I’m content with the fact that Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews were friends despite this mess. Julie Andrews was a guest at Audrey’s home many times and Julie has stated that it’s impossible not to adore Audrey. The world has two fair ladies that are immortalized and adored. Jack Warner, who?
@@jjlonsdale5971 I have: Nothing outstanding there. You THINK they are great acting skills but the reality is you do so due to personal taste, not actual talent. Those who love "Harry Potter" claim the same as you do on MP and TSO Music. I love MP and TSO Music, but the acting was mediocre.
@@markuse3472 Hey Markus, it's a fair point, but I do think you have to adjust for the cultural standards of the time. Is the original MP a "great" movie by today's standards? No, of course not, the acting and directing and pacing and choreography are totally off-base. But you can say the same about a lot of older films -- take Rear Window as an example. Were Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart bad actors because they were acting within the constraints of the time period? My favorite movie OF ALL TIME is Charade, with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, and the storyline holds up because it's a perfect three-act structure, but no one would say it was "good" if it came out today.
I think that Audrey suited for My Fair Lady veery well. Sang she or not, still I love it. And I somewhere saw the screentest or sth where Julie tried on My Fair Lady clothes, it really didn't suit well. Sth was off. But for Mary Poppins, very good
I would rather have seen a cat fight. Wouldn't it have been fun to see Hepburn go after Andrews's wig and Oscar statue back stage after the Oscar show.
Although Julie would've most likely won the Oscar as Eliza; if she had been cast in "My Fair Lady" we would have never had her as Poppins NOR Maria Von Trapp- and I cannot imagine anyone else in those roles.
Vincent Parisi The only reason she got too play Maria was because Walt Disney let the person who was casting see clips of Mary poppins and they liked Julie
and if she had done MFL if Warner had Wise see the clips from that film she would have done Music. My point is that most likely she could not have done all 3 films. Unless all 3 producers were willing to wait for her and considering all the money riding on those films and she had yet to appear before a cinema audience it is pretty unlikely.
The question is would you have her in MFL or Poppins? I'd say Poppins. Did you want Bette Davis? And give Audrey Lady and an Oscar for a dazzling performance. Andrews should have won for Music.
@@vincentparisi2644 Not true. The shooting schedules for MARY POPPINS, MFL, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC did not overlap. She could have done all three. What she would not have been able to do is THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY, which was filming at the same time as MFL.
I'm still impressed with Marni Nixon's ability to modulate her singing voice to match varied actresses' voices so well while maintaining clarity and technique, though.
It's ironic how now dubbed performances *always* benefit the actress and not the dubber (e.g. Natalie Portman's dance double Sarah Lane who received next to no credit or Rebecca Ferguson's singing dubber Loren Allred who just went on a talent competition show because she didn't receive any major recognition in Hollywood). Audrey's 'treatment' was actually entirely fair.
@@ania5038 late comment, but I say the same for stunt doubles too. The fact that they're not acknowledged despite being essential for major hit movies is insane to me
Andrews' clapback to Jack Warner was DELICIOUS. Thankfully today, both her and Hepburn's performances are more iconic than their non-existent 'feud' of the time. Unbelievable that Andrews walked the Oscar red carpet literally days after the premiere of her other iconic role in Sound of Music. What an amazing career!
That information in the video is not correct. THE SOUND OF MUSIC opened four weeks before the Oscars, not four days. It opened while votes were still being submitted and tabulated, which has always fueled speculation that Julie's win was not only about MARY POPPINS and the attendant hooplah but also proof positive that Julie was about to become the biggest movie star on the planet. With three hit movies opening within six months and powerful bloc voting for Disney, MGM, and 20th Century Fox, Julie also had support from three different constituencies. Jack Warner was also a misogynist who didn't find Julie physically attractive (this resurfaced when Julie priced herself out of the running for the movie version of CAMELOT, only then did cowardly Warner let Joshua Logan field the heat for that misogyny). Also, Warner's mythology around Audrey's box office draw was partially untrue; she had never even ONCE been a Top 10 star in the USA; he was using her name as insurance against potential European revenues, where her name meant far more, especially since American musical films tended to fare poorly in Europe. Ironically, if Cary Grant (and James Cagney, whom he sought to play Alfred P. Dolittle) had agreed to do the film, Warner might have felt sufficiently assured of success to actually hire Julie and then take full credit for creating a new movie star.
@@Harringtonml54 also not mentioned is Marni Nixon was one of the nuns in Sound of Music. The irony of her first onscreen role, playing supporting character (of Sister Sophia) to the lead of Julie Andrews who she partially replaced in My Fair Lady...
Dayum, Hepburn was robbed. She was such a beautiful person and amazing actress, and she gave an amazing performance in "My Fair Lady." I laugh my ass off in the movie, specially the first third of it yet, it was not meant for serious laughs and that is it: Audrey went beyond her role, intentionally or not, and it was her act that nailed the movie as an instant gem and classic. I don't see at all any "disservice" about My Fair Lady: He cast the exact right actress.
My favorite extra tidbit about Cary Grant turning down the Higgins role is his response to Jack Warner: "Not only will I not play Higgins, if you don't cast Rex Harrison, I won't go see it, either."
Total Protonic Another interesting fact about Cary Grant is the reason that he didn’t want to do a film with Audrey is because of the 30 year age gap between the two of them and didn’t want to do a romantic scene with her and felt that would hurt his reputation. So the only film the two did together is “Charade”, but he would only do the film with her if she seduced him and not the other way around!
I would've preferred that. Has anyone seen Mary Poppins recently? So boring! I'm sure it was great at the time but my god it hasn't aged well, like Bette. And that terrible, awful Dick Van Dyke could Dick the Dyke right back in his van. Terrible to watch.
