Pre-Order PHE Press Release: My Fair Lady (1964) (4k UHD) (1 Viewer)

[Johnny Angell]

I think Shirley MacLaine would have been another great choice

There were many actresses at the time that could have done "King And I" for example Judy Garland, Doris Day, Betty Hutton, Mitzi Gaynor, or Grace Kelly to name a few......
Then there's "West Side Story", was Natalie Wood's voice that bad ?? Why not Connie Francis as Maria, she certainly had the chops and could have taken on Maria.

I think Shirley MacLaine would have been woefully miscast as Maria. I don’t think Judy would have worked in TK&I and to my knowledge, Grace Kelly didn’t have a professional singing voice. I don’t think Connie Francis had the acting chops to play Maria and I’m not sure her voice would have fit the role, either.

In the case of Natalie Wood, the role called for more than “her voice isn’t that bad.” It calls for a sensational voice.

I used to hate dubbing until they did Camelot and Vanessa Redgrave did her own singing as Guinevere. And Lancelot was played and sung by an actor who couldn’t speak English (if I remember correctly). The live action version of Beauty and the Beast starred Emma Watson who has a pleasant voice. Watch the animated version and you’ll probably be disappointed in Emma’s singing. I like Emma, but for me, she ruined the movie.

If I remember correctly, Hollywood didn’t want Robert Preston for Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” I believe the author, Meredith Wilson, said no Preston, no movie. They didn’t want Julie Andrews for MFL, but the same year she starred in “Mary Poppins” and got an Oscar. However the combination of Audrey and Marnie Nixon worked magic too.

 

[AlanP]

Here's she is singing Wouldn't It Be Loverly and Without You.

Thanks so much for posting these. They should give the option of listening to Marni Nixon's vocals or listening to Audrey. I am impressed she actually recorded vocal tracks for the film. This is fascinating to realize but at the same time unfortunate Warner's did not use them. Wonder how Audrey felt about this ? Didn't they do that to Ava Gardner in "Showboat" And I heard her vocals were stellar, and they dubbed her.

 

[darkrock17]

In the case of Natalie Wood, the role called for more than “her voice isn’t that bad.” It calls for a sensational voice.

Also Natalie Wood with make up was convincing of being Latino than any other actress of that time as well.

 

[darkrock17]

Thanks so much for posting these. They should give the option of listening to Marni Nixon's vocals or listening to Audrey. I am impressed she actually recorded vocal tracks for the film. This is fascinating to realize but at the same time unfortunate Warner's did not use them. Wonder how Audrey felt about this ? Didn't they do that to Ava Gardner in "Showboat" And I heard her vocals were stellar, and they dubbed her.

From what I've heard and read, Eliza's singing voice is soprano were as Audrey was an alto. Moon River was where her vocal range went to.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Thanks so much for posting these. They should give the option of listening to Marni Nixon's vocals or listening to Audrey. I am impressed she actually recorded vocal tracks for the film. This is fascinating to realize but at the same time unfortunate Warner's did not use them. Wonder how Audrey felt about this ? Didn't they do that to Ava Gardner in "Showboat" And I heard her vocals were stellar, and they dubbed her.

These are fascinating to listen to, but do illustrate that Audrey didn’t have the singing voice for the role. I’m glad they dubbed her. This brings to mind a question, when she was performing the song in front of cameras she would be lip syncing to a prior recording. Which recording, hers or Marni’s?

 

[Robert Harris]

Thanks so much for posting these. They should give the option of listening to Marni Nixon's vocals or listening to Audrey. I am impressed she actually recorded vocal tracks for the film. This is fascinating to realize but at the same time unfortunate Warner's did not use them. Wonder how Audrey felt about this ? Didn't they do that to Ava Gardner in "Showboat" And I heard her vocals were stellar, and they dubbed her.

Ms Hepburn did not record vocal tracks for the film. She did piano tests. Probably a dozen takes were cut together by the word and phrase to achieve what you’re hearing.

