Fiction to Film to Fantastic Music Friday: My Fair Lady
Growing up, my mom played musicals in our home pretty much nonstop. In fact, I almost feel as if it's a requirement to listen to the soundtrack of Camelot while you clean on a Saturday morning. I actually really love it and have to give my mom credit for pretty much educating me on every great film out there. Now that I think about it, that's probably why I really am such a film buff.
One film that we watched three or four times a year was My Fair Lady. I loved Professor Higgins, and maybe I was channeling my future profession as an English teacher, but I loved his passion for language. He was snarky, pushy, and a little grouchy. I loved him. Add Eliza into his refined-world mix and it was just priceless.
Now as a teacher, I get the opportunity to teach and recommend plays for my students. Although the actual play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, does not match up to the musical exactly, it is still a genius of a play. When my students start to get down or feel as though all "classical" literature is a bummer, I point them towards a wonderful George Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde play and they brighten up. I like a good tragedy or gut-wrenching drama, but sometimes we really need to have a laugh and a smile. Thankfully, Shaw's Pygmalion does just that, and the film My Fair Lady fits the musical bill.
If you're unfamiliar with this glorious classic, let me include one that I love, "Without You." Honestly, I could hardly pick one because there are so many great songs. Here is one of my favorites.
* Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday
is my own little weekly post. The premise is just to share my
favorite books made into film, with amazing soundtracks to boot.
There might even be times where it's just a great film and
soundtrack, or great book and film. Either way, join in if you would
like!
That's so awesome! :) I tried to find some of my show tunes to clean to yesterday and couldn't find them. I'm thinking I need to purchase some compilations to have on hand.
My favorite is "On the Street Where You Live." I loved singing to it while I folded laundry! :)
I worked in the high school library when I was a teen and stumbled across Pygmalion once when I was reshelving books. I read it one afternoon! It's really delightful.
I was raised on movie musicals, too. This one is my all-time favorite movie, musical or otherwise! The costumes, the settings, the characters, the story, the music - it's all just perfect. I'm with Heidenkind, I think - I love "On The Street Where You Live." It always makes me kind of root for poor Freddy even though I know it won't work.
My Fair Lady has always been a fave with me too. Just this morning,maybe due to the rainy day, I kept humming "The Rain in Spain".
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome! :) I tried to find some of my show tunes to clean to yesterday and couldn't find them. I'm thinking I need to purchase some compilations to have on hand.
DeleteMy favorite is "On the Street Where You Live." I loved singing to it while I folded laundry! :)
ReplyDeleteI worked in the high school library when I was a teen and stumbled across Pygmalion once when I was reshelving books. I read it one afternoon! It's really delightful.
I know, I love that song too--even though I thought Freddy was a bit annoying, to be honest. :)
Deletethanks for sharing~
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteMy mom did the same thing. I knew all the songs in Oklahoma! before we ever performed it in high school. My Fair Lady is a great one!
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny. I'm glad I wasn't alone in being exposed to show tunes early! I like to think we're experts now, right? :)
ReplyDeleteI was raised on movie musicals, too. This one is my all-time favorite movie, musical or otherwise! The costumes, the settings, the characters, the story, the music - it's all just perfect. I'm with Heidenkind, I think - I love "On The Street Where You Live." It always makes me kind of root for poor Freddy even though I know it won't work.
ReplyDelete