In a way I can understand why Jack casted Audrey for My Fair Lady. Not only was Audrey the big Hollywood Star, her last performances in Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s has in a way perfectly mixes the elegance and spunk that is Eliza Doolittle. Maybe Jack was playing a similar tactic like when Vivien Leigh was offered the role as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire over Jessica Tandy (The original role on broadway). Which payed off very well with an Oscar win for the leading lady. Of course I am very well aware that Vivien has already played and perfected the role of Blanche DuBois back in London, while Audrey was a complete newcomer in the role.
I love Audrey Hepburn's response when told that her "Moon River" rendition in Breakfast at Tyffany's will be overdubbed. Her response: "Over my dead body." And the song was released as a single and was a hit.
UA-cam has nothing to do with it. This videos are from 50 years ago. They're bound to look bad, since no one on tv back then would think of preserving them for a medium such as YT. Also, please don't throw shade on PBS shows. They're doing a damn fine job even though they keep getting their budgets cut year after year.
I saw Andrews speak a few years back and when asked about the 'feud' she said she was great friends with Hepburn, through her husband who had directed Breakfast At Tiffanys. She said she never blamed Hepburn and that she knew from early on she was never going to be considered for casting and she thought Hepburn was greta in the film!
Hepburn recommended Warner cast Andrews as Eliza since she created it, but she realized Warner wasn't going to do that and took the role realizing it would be foolish to pass on it especially knowing that Elizabeth Taylor was the second in line for the part.
IMO, this "scandal" has since been eclipsed by the class with which Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn handled the whole matter. Besides, everybody knew that Jack Warner was kind of a schmuck. The most jaw-dropping thing about this video (aside from its amazing quality) is that Bette Davis was considered for Poppins. I can't even to begin to imagine.....👀
The original Mary Poppins from the Travers-books was much saltier and grimlier than Julie Andrews interpreted her. Actually, Bette Davis would have been a very fitting choice if you go with the books. Even in the movie Mary Poppins isn't very kind to anyone, she's rather severe, narcissistic, even tries to gaslight the kids when they talk about the horse race. It's just Julie Andrews' charms that make her still seem loveable.
@@homhable "Even in the movie Mary Poppins isn't very kind to anyone, she's rather severe, narcissistic, even tries to gaslight the kids when they talk about the horse race." It's one of the things I _love_ about the movie, actually: Mary Poppins is, perversely, anything but "sweet." (I always enjoy when she tells Mr. Banks "I never explain anything.") I get the feeling that Julie Andrews, who could "thank" Jack Warner śeamlessly at the Golden Globe Awards, probably enjoyed playing the character in that way.
@@homhable Totally. Mary Poppins in the books is not physically attractive and is not a nice person. Bette Davis would have been an amazing choice if they wanted to go that way. I've just realized that I've implied that Bette Davis was not physically attractive. She was an incredibly stunning woman and All About Eve is a triumph and one of my favorite movies.
In the wave of redoing everything we are today, I am shocked nobody tried to make the more 'book realistic' version of Poppins - yet. I am pretty sure someday, someone will do it. Besides this point, the Disney version is magnificent anyways.
Julie Andrews win was deserved! Audrey should have been nominated, no doubt. Marni Nixon, RIP, should have or should still get a special Oscar for her excellent vocal work in films.
I don't agree that Audrey should have been nominated. She is enjoyable in "My fair Lady" because the role itself is extremely strong and colorful... but that's the role, not particularly Audrey's performance. I think she was rather average, even a little stiff. Definitely not the best choice for that movie, even though, once again, the role is so brilliant that it doesn't matter.
Dame Andrews richly deserves her Oscar for Mary Poppins. I feel for Audrey because she really did put in the work. Regardless on how this all played out, it didn’t diminished the films. They’re classics to this day and that’s all it counts
They're both so benevolent with their talents. The back story politics are just awful, but I'm glad that they gave of themselves such great performances for us to cherish forever.
It's *Dame Julie*. If someone is a Sir or a Dame (either a baronet or someone who has been granted a non-inherited knighthood) you use their first name when you address them or refer to them informally. A baronet is the lowest rank of the peerage/aristocracy. Someone who's been granted a knighthood for their lifetime - Dame Julie is a member of the Order of the British Empire and knight/dame is the top class in the Order - isn't a "peer" in the sense of being an aristocrat. For the higher rankings, e.g. if they're Duke or Earl of whatever, then you refer to them by their title. A duke or earl's title *isn't* normally their actual last name. For example, the dukes of Devonshire have a family name of Cavendish. If you're talking about him, you would refer to him as (His Grace) the Duke of Devonshire. If you're addressing William Cavendish to his face, you'd say "your Grace" the first time, then "Sir" after, with no name. Only friends would address him just as "Cavendish". Other peers (other dukes or earls and their families) might just refer to him as "Duke". You would never ever call him "Duke Cavendish". For earls, it's pretty much the same, except you refer to George Hobart as "Lord Buckinghamshire" and address him as "my lord" after using his title the first time. "Lord Hobart" is completely wrong. Same goes with all the aristocratic titles.
Also they cast audrey hepburn because they knew if they cast audrey then it will bring lots Of money . My Fair Lady Did Do A Great Job At Box Office But What Make My Fair Lady Box Office Was Low Compare To Mary Poppins Is Not Audrey Nor Not Casting Julie Fault , It The Lip Sync Scandal .
@@amandaely9983 she put in the work for that too, did you not watch the video? This wasn’t in the video but she worked for almost 6 months trying to get her voice to where it should be for the part, she put in a LOT of work It just so happened that they decided to dub her without telling her until later on
Honestly, watching old footage of Julie Andrews giving speeches and interviews just reaffirms the fact she has always been wonderful and sweet human being. Practically perfect doesn't even come close to her and once we lose her the world will grieve.
Your videos are so well done. Between the details and information, the well chosen clips, editing in general, and narration; they’re more than great. I hope you are getting the appreciation you deserve! Can’t wait for the next!!!