There were neither complete songs, nor even long takes.

 

[Matt Hough]

These are fascinating to listen to, but do illustrate that Audrey didn’t have the singing voice for the role. I’m glad they dubbed her. This brings to mind a question, when she was performing the song in front of cameras she would be lip syncing to a prior recording. Which recording, hers or Marni’s?

I'm guessing she's singing to what she prerecorded on piano tracks. I guess this because Marni dubbed Audrey in Audrey's lower keys, not in the higher keys usually used for the role.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Ms Hepburn did not record vocal tracks for the film. She did piano tests. Probably a dozen takes were cut together by the word and phrase to achieve what you’re hearing.

There were neither complete songs, nor even long takes.

Would that mean she performed to Marni’s singing? What was Audrey’s attitude? Was she accepting of the dubbing?

 

[Robert Harris]

Would that mean she performed to Marni’s singing? What was Audrey’s attitude? Was she accepting of the dubbing?

Her attitude was disappointed, but accepting. Above all, what comes through in the tests is her absolute sweetness and respect for those working with her. An amazing lady.

But so was Marni.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Her attitude was disappointed, but accepting. Above all, what comes through in the tests is her absolute sweetness and respect for those working with her. An amazing lady.

In Charade she says to Cary Grant “You know what’s wrong with you? Nothing.” I think that must have been true of Audrey.

 

[Matt Hough]

Also, let's not forget that Audrey DOES sing the first and last parts of "Just You Wait" and the first couple of lines of "I Could Have Danced All Night" ("Bed, bed, I couldn't go to bed....")

 

[Robert Harris]

Her attitude was disappointed, but accepting. Above all, what comes through in the tests is her absolute sweetness and respect for those working with her. An amazing lady.

But so was Marni. They met years later, with zero problems

 

[PMF]

And speaking of Lerner and Lowe on film, how did they arrive at the decision to keep Lee Marvin’s voice? Was dubbing considered? And if so, was there anyone known to have already laid down some tracks?

 

[darkrock17]

And speaking of Lerner and Lowe on film, how did they arrive at the decision to keep Lee Marvin’s voice? Was dubbing considered? And if so, was there anyone known to have already laid down some tracks?

My guess would be that they were going to give Audrey a shot, but have Marni as the back up. Audrey wasn't really a singer so I think she knew that her voice was probably not going to be used for every song, were as Natalie Wood on the other hand...

 

[MatthewA]

Also, let's not forget that Audrey DOES sing the first and last parts of "Just You Wait" and the first couple of lines of "I Could Have Danced All Night" ("Bed, bed, I couldn't go to bed....")

I thought the only line that was hers in the latter song was "sleep, sleep, I couldn't sleep tonight."

 

[Matt Hough]

I thought the only line that was hers in the latter song was "sleep, sleep, I couldn't sleep tonight."

I believe she starts the song and sings through the line you quoted, and then Marni takes over.

 

[PMF]

Deleted by PMF

 

[MatthewA]

The last Eliza of the original Broadway run was an American woman named Margot Moser who was still alive as of 2018.

 

[AlanP]

Ms Hepburn did not record vocal tracks for the film. She did piano tests. Probably a dozen takes were cut together by the word and phrase to achieve what you’re hearing.

There were neither complete songs, nor even long takes.

Too bad.....

 

[Mark Mayes]

There were many actresses at the time that could have done "King And I" for example Judy Garland, Doris Day, Betty Hutton, Mitzi Gaynor, or Grace Kelly to name a few......
Then there's "West Side Story", was Natalie Wood's voice that bad ?? Why not Connie Francis as Maria, she certainly had the chops and could have taken on Maria.

Deborah Kerr conveyed the perfect Britishness key to the character of Anna.
Betty Hutton?!?!? The king would be cowering.

In any case, the brilliant elegance that Hepburn has is more attractively cinematic than practically anyone else. And I had rather have the acting there than a lovely American out of their depth.