My Fair Lady 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Available for Preorder (1 Viewer)

[warnerbro]

Marni Nixon did a superlative job matching the character and tone of the individual actress. She was outstanding and is still performing. You can also see her as a nun in the Maria number in Sound of Music. She says "She always seems to be in trouble doesn't she?"

 

[MatthewA]

Jeremy Brett was dubbed, too. I didn't even know that until he admitted it on the 1994 documentary. For years I had no idea that Bill Shirley, the singing voice of Freddy Eynsford-Hill was also the voice of Prince Philip in Sleeping Beauty. That's a pretty close match, IMO.

 

[lionel59]

Bill Shirley died in 1989 at the age of 68. He also appeared in movies such as ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD and portrayed Stephen Foster in I DREAM OF JEANIE (1952),the second biopic of this composer.

I have a comprehensive list of movie dubbers. Here is a link to it:

http://www.janettedavis.net/Dubbers/dubberslist.php


I admire the work of Marni Nixon. I believe the merging of her voice with that of Deborah Kerr in THE KING AND I is one of the best cases of a voice double being perfectly matched to the voice of the actress needing assistance. (Most of the numbers seamlessly go from Kerr to Nixon and back again. Kerr did nearly all of I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE herself. Richard Rodgers wrote the songs for Anna in a limited vocal range as Gertrude Lawrence, the charismatic star who originated the role on Broadway, had a limited range and was known to sing flat at times. Julie Andrews portrayed Miss Lawrence in the movie STAR! and-in truth- had a much better voice than 'Gertie', who was nonetheless reportedly a wondrous performer on stage.).

If R+H had not been averse to Maureen O'Hara in the role, she was Zanuck's first choice and had a great voice which was under-utilized on screen. (She did do a Broadway musical in the early '60's). When the idea was put forward, Rodgers reportedly said "we can't have a pirate queen as Anna", forgetting the fine dramatic work she had done in films such as HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY. I think Kerr was ideal casting (and apparently suggested by Yul Brynner who had seen FROM HERE TO ETERNITY), but I think O'Hara would have been equally as good in the role.

If you look at this list you will see that some stars had different people singing for them throughout their careers. I personally think Jo Ann Greer's voice was ideal for both Esther Williams (JUPITER'S DARLING) and Rita Hayworth (PAL JOEY) and better suited to both actresses than earlier singers employed to dub them. If you hear Audrey sing, she has a lower tone in her voice that I don't think Miss Nixon matches. Compare the vocal change in 'Just You Wait' when we go from Audrey to Marni to the same (smoother) transition from Deborah Kerr to Marni in 'Getting To Know You' or 'Hello Young Lovers'. Marni Nixon- who I wrote to her a few years ago to extend my sympathy to her regarding the passing of her son- has a lovely voice and sings well. I have not seen her on stage (she has done MY FAIR LADY) but I think her performance in THE SOUND OF MUSIC does reveal her limitations as an actress (at that time, anyway). To my ears, a singer such as Betty Wand (who also dubbed Rita Moreno magnificently in WEST SIDE STORY- just listen to her singing side by side with Marni in A BOY LIKE THAT and I HAVE A LOVE) is a better actress and has/had a voice which-to my ears- sounded closer to the timbre of Audrey's.

 

[CULTMAN1]

Can Robert or anyone shine a light on the release date? Will it be 2015 or truthfully next year? Surely we could have an indication. Thanks

 

[Stephen_J_H]

For what it's worth, for years my mother believed Audrey actually was English! She believed that about Christopher Plummer as well.

She was. She was a British subject, born in Belgium, spending many of her formative years in England, but also the Netherlands and Belgium. Her early career included stints as chorus girl in London.

 

[classicmovieguy]

Whenever I see this gorgeous clip, and all I can think of is how ill-judged Richard Rodgers was in turning down Maureen O'Hara for "The King and I". Shame on Hollywood for never showcasing her musical gifts! In her autobiography you can sense that she is still bitterly-disappointed about not landing Mrs Anna.

 

[MatthewA]

Whenever I see this gorgeous clip, and all I can think of is how ill-judged Richard Rodgers was in turning down Maureen O'Hara for "The King and I". Shame on Hollywood for never showcasing her musical gifts! In her autobiography you can sense that she is still bitterly-disappointed about not landing Mrs Anna.