Yes...kudos on the quality of journalism on this channel! I've seen the video on the comparisons of the various "A Star Is Born" movies, and immediately subbed the channel.
Julie Andrews is the epitome of charming, Mary Poppins is an incredibly nuanced character and I think only Julie really brings some depth and existential sadness to the role that no one else ever could. Even as an adult, her departure at the movie's end is one of the most heartbreaking scenes on film
@@sergiovela7686 Actress, not singer. Look at the horrible singing of Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard, but a good (not great) actress. It happens. Many people were upset that on the casting of Camelot with Vanessa Redgrave just because she wasn't a schooled singer, but she was a good actress (but I really like her voice in that movie and her singing was good). Even without these examples, LOOK, WATCH CLOSELY, Audrey's act, and she is gold. While it was not a comedy, not really, it does have it's comedic parts, and those parts with Audrey have me laughing out loud. It's like watching Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde (which I know she did an act no one else with a big name would have accomplished), which she nailed and has gone mostly underrated when that act should be praised.
@@popland1977 It's a MOVIE musical, not just a "musical." Acting is the most important in a movie, singing would be the second in a movie-musical, although almost as important. Audrey acted Liza's role so perfectly it made Julie envious and pushed for her own act in another movie to win. And I gave an example on how singing may not be as important with the evidence of Glenn Close and her singing attempts in "Sunset Boulevard" which no one seems to care about her poor singing.
Dayum, Hepburn was robbed. She was such a beautiful person and amazing actress, and she gave an amazing performance in "My Fair Lady." I laugh my ass off in the movie, specially the first third of it yet, it was not meant for serious laughs and that is it: Audrey went beyond her role, intentionally or not, and it was her act that nailed the movie as an instant gem and classic. I don't see at all any "disservice" about My Fair Lady: He cast the exact right actress.
I can't imagine anyone else playing Audrey Hepburn's roles in THE NUN'S STORY, CHARADE, and WAIT UNTIL DARK (my personal favorites of her movies). I've come to see her performance in MY FAIR LADY as very good, but I think Jack Warner will go down in history as tone deaf for refusing to cast Julie Andrews. Nevertheless, Julie Andrews became a superstar in short order with MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and we can still hear her singing Eliza Doolittle's songs on the Original Broadway Cast album. And the fact that there was no feud between Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews reflects on their intelligence and grace.
Did you know that Julie Andrews was sought to do the film of WAIT UNTIL DARK? She was even initially announced for it but she was completing the second of her two picture deals with 20th Century Fox and Robert Wise (STAR!) so she did not do it, or a couple of other films she was supposed to make (SAY IT WITH MUSIC, SHE LOVES ME and THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, which she turned down because she didn't want to continue making movies with young people--so she also nixed OLIVER! and GOODBYE, MR CHIPS). She was happy her old friend Maggie Smith won the Oscar for JEAN BRODIE, though Julie later said "I turned that down, fool that I was.")
Dayum, Hepburn was robbed. She was such a beautiful person and amazing actress, and she gave an amazing performance in "My Fair Lady." I laugh my ass off in the movie, specially the first third of it yet, it was not meant for serious laughs and that is it: Audrey went beyond her role, intentionally or not, and it was her act that nailed the movie as an instant gem and classic. I don't see at all any "disservice" about My Fair Lady: He cast the exact right actress.
@TheBrabon1 Perhaps that's because Julie was 28 when she filmed THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Mary Martin was already 52. Martin as Maria on the big screen would have been utterly ridiculous. She was even too old to have recreated the role of Nellie Forbush in the big screen adaptation of SOUTH PACIFIC (she was only 45 at the time that was filmed).
My favourite story about Marin Nixon is that a guest to her house saw a gold disc for Mary Poppins. “You didn’t dub Julie Andrews?” They asked in shock. “No” Nixon replied. “I was three cockney geese.”
@@welivedadream In the move "Singing in the rain" Debbie played a character who was providing vocals for a famous silent film actress who couldn't sing.
@@welivedadream Additionally, the actress (Jean Hagen) who Debbie's character was dubbing for was the real-life woman who actually dubbed Debbie Reynolds pretending to dub for the fake actress Lina Lamont! It's crazy.
@@johnn.5033 Wowee, but can you tell me what the source is and can I read imdb for the screen credits or what? Will Wiki Jean Hagen now. Thanks for this as I am doing a double take.
Yeah, especially when Maureen O'Hara--who had a lovely operatic singing voice which sadly was never used to any extent in her movies--was originally cast for the role of Anna. John Ford somehow screwed her out of that part, so it went to Deborah Kerr and Marni Nixon!
Jack Warner was a moron as often as he was brilliant. It was stupid what he did to Andrews and it was awful what he did to Hepburn - and short-sighted. He was a dinosaur, unable to move with the times. But since this gave us Andrews as Poppins I can't be too mad. Sorry to hear that she didn't feel like she deserved her Oscar - she MADE that movie!
I wouldn’t feel too bad for Julie Andrews for being passed up for the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Julie Andrews will always be the true Mary Poppins, one of the most iconic female roles in movies!
Also, Julie got to play Maria in the Sound of Music and they passed up on the original Maria in Broadway’s Sound of Music, Mary Martin. So she really can’t complain.
@Eric Lind- I’m actually surprised that Audrey didn’t do the film adaptation of Gigi, since she was a huge Hollywood star at that time, unless she originally turned down the opportunity to reprised her role.
Your asides- like that short compilation of dubbed performances and your “no”s- take these video essays to another level. Such magnificent production and depth- these are a JOY
Yes, exactly what I was thinking. I knew a lot a bout this story from the start, but this vidéo blew me away -- it is simply tops in every way imaginable.
Julie's roast on Jack Warner is genuinely fantastic. Its a great jab mostly because she never comes off as cynical or bitter about not being cast in My Fair Lady.
