie) to the smart, articulate woman in the last scenes of the movie. What a wonderful actor! This movie is also about education. I wished all poor girls in this world had the same luck as Eliza Doolittle in this movie.
Have known of this jewel for decades. Untouchable. Any other version fails. Everyone in this film was superb. Hiller and Howard simply off the Richter Scale. Geniuses!! Hiller CRUSHES me completely!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this film! Really preferred it to My Fair Lady. Wendy Hiller brought so much warmth, charm and vulnerability to the role of Eliza with Leslie Howard, always first rate, making it impossible to dislike the condescending Prof Higgins.
Leslie Howard was one of the best of the early cinema. A great one I hadn't seen in decades! My Fair Lady is very good, but comes in second.
I'm 58, and have always loved My fair lady since I was a teenager. I was aware the source was Pygmalion and much to my delight I have found the full 1938 original version free on youtube. Popcorn time for me! :-) Simply adore these. And the musical score is still amongst the best!
Just delightful! Excellent movie! Who knew the long-suffering "Ashley Wilkes" could be funny before "Gone With the Wind"? Who knew Dame Wendy was such a pretty "gill" in her youth? You see, the first time I "met" Miss Hiller, she was already in her mid-70's playing a wealthy and lonely old rich woman in "Anne of Green Gables, the Sequel," so to now see her in her introductory role at age 25 is quite special. Highly recommended ... in BOTH roles! As they say, they don't make 'em like this anymore.
58:00 Miss Doolittle, absolutely charming. The entire party watches her dance, she is adorable to me! Great movie; wonderful story line, acting and action. Endless fun. Thanks!
