Kinokima

Classic Viewer you have every right to not read or watch what you want but you don't have the right to tell me what I can and can't read.

Jamesjazzguitar I am not missing the point. I understand there was a big controversy over Julie Andrews not being cast (Audrey Hepburn unfairly took the brunt of the criticism even though it was not her fault. it was Jack Warner's. And yes I do still enjoy her in the movie). You don't have to be there to have known this. The information is all over the Internet. And I knew about it well before this thread. And keep in mind that even though I wasn't around during that time I have relatives that were. I did not see Julie Andrews in the play but I have heard her sing the songs. Yes she was wonderful. Yes I think it was unfair and stupid not to cast her because she wasn't what Jack Warner thought of as a star. I even said it would be nice if Julie Andrews had a part in this new movie. And good for Julie Andrews that she won best actress that year. I think she deserved it. But not everyone at the time hated My Fair Lady because Julie Andrews was not cast. The movie was still a success. Maybe not as big of a success as it could have been with Julie Andrews but it won best picture and it is still one of the top money earners of all time. Most people would love to have a failure like that. And today it is still regarded as one of the top musicals along with Mary Poppins. You can say 1964 was a very good year for musicals. Although I know some people would argue Dr. Strangelove was the real best picture that year. And as for having something to compare it to isn't this the same thing as comparing a movie to a book? Often times the book fans are upset at changes the movie made (and I know I myself have been in this situation many times before). And maybe the book is better than the movie that doesn't mean the movie does not stand on its own and is a classic in its own right. And certainly My Fair Lady has endured as a popular classic even to this day.

As I said earlier in this thread I am 28. Since I was not alive when My Fair Lady was on Broadway or when My Fair Lady & Mary Poppins were in the theaters yes I guess that makes me younger than you. However since we were talking about Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady's enduring popularity and also what the youth of today think about these movies then I think Facebook (which yes does have many young people on it) is just as good a source as anything to find out. Of course it is not a science (either is looking at IMDB numbers) but it is certainly nothing to scoff at. On another note which may be of interest to you TCM is on facebook too (and there are actually a lot of people who are old enough to have seen My Fair Lady on Broadway on there as well). Edited by: Kinokima on Aug 13, 2010 8:49 AM

I still don't think whether a film's production did or did not have controversy says anything about a film's success. And certainly some criticism on message boards does not speak for its enduring popularity. All well known films are criticized. No film is universally loved by everyone. Btw besides IMDB I also looked up the Facebook page for both Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady. My Fair Lady had 100,593 Likes & Mary Poppins 94, 990 Likes. This is actually slightly more likes for My Fair Lady but minuscule that I would say despite everything that might have happened in the past today they seem to be equally loved.

I am disagreeing with you because you act like your opinion is fact to make it seem like My Fair Lady was and is some huge failure. And I am not just replying to you but others in the thread as well. If someone says something I agree or disagree with I respond to them. It's a message board. If it's a private conversation that I can't respond to then take it to PM. I can say more of the youth of today have seen Wizard of Oz than Gone with the Wind and what does that mean? Of course because Wizard of Oz like Mary Poppins is a family/kid's movie. It's like the Disney Classics. Certain movies are going to be introduced to a child early on. More kids have probably seen Mary Poppins compared to Casablanca too. Does that mean it is more popular and enduring? As children get older they are introduced to other classics. And yes I certainly believe My Fair Lady is just as popular and enduring as Mary Poppins. I knew about it at a young age. All my friends knew about it. It is not some obscure classic. All these films are mainstream classics. Even if Mary Poppins is slightly more popular and made more money at the box office who cares. My Fair Lady is still extremely popular today as well and like Mary Poppins is also one of the top box office earners of all time. And as I pointed out their IMDB ratings (which was not a response to you) they are pretty much on equal terms. Oh and why don't you pat yourself on the back because you apparently are contributing to the thread.

I like how you make these general comments about what the youth of today see and don't see. I am 28 I fell in love with My Fair Lady when I was in High School. I did see Mary Poppins when I was younger than that but the film is probably more enjoyable for children. Still I know many people my age and much younger who love My Fair Lady. I remember when I bought the DVD a year or so ago the kid (who was only a teenager) at the counter told me it was his favorite movie. My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins are both well known Classics along the same lines as The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind & Casablanca. Many people of all ages have watched them both and still watch them both. What is the better movie is all a matter of opinion.

Mary Poppins gets criticized too. All well known movies do. Why don't you read the IMDB reviews for both movies. They both have practically the same rating. My Fair Lady 7.9/10 (4.1/5.0 on Netflix) Mary Poppins 7.7/10 (4.1/5.0 on Netflix) Both are beloved classics.