@@TheDRMISTERY Audrey acted occasionally afterwards in the following films: _How to Steal a Million_ 1966 _Two for the Road_ 1967 _Wait Until Dark_ 1967 _Robin and Marian_ 1976 _Bloodline_ 1979 _They All Laughed_ 1981 _Always_ 1989
After I learned of this..her departure from films in late 60's made so much sense. Couldn't imagine what it must've been like for her. To be so lauded @ the dawn of 60's...come through this scandal, and have to endure the pop cultural donibation of Julie's 2-punch (Poppins/SoM). Ugh..I absolutely hate it. Love all 3 films mentioned tho..
I know a fair amount on this topic. I teach musical theatre to young people. I know a lot but this video seemed so fresh and new. So well done. I will say that my fair lady was labeled an English musical in this video and I’m not sure what the categorization for that would be , but it’s very much an American musical written by an American and a German-American based on an English play by Shaw with a majority of cast members who are English. But for all purposes and American musical theater piece and film. I quibble as this video presentation was brilliant.
Be Kind Rewind aww! I love the personal response! Yes, I thought that’s what you were leaning towards. Great series! I sent to my film historian friend. Hoping to get you even more subscribers!
This bothered me, too, because MY FAIR LADY and MARY POPPINS may be about British people/culture, but they were made by Americans for Americans. Even the movie versions of both were filmed in California.
@@musicaltheatergeek79 Yep! That's kind of the point! Americans were fascinated with British culture and loved representing it within own pop culture. Part of this meant bringing in a lot of British films (the pumpkin eater and seance on a wet afternoon are both british films made in britain) but part of that also meant just exploring voyeuristically like in The Lion in Winter, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, and a bunch of other stuff Disney bought like Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, etc. Camelot was the same way - British themes for American consumption.
I'm confused why there was a scandal regarding lip synching in a movie musical. It's the worst kept secret of the genre. I can't think of a single musical that didn't dub someone
I like knew all of this already especially being obsessed with Julie and reading her Book, remember Blake Edwards directed breakfast at Tiffinys and he was married to Julie Andrews everything just connects so weirdly, oh and when Walt went backstage to ask her to check out this movie that he was doing MP she had to deny because she was 3 months pregnant with her beautiful daughter Emma. But it is good that Julie didn't get the part in my fair lady because she wouldn't have did the sound the music cuz when she did Mary Poppins the director wanted to see some footage of Mary Poppins because the movie wasn't out yet and then Walt Disney agreed to let them see some and then he thought she was perfect play Maria. But much later Julie says she remembers Hepburn saying to her, “Julie, you should have done it, but I didn’t have the guts to turn it down.”
I feel really bad how misled Audrey was by the producers. I think her original recordings are charming and in the film, you can easily hear how the vocal quality switches over whenever Eliza starts singing. But I love that Julie and Audrey never gave any leeway to the "feud" created by the media, class acts all the way. Fantastic video, earned yourself a sub
The original Mary Poppins from the Travers-books was much saltier and grimlier than Julie Andrews interpreted her. Actually, Bette Davis would have been a very fitting choice if you go with the books. Even in the movie Mary Poppins isn't very kind to anyone, she's rather severe, narcissistic, even tries to gaslight the kids when they talk about the horse race. It's just Julie Andrews' charms that make her still seem loveable.
Audrey was an absolute class act. She still stayed humble and gracious despite being done wrong. If anything, it's a testament to her ability and star power that she was still able to make My Fair Lady work despite all of the bullcrap that went on. Heck, you know an actress is something truly magical when she is able to make roles she was miscast for (Holly, Eliza) iconic.
Yeah- you could tell tides were turning when Jack Warner tried to pit actress against actress and both end up cordial, respecting each other, and becoming friends. As for Bette Davis as Mary Poppins- a spoonful of sugar helps the whiskey go down.
@By Way Of Deception David Niven, in one of his books on Hollywood, related that Julie had a sticker on her little British sports car that read: Mary Poppins was a pusher. Yes, she definitely was a quick wit.
I feel sorry for both of them but I agree that ultimately it's the performances and now I can't imagine anyone other than Audrey playing the part of Eliza. I don't care that the singing is dubbed. Nobody made an issue of Deborah Kerr being dubbed in The King and I. Audrey nails the role, especially the comedy. The Ascot scene is delicious from start to finish, and nobody would've looked better in those costumes.
In general, the Western audience likes seeing actor's do it all. That's why they get praise for learning or losing/gaining weight for roles. Natalie Postman and Mila Kunis for taking up ballet (even with the controversy) Margot Robbie for ice skating The "rawness" in the Les Miserables with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway Which is weird because I personally don't mind if a dub is used for the singing parts. Bollywood does this all the time and no one hates it. We even prefer when singers are also songwriters Idk. Just an observation 🐱
Audrey had the voice for Eliza--speaking and singing--and it is an atrocity that they dub it with Marni Nixon (nothing against Ms. Nixon, but MY FAIR LADY was not an opera). Audrey had the regal bearing to give Eliza that "flower girl turned into a duchess". I will always love and adore Audrey. And she will always be My Fair Lady. And if memory serves correctly, Rex Harrison, before he died, was on stage with Audrey and Julie and forgot their names (he was suffering from Alzheimer's). He looked at each lady, smiled, and stated that the two ladies were "My Fair Ladies". Nuff said.
The press is pathetic for trying to spin the whole thing into a hopeful catfight. Nothing's changed. But they know their public, the wretched, jealous and envious creatures that they are. Can't we just be happy with ALL the talented and lovable people we have in this world? The more the merrier, no?
I have heard this story about a million times, but each time I do it with the same inner excitement that I would read a page turning detective story with: "What next, what next?" My heart keeps pumping. The story ends really well, going through this production maze. But I always end up feeling sorry for Audrey, who had no clue about the situation with the entire vocal charade. Love both of these amazing actresses, such iconic figures in the world culture and movie world.