Well, there was the one song she sang in The Parent Trap.

 

[Matt Hough]

Well, there was the one song she sang in The Parent Trap.

And beautifully, too! "For Now, For Always."

 

[classicmovieguy]

But she deserved MUCH MORE than one song! I would have loved to see Maureen O'Hara in a complete musical film.

 

[bujaki]

And a ballad under the titles of The Deadly Companions. Lovely, lovely voice. Lovely woman, cherished actress.

 

[ahollis]

In 1960, Miss O'Hara starred in the Broadway musical Christine, which only ran for 12 performances. There is a cd of the OCA that was released around 2002 from Deca. She also recorded two albums, Love Letters from Maureen O'Hara and Maureen O'Hara Sings her Favorite Irish Songs. CDs were never produced unfortunately.

 

[classicmovieguy]

In 1960, Miss O'Hara starred in the Broadway musical Christine, which only ran for 12 performances. There is a cd of the OCA that was released around 2002 from Deca. She also recorded two albums, Love Letters from Maureen O'Hara and Maureen O'Hara Sings her Favorite Irish Songs. CDs were never produced unfortunately.

Actually both of her albums are available on CD. I have "Love Letters", and while O'Hara isn't too favourable on it in her book, it's quite lovely. DRG released the Broadway cast of "Christine" and it's beautifully remastered.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maureen-OHara-Sings-Favourite-Irish/dp/B004Q1DFMY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1421885505&sr=1-1&keywords=maureen+o%27hara

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-Maureen-O%C2%92Hara-Yvonne-Carlo/dp/B001CYZ99A/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1421885505&sr=1-3&keywords=maureen+o%27hara

 

[AnthonyClarke]

And the elephant in the room is ... where is Our Fair Lady?

 

[ahollis]

Actually both of her albums are available on CD. I have "Love Letters", and while O'Hara isn't too favourable on it in her book, it's quite lovely. DRG released the Broadway cast of "Christine" and it's beautifully remastered.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maureen-OHara-Sings-Favourite-Irish/dp/B004Q1DFMY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1421885505&sr=1-1&keywords=maureen+o%27hara
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-Maureen-O%C2%92Hara-Yvonne-Carlo/dp/B001CYZ99A/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1421885505&sr=1-3&keywords=maureen+o%27hara

Excellent. Thanks. I rarely look for music on the foreign sites.

 

[CULTMAN1]

Any further news on a release date for this ?

 

[warnerbro]

Looks like we're going to get THE SOUND OF MUSIC 50th anniversary bluray deluxe edition before we get the MY FAIR LADY 50th bluray which was made a year before THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

 

[Rick Thompson]

Looks like we're going to get THE SOUND OF MUSIC 50th anniversary bluray deluxe edition before we get the MY FAIR LADY 50th bluray which was made a year before THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

I'm convinced only that there will be a 50th Anniversary SOUND. I'll believe LADY when I see it.

 

[davidmatychuk]

Looks like we're going to get THE SOUND OF MUSIC 50th anniversary bluray deluxe edition before we get the MY FAIR LADY 50th bluray which was made a year before THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

It does look that way, doesn't it? But I like the idea that the old mistakes will be rectified, and the end product will be both great and as great as it can be, rather than getting a half-hearted new edition every five years. I want a "My Fair Lady" Blu-Ray that is so great that it will make me sad that my late mother never got to see it, that's what I want, and I have every confidence in the people who are making me wait for it.

 

[lukejosephchung]

People speculating on this thread about when we'll actually HAVE "My Fair Lady" 50th Anniversary Edition in our hands are forgetting that the man actually in charge of this restoration project is a PROMINENT MEMBER who posts regularly and has a blog page here...when he actually has news of substance for us, WE'LL KNOW!!!

 

[AnthonyClarke]

People speculating on this thread about when we'll actually HAVE "My Fair Lady" 50th Anniversary Edition in our hands are forgetting that the man actually in charge of this restoration project is a PROMINENT MEMBER who posts regularly and has a blog page here...when he actually has news of substance for us, WE'LL KNOW!!!

Well, I for one am really happy to wait .. even if I have to wait for another TWO WEEKS even!