Pygmalion

Both O'Toole and Kidder look like ghosts in this television adaptation of the classic Shaw play about a stuffy phonetics teacher who takes a common flower girl the ways of being a lady. Although O'Toole fares well as Henry Higgins, the production as a whole is a dreary affair.

Comparisons with "My Fair Lady" are unfair to this fine television version of "Pygmalion." O'Tool gives a wonderful eccentric performance as Henry Higgens and Margot Kidder is a fine Eliza, but the quality which I especially find valuable when I use this version to teach in my Introduction to Literature is the speeches both Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Higgens give which are cut from the musical to make room for all that wonderful music. Thus the female voice of Mrs. Higgens, "No No, you two infinitely stupid male creatures!" (Act III line 198), is lost. Also the ending, which is even more vague than the musical about the future of the two main characters, is a wonderful leap off for class discussion about "middle class" expectations. I really enjoy all of this production.

Anderson Rearick Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, OH.

Although this TV version, produced by Margot Kidder herself, is much closer to Shaw's original play than either the 1938 filming or MY FAIR LADY, I still find Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard did the best job of realising the spirit of the play. The problem here is mainly in the casting. Margot and Peter are obviously trying their best, and are enthusiastic about the play, but it just doesn't come off. Peter O'Toole seems on the ragged edge of drunk most of the time. Margot Kidder is a bit too much "in your face" to produce the effect of sweetness which is basic to the character of "Eliza". Sure, she is a tough street girl, but she longs for affection and friendship as well as advancement in the world. Margot doesn't produce this effect. The two best acting jobs are by Frances Hyland as Mrs. Higgins, and by John Standing as Col. Pickering.

As for those who prefer MY FAIR LADY, I'll agree it is a beautiful spectacle, but that confounded "Opera Seria" format gets in the way of the story. If you eliminate the music, it's a pretty good "Pygmalion". But it's outrageously extrapolated from Shaw.

Here's the skinny. Peter O'Toole is rarely less than good. In most of his roles, he's fabulous. Here, he's adequate. He can do almost anything but he lacks the aplomb associated with Higgins. I wonder how the Irish Shaw would feel about him. Margot Kidder is dreadful. Donald Ewer is Alfred Doolittle. I'm not familiar with his work (I went to a version of MY FAIR LADY with Clive Revel as Doolittle and he was magnificent, but I suppose they lacked a budget for an actor of his stature for Doolittle). John Standing is more than adequate for Pickering. He does "intelligent cluelessness" well.

It was apparently produced as a showcase for Kidder and her being Canadian was no worse than O'Toole being Irish but matriculating at RADA.

I'd give O'Toole a pass and I can admire a fiesty Eliza giving as good as she got, but Kidder comes off as merely petulant. Too bad. It was an idea worth trying but English drawing room comedy isn't Kidder's forte.

While Peter O'Toole is one of my favorite actors, Henry Higgins is not his best role. where Harrison was crusty but childlike and Howard was snobbish but sentimental O'Toole is merely bombastic and bratty. no changes,no inner feelings,nothing. He is fun to watch but not at all what Higgins should be. Margot Kidder is laughable, not an ounce of Shavian expertise in her performance. John Standing is a very fine Col. Pickering. his is the best portrayal in the film. the actress who play mother higgins is also quite good and understands how to act in Shaw. the pace is good and the sets colourful but if you want to see this story at its best watch the original 1935 film with leslie howard or MY FAIR LADY with sir rex harrison.