2:52 I think this role solidified the reason we say Audrey was far more than the Breakfast at Tiffany's persona. She had a powerful range, seen best in her incredible Eliza portrayal
@@SymphonyBrahms Angela should have done Mame in the film instead of Lucy. By that time, Lucy had lost her singing through decades of smoking and sounded terrible in the movie. Don't get me wrong, I'll always love Lucy, but she was miscast in this part.
@@SymphonyBrahms Lansbury was dubbed in "The Harvey Girls" which was 18 years before she appeared in her first broadway musical "Anyone Can Whistle". Although just the year before she was Oscar nominated for "The Picture of Dorian Grey" in which she does sing two songs quite well, so it is a shame MGM didn't give her the chance. Maybe they thought she couldn't carry the style of the music in "The Harvey Girls", which is silly but my only thought as to why.
And of course, this practice of getting bankable stars instead of the original players is still very prevalent. I'm sure I'm not the only who thought Bernadette Peters could have still been able to pull off the Witch in Into the Woods, or how about Bebe in Chicago?
Hollywood is even more divorced from Broadway than it was back then. The average moviegoer hasn't heard of Broadway stars or seen the shows, so they have to bring in star power. The only possible Broadway-to-film adaptations I could see getting much demand for the original cast are Hamilton and Wicked -- and I'm not so sure about the latter at this point.
And just like "My Fair Lady," it turned out that replacing Bernadette with Meryl Streep didn't do the film version of "Into the Woods" any good in the long run.
Thank you for the detailed analysis of this fascinating episode in Oscar history. I look forward to all your videos. Have you ever thought about similar videos about: 1. Ginger Rogers' win in 1941 2. Shirley Booth in 1952 3. The absolutely crazy history of the 1951 Oscars with Bette, Anne Baxter, Gloria and Judy Holiday?
You know "Be Kind" is going to get around to 1950, but it's probably the all-time classic year to do, and so rich with scenarios I'm sure she's going to take the time to do it right and properly address all the variables involved with how things played out (no one's asking, but I'll take Davis that year).
Poor Audrey indeed, the main reason why she did n’t get an Oscar nomination was the fact that her singin voice was n’t used. That’s really cynical. My fair lady would have been a much better movie. After My fair lady, Audrey took a sabbatical year, and rejected a Role offer in Dr. Zhivago. There’re rumours that she decided than to stop with her movie carrière, although she played in 3 movies after this experience.
Gunnhild Edwards Yes but it wasn’t her decission. She wanted that her singin voice was used, So Pygmalion was not an option. They used the voice of Mimi Dixton, only in ‘Just you wait Henry Higgens they used Audrey’s voice, that s a pity.
@@bartvanos1466 they should Let Audrey Sing The Song Because I Hear That Wouldn't It Be Loverly Audrey Ver And while she no Julie Andrews , Atleast She Try .
This proves beyond any shadow of a doubt what kind of man Jack Warner was. Yes he was a successful and clever businessman who made Warner Bros studio the success that it was. But he was also a cunning, manipulative man who cared little for the people that worked for him. He wasn't above using others to get what he wanted. He infamously pitted Davis and Crawford against each other playing on the long standing animosity that existed between the pair. Fortunately both Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn proved themselves too smart and classy to be used as pawns by him and the studio system and handled the whole thing with dignity and grace.
I will say that you can see a very stark differences between Jack Warner and Walt Disney when it came to producing a movie. Warner focused too much on numbers and it made him super cautious in his casting decisions, while Disney was more than willing to take risks and fully bank on a less profile actress if he felt that they were right for the role. I guess one decision payed off more than the other since Mary Poppins grossed more money than My Fair Lady.
I just discovered these! What treasures. Don't know if you're still doing them, but I have been watching several over the last 5 hours. My day has been kidnapped by the delight of these episodes.
Julie Andrew is the quintessential English pretty rose. Her voice was golden and her charms were accessible to rich and poor alike. I think she was my first screenplay crush followed by Glynis Barber from the hit cops show Dempsey and Makepeace. I even fancied Dempsey a little back then also I think..lol
I feel torn. On one hand, it would have been amazing to have seen Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle in the film, but that would have made it impossible for her to be Mary Poppins, a role that would absolutely not be what it is without her, and which I hold in very high regard, and very closely to my heart. On the other hand, Audrey Hepburn is a fantastic actress, and her unique sensibilities are the ones I, as someone who was introduced to the character through the movie, cannot dissociate with the character and the story itself. That is why I feel both glad that Julie Andrews' Mary Poppins and Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle exist, and disappointed that Julie Andrews' Eliza Doolittle does not (at least on cinema)
I am a freak for both ladies. I didn't know about any of this until watching your videos BUT like Julie can't be replaced as Mary Poppins... NO ONE ..not no one could do as good as Audrey in My Fair Lady. I knew she was famous but after seeing her in MFL... I never adored her as much as the script for my fair lady. AND the actor that plays her dad. Man oh man.. his talent still gives me goosebumps. Good ole Hollywood.. where you forget your stressful life for 2 hrs or 3 hrs. I watch these movies a few times a year. Well thanks for the video. I'll be 60 and I never knew all this. I just know both ladies filled those spots and I can't see anyone else in them... Julie turned down Bedknobs and broomsticks.. then changed her mind. Angela Lansbury already signed her contract. I just can't see Mary Poppins and George Banks in a romance. So GLAD that didn't happen. Angela is another Great!
so you havent seen Julie's my fair lady? even the little clips here on YT from reenactment.. imagine its just a reenactment and wasn't the original play.. and listen to the Orgnal Recordings?
Another fantastic video! I loved your ending words on how in the end we remember the performance and not the politics behind it all. For that reason maybe over time Julie felt more deserving of her Oscar. Thanks for all the effort you put into your videos! They're the most interesting things on UA-cam.
I love the writing and narration behind this video. The story itself was and is interesting but again, the writing and narration is equally attractive. Great job!
