Movie spotlight
Pygmalion
When linguistics professor Henry Higgins boasts that he can pass off Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle as a princess with only six months' training, Colonel George Pickering 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. But the plucky young woman is not the only one undergoing a transformation.
Insights
Plot Summary
A phonetician, Professor Henry Higgins, takes on the challenge of transforming a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a duchess by teaching her to speak and behave like an upper-class lady. As the experiment progresses, the lines between teacher and student, and their respective social classes, begin to blur.
Critical Reception
This 1981 television adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's classic play received generally positive reviews, praised for its faithful adaptation of the source material and strong performances. While perhaps not reaching the iconic status of earlier film versions, it was appreciated for bringing the witty dialogue and social commentary to a new generation.
What Reviewers Say
Appreciated for its faithful and well-acted rendition of Shaw's witty play.
A solid television adaptation that captures the play's social commentary.
Notable for Lynn Redgrave's spirited performance as Eliza Doolittle.
Google audience: Information on Google user ratings for this specific television adaptation is not readily available.
Fun Fact
This adaptation was produced by the BBC and aired as part of their 'Play for Today' series, which was known for its high-quality dramatic productions.
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