That I couldn't disagree with more. While I do generally prefer filming on location to in the studio I wasn't impressed with Gigi as a musical or a movie.

A lot of us on here agree that the 1938 film is excellent. I saw the musical first and it wasn't until years later that I saw the 1938 film I was surprised how good it is. I mean surprised because it is rarely talked about but it should definitely be more well known. It also made me realize I liked Leslie Howard. Before seeing Pygmalion I had only seen him in Gone with the Wind and I was never a fan of Ashley. And I also love Shaw. I did a report on him in High School. Besides Pygmalion, I also read Caesar & Cleopatra & St. Joan. You know I should really read more of his stuff.

I assuming it is like the list of top banned books. They probably are not banned everywhere just in certain places/cases.

You know I was thinking they could technically make Hitchcock one of the SUTS on his birthday if they really wanted to. He is in most of his pictures.

The Student Prince is one of my favorite silents. I almost died with delight when I realized TCM was showing it and in prime time no less. Recording it right now. I was a little peeved to see it only get 3 stars though. The scene when Norma drowns the beer is just awesome. And the love scene which is on now is just heavenly! Edited by: Kinokima on Aug 12, 2010 8:54 PM

I guess TCM never celebrates his birthday since August is always Summer Under the Stars. Although I also suppose Hitchcock films get shown on TCM often enough.

> {quote:title=FredCDobbs wrote:}{quote} > Here?s an Ingrid Bergman film banned in the US: > > Ingrid Bergman in ?Die vier Gesellen?, Berlin (1938) > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLIEjOW3YCk > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13P5T013F5Y&feature=related > > > > Oh not that film again. Just because it has not been shown on TCM does not mean it is banned or that it will never be shown. And thanks for that list Hamradio. Some of those films I might not want to see for myself but I certainly would not want to stop other people from watching them. Edited by: Kinokima on Aug 12, 2010 8:46 PM

If you don't mind telling us I would be genuinely interested in where you grew up?

If you read the Audrey Hepburn/Emma Thompson post pages 2 & 3 you will see how this topic got started. I just created this thread so not to bring that one completely off topic which it was in danger of becoming.

Jamesjazzguitar we are not worried these films will be banned. We are discussing whether they should be banned based on their racist content.

> {quote:title=jamesjazzguitar wrote:}{quote} > What is this 'speaking of burning films' that concerns you? I just don't see it. > > First I assume any burning of film is only a COPY of said film. i.e. the burning does NOT destroy the only remaining version of said film. So what harm is done? The act of burning a copy of a film is just a political stunt to influence people. That is just free speech in my view. They can burn copies of the film and I can get a copy and watch the film. > > Again, why does that concern you? I just don't see where the sky is falling. Um no we are talking about completely destroying all traces of a film (not just one copy). Why don't you read this entire thread so you can understand what we are actually discussing here.

> {quote:title=Arturo wrote:}{quote} > *Probably one of the most aggravating things for me as a Vivien Leigh fan is when people only associate her with Scarlet O'Hara.* > > Or her other Southern Belle, Blanche DuBois in STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Well those are her two most iconic roles. Some classic celebrities are not known at all by the average public. In China Vivien might be best know for Waterloo Bridge that's a huge classic over there. But I am also very happy to see Vivien finally got her due on TCM.

Certainly a little political correctness is better than any racism. But when you are speaking of burning films I think that is political correctness taken too far.

Yes Vivien Leigh could act and so could Audrey Hepburn.

For those who said Emma Thompson was only talking about Audrey's roles in My Fair Lady well she clarified and she definitely meant she didn't like her as an actress all around. I will admit that this comment is not as rude as her last one. Not backing down from her earlier opinion, Thompson stressed that ''Audrey Hepburn absolutely was the most wonderful woman and a great humanitarian ... a most delightful woman, but she's not my favorite actress. I'm very particular and very critical when it comes to acting, and in my opinion Audrey's performances were really more about how she looked.'' Well I am fine with Emma Thompson not liking Audrey Hepburn as an actress. However I will say I think I am critical too and I certainly do not like Audrey Hepburn just for her looks or her clothes. Granted I don't think she is the greatest actress of all times but I do think she has a lot more going for her as an actress than simply appearance.

When you say Kelly? Do you mean Gene Kelly? If so then yes I am definitely a fan. After all the man can tap dance on roller skates. If I could meet someone in person who can do that I would fall in love instantly.

> {quote:title=ClassicViewer wrote:}{quote} > I am figuring you probably like Louis Jourdan, too. I am just okay with him actually. I don't dislike him just not the biggest fan.

They don't need Triumph of the Will to promote any ideas. They can make a new movie if they really wanted to. The ideas presented in Triumph of the Will do not go away because you burn a film. And I can tell you antisemitism is still very much alive today so is racism with or without these films.