Marilyn got her break in Hollywood because executives knew she could sing but needed a lot more work on her acting. Her singing is what made her score roles in the first place.
I wish Audrey would have been allowed to use her true voice and I wish Julie could have had the film lead in a role she found such meaning in. But then without the big studio heads who had to pay attention to the decisions from a business standpoint, things could not have based on art and fulfillment, I wish you could explain everything, you are so great at breaking down events.
*I wish Audrey would have been allowed to use her true voice* If you listened to her recordings of "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Show Me," her dubbing was justified. She could carry a tune to a degree (like in "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" shown at 9:05), but she strained to hit the notes in the other more difficult songs and sounded like a dying cat.
Another great episode. I absolutely love your UA-cam videos. I get so excited when there is a new episode. So much info and research gone in to them. Hugely appreciated. Keep them coming!!!
Absolutely great assessment. I'd like to put in a little plug for the amazing Kim Stanley, who gives one of the greatest performances on film in "Séance on a Wet Afternoon," hardly a feel-good film like "Mary Poppins" (or "My Fair Lady," for that matter), but iconic in its own way.
Lovely explanation thank you! Yes, Many of us knew about the voice over for Audrey and indeed Julie when not getting the part for my fair lady etc.. But you filled in all the gaps that had been plaguing my mind for many years.. Thank you for this thought provoking and entertaining upload...as yet again, you had me hooked with another video of yours! X
I never knew I needed history lessons on Oscar winners until I discovered your channel, and since then I fell in love with the way you analyze every detail that brought to the night they won. I really can't wait for the next installment, but I have a question: I guess it's on purpose that you only pick women, but... Why? I mean, it's fascinating and there are certainly more nuances to it than with the male winners, but surely there must be something interesting to say about some controversial wins in the male categories... Anyway, love the channel, keep up the good work! ;)
There is a level of respect that grows for both women. Audrey wanted to give an honest performance and was snubbed for truth by jack warner. Julie handled everything with class and grace.
I’m content with the fact that Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews were friends despite this mess. Julie Andrews was a guest at Audrey’s home many times and Julie has stated that it’s impossible not to adore Audrey. The world has two fair ladies that are immortalized and adored. Jack Warner, who?
I don't see anything special about Andrews on the big screen, but Hepburn yes.
@@markuse3472 sooooooo you've never seen Mary Poppins or Sound of Music?
@@jjlonsdale5971 I have: Nothing outstanding there. You THINK they are great acting skills but the reality is you do so due to personal taste, not actual talent. Those who love "Harry Potter" claim the same as you do on MP and TSO Music. I love MP and TSO Music, but the acting was mediocre.
@@markuse3472 Hey Markus, it's a fair point, but I do think you have to adjust for the cultural standards of the time. Is the original MP a "great" movie by today's standards? No, of course not, the acting and directing and pacing and choreography are totally off-base. But you can say the same about a lot of older films -- take Rear Window as an example. Were Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart bad actors because they were acting within the constraints of the time period?
My favorite movie OF ALL TIME is Charade, with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, and the storyline holds up because it's a perfect three-act structure, but no one would say it was "good" if it came out today.
I think that Audrey suited for My Fair Lady veery well. Sang she or not, still I love it. And I somewhere saw the screentest or sth where Julie tried on My Fair Lady clothes, it really didn't suit well. Sth was off. But for Mary Poppins, very good
I adore Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn, even more so for taking the high road and remaining friends through the drama.
I would rather have seen a cat fight. Wouldn't it have been fun to see Hepburn go after Andrews's wig and Oscar statue back stage after the Oscar show.
@@jackanthony976 Audrey will never do that
I adore them both as well. They both have such admirable qualities - both on and off the screen - they will forever be two of my favorites!
She did? Seems to me Julie took a lot of unnecessary swipes at the film and casting. I’m sorry but the film was good and Audrey was great in the role
@@TrangPakbaby Julie gave shade to the producer, not at Hepburn
Although Julie would've most likely won the Oscar as Eliza; if she had been cast in "My Fair Lady" we would have never had her as Poppins NOR Maria Von Trapp- and I cannot imagine anyone else in those roles.
Why not in TSOM? MFL was filmed in '63. She could have done both films. What she could not have done was Mary Poppins.
Vincent Parisi The only reason she got too play Maria was because Walt Disney let the person who was casting see clips of Mary poppins and they liked Julie
and if she had done MFL if Warner had Wise see the clips from that film she would have done Music. My point is that most likely she could not have done all 3 films. Unless all 3 producers were willing to wait for her and considering all the money riding on those films and she had yet to appear before a cinema audience it is pretty unlikely.
The question is would you have her in MFL or Poppins? I'd say Poppins. Did you want Bette Davis? And give Audrey Lady and an Oscar for a dazzling performance. Andrews should have won for Music.
@@vincentparisi2644 Not true. The shooting schedules for MARY POPPINS, MFL, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC did not overlap. She could have done all three. What she would not have been able to do is THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY, which was filming at the same time as MFL.
I'm still impressed with Marni Nixon's ability to modulate her singing voice to match varied actresses' voices so well while maintaining clarity and technique, though.
It truly is an extraordinary gift.
Right holy cow it’s hard enough to sing but to sing in an impression of someone eles .
Such a queen.
It's ironic how now dubbed performances *always* benefit the actress and not the dubber (e.g. Natalie Portman's dance double Sarah Lane who received next to no credit or Rebecca Ferguson's singing dubber Loren Allred who just went on a talent competition show because she didn't receive any major recognition in Hollywood). Audrey's 'treatment' was actually entirely fair.
@@ania5038 late comment, but I say the same for stunt doubles too. The fact that they're not acknowledged despite being essential for major hit movies is insane to me
Andrews' clapback to Jack Warner was DELICIOUS. Thankfully today, both her and Hepburn's performances are more iconic than their non-existent 'feud' of the time. Unbelievable that Andrews walked the Oscar red carpet literally days after the premiere of her other iconic role in Sound of Music. What an amazing career!
Exactly. I had no idea this drama ever existed. The press was definitely way more vicious back then than it is now.
That information in the video is not correct. THE SOUND OF MUSIC opened four weeks before the Oscars, not four days. It opened while votes were still being submitted and tabulated, which has always fueled speculation that Julie's win was not only about MARY POPPINS and the attendant hooplah but also proof positive that Julie was about to become the biggest movie star on the planet. With three hit movies opening within six months and powerful bloc voting for Disney, MGM, and 20th Century Fox, Julie also had support from three different constituencies. Jack Warner was also a misogynist who didn't find Julie physically attractive (this resurfaced when Julie priced herself out of the running for the movie version of CAMELOT, only then did cowardly Warner let Joshua Logan field the heat for that misogyny). Also, Warner's mythology around Audrey's box office draw was partially untrue; she had never even ONCE been a Top 10 star in the USA; he was using her name as insurance against potential European revenues, where her name meant far more, especially since American musical films tended to fare poorly in Europe. Ironically, if Cary Grant (and James Cagney, whom he sought to play Alfred P. Dolittle) had agreed to do the film, Warner might have felt sufficiently assured of success to actually hire Julie and then take full credit for creating a new movie star.
@@Harringtonml54 also not mentioned is Marni Nixon was one of the nuns in Sound of Music. The irony of her first onscreen role, playing supporting character (of Sister Sophia) to the lead of Julie Andrews who she partially replaced in My Fair Lady...
@@Harringtonml54 Wow that is fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing and clarifying!
Dayum, Hepburn was robbed. She was such a beautiful person and amazing actress, and she gave an amazing performance in "My Fair Lady." I laugh my ass off in the movie, specially the first third of it yet, it was not meant for serious laughs and that is it: Audrey went beyond her role, intentionally or not, and it was her act that nailed the movie as an instant gem and classic. I don't see at all any "disservice" about My Fair Lady: He cast the exact right actress.
My favorite extra tidbit about Cary Grant turning down the Higgins role is his response to Jack Warner: "Not only will I not play Higgins, if you don't cast Rex Harrison, I won't go see it, either."
Lol!!! That is classy.
Total Protonic Another interesting fact about Cary Grant is the reason that he didn’t want to do a film with Audrey is because of the 30 year age gap between the two of them and didn’t want to do a romantic scene with her and felt that would hurt his reputation. So the only film the two did together is “Charade”, but he would only do the film with her if she seduced him and not the other way around!
I heard this quip in reference to him being offered the part of Harold Hill in "The Music Man" and Robert Preston.
Ah actors imaginative as ever having clever comebacks
Not much a comeback. Who cares if he saw it or not.
I can imagine bette davis as Mary Poppins, yelling at the kids with a cigarette in one hand and a scotch glass in the other hahahaha
Glad they didn't have Davis do that role. A great actress, she would have been dreadful in that syrupy, diabetes-inducing part.
comedy gold. this comment is comedy gold!
I would've preferred that. Has anyone seen Mary Poppins recently? So boring! I'm sure it was great at the time but my god it hasn't aged well, like Bette. And that terrible, awful Dick Van Dyke could Dick the Dyke right back in his van. Terrible to watch.
In a way I can understand why Jack casted Audrey for My Fair Lady. Not only was Audrey the big Hollywood Star, her last performances in Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s has in a way perfectly mixes the elegance and spunk that is Eliza Doolittle. Maybe Jack was playing a similar tactic like when Vivien Leigh was offered the role as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire over Jessica Tandy (The original role on broadway). Which payed off very well with an Oscar win for the leading lady. Of course I am very well aware that Vivien has already played and perfected the role of Blanche DuBois back in London, while Audrey was a complete newcomer in the role.
Bette played THE NANNY (1965), much more apropriate for her persona.
I love Audrey Hepburn's response when told that her "Moon River" rendition in Breakfast at Tyffany's will be overdubbed. Her response: "Over my dead body." And the song was released as a single and was a hit.
But her voice is dreadful, in fact she doesn’t have a voice! She cannot sing!
@@Nina5144 wtf are you on about
@@Nina5144ur jealous ur not as elegant and sophisticated as audrey lol
UA-cam is not worthy. The quality of your videos is on the level of a PBS show.
"The quality of your videos is on the level of a PBS show.
"
Except for the fact checking aspect.
@@rustincohle2135 The facts you brought up were disputed by me in your own post.
UA-cam has nothing to do with it. This videos are from 50 years ago. They're bound to look bad, since no one on tv back then would think of preserving them for a medium such as YT.
Also, please don't throw shade on PBS shows. They're doing a damn fine job even though they keep getting their budgets cut year after year.
@@valdezlopez lol. You have the opposite interpretation to what I meant. I am praising this video b/c it has a great quality of a PBS show.
@@valdezlopez Pretty sure OP was referring to the quality of the research and explanation of the topic, not the actual resolution or picture quality.
Second biggest lipsync scandal ever... after Zac Efron being dubbed by Drew Seeley in High School Musical
Lara Martinez
Milli-Vanilli
Are you serious?
Lara Martinez Wait! What???
WhaaaaaaaaTttt?!?!?
WHAT?!!
I saw Andrews speak a few years back and when asked about the 'feud' she said she was great friends with Hepburn, through her husband who had directed Breakfast At Tiffanys. She said she never blamed Hepburn and that she knew from early on she was never going to be considered for casting and she thought Hepburn was greta in the film!
💕💕💕
Hepburn recommended Warner cast Andrews as Eliza since she created it, but she realized Warner wasn't going to do that and took the role realizing it would be foolish to pass on it especially knowing that Elizabeth Taylor was the second in line for the part.
I'd LOVE to see Elizabeth in the role, but of course they'll have to use Marnie Nixon's voice in this case.
Yeah I think alot of these celebrity "feuds" are just made up to create drama.
Donnelly Kate bb
That little scene with Dick Van Dyke clapping and smiling so widely for Julie at the oscar´s is all I need
IMO, this "scandal" has since been eclipsed by the class with which Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn handled the whole matter. Besides, everybody knew that Jack Warner was kind of a schmuck. The most jaw-dropping thing about this video (aside from its amazing quality) is that Bette Davis was considered for Poppins. I can't even to begin to imagine.....👀
The original Mary Poppins from the Travers-books was much saltier and grimlier than Julie Andrews interpreted her. Actually, Bette Davis would have been a very fitting choice if you go with the books. Even in the movie Mary Poppins isn't very kind to anyone, she's rather severe, narcissistic, even tries to gaslight the kids when they talk about the horse race. It's just Julie Andrews' charms that make her still seem loveable.
@@homhable "Even in the movie Mary Poppins isn't very kind to anyone, she's rather severe, narcissistic, even tries to gaslight the kids when they talk about the horse race."
It's one of the things I _love_ about the movie, actually: Mary Poppins is, perversely, anything but "sweet." (I always enjoy when she tells Mr. Banks "I never explain anything.") I get the feeling that Julie Andrews, who could "thank" Jack Warner śeamlessly at the Golden Globe Awards, probably enjoyed playing the character in that way.
@@homhable Totally. Mary Poppins in the books is not physically attractive and is not a nice person. Bette Davis would have been an amazing choice if they wanted to go that way.
I've just realized that I've implied that Bette Davis was not physically attractive. She was an incredibly stunning woman and All About Eve is a triumph and one of my favorite movies.
In the wave of redoing everything we are today, I am shocked nobody tried to make the more 'book realistic' version of Poppins - yet. I am pretty sure someday, someone will do it. Besides this point, the Disney version is magnificent anyways.
Jerald Collins 😂😂 A drunk smelling of tobacco doing petty and increasingly worse things to the children. Bette Davis would have caused ptsd!!!!!
Julie Andrews win was deserved! Audrey should have been nominated, no doubt. Marni Nixon, RIP, should have or should still get a special Oscar for her excellent vocal work in films.
I don't agree that Audrey should have been nominated. She is enjoyable in "My fair Lady" because the role itself is extremely strong and colorful... but that's the role, not particularly Audrey's performance. I think she was rather average, even a little stiff. Definitely not the best choice for that movie, even though, once again, the role is so brilliant that it doesn't matter.
As far as Marni goes I agree with you 100%.
Marni was so talented. She even makes a cameo in the Sound of Music.
@@kerriethompson2073 Yeah, she was one of the nuns in the "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" number. Had a quick solo.
I totally agree.
Dame Andrews richly deserves her Oscar for Mary Poppins. I feel for Audrey because she really did put in the work. Regardless on how this all played out, it didn’t diminished the films. They’re classics to this day and that’s all it counts
They're both so benevolent with their talents. The back story politics are just awful, but I'm glad that they gave of themselves such great performances for us to cherish forever.
It's *Dame Julie*. If someone is a Sir or a Dame (either a baronet or someone who has been granted a non-inherited knighthood) you use their first name when you address them or refer to them informally. A baronet is the lowest rank of the peerage/aristocracy. Someone who's been granted a knighthood for their lifetime - Dame Julie is a member of the Order of the British Empire and knight/dame is the top class in the Order - isn't a "peer" in the sense of being an aristocrat.
For the higher rankings, e.g. if they're Duke or Earl of whatever, then you refer to them by their title. A duke or earl's title *isn't* normally their actual last name. For example, the dukes of Devonshire have a family name of Cavendish. If you're talking about him, you would refer to him as (His Grace) the Duke of Devonshire. If you're addressing William Cavendish to his face, you'd say "your Grace" the first time, then "Sir" after, with no name. Only friends would address him just as "Cavendish". Other peers (other dukes or earls and their families) might just refer to him as "Duke". You would never ever call him "Duke Cavendish". For earls, it's pretty much the same, except you refer to George Hobart as "Lord Buckinghamshire" and address him as "my lord" after using his title the first time. "Lord Hobart" is completely wrong. Same goes with all the aristocratic titles.
albert penuelaz she put in the work, except singing.......
Also they cast audrey hepburn because they knew if they cast audrey then it will bring lots Of money . My Fair Lady Did Do A Great Job At Box Office But What Make My Fair Lady Box Office Was Low Compare To Mary Poppins Is Not Audrey Nor Not Casting Julie Fault , It The Lip Sync Scandal .
@@amandaely9983 she put in the work for that too, did you not watch the video? This wasn’t in the video but she worked for almost 6 months trying to get her voice to where it should be for the part, she put in a LOT of work
It just so happened that they decided to dub her without telling her until later on
Honestly, watching old footage of Julie Andrews giving speeches and interviews just reaffirms the fact she has always been wonderful and sweet human being. Practically perfect doesn't even come close to her and once we lose her the world will grieve.
Your videos are so well done. Between the details and information, the well chosen clips, editing in general, and narration; they’re more than great. I hope you are getting the appreciation you deserve! Can’t wait for the next!!!
Yes...kudos on the quality of journalism on this channel! I've seen the video on the comparisons of the various "A Star Is Born" movies, and immediately subbed the channel.
Julie Andrews is the epitome of charming, Mary Poppins is an incredibly nuanced character and I think only Julie really brings some depth and existential sadness to the role that no one else ever could. Even as an adult, her departure at the movie's end is one of the most heartbreaking scenes on film
I completely and wholeheartedly agree....
До слез сцена
That shade at the Golden globes tho. Julie knew that Warner was the one at fault
But there was NO fault. Warner cast the perfect actress for My Fair Lady and she should have won, unless politics are involved.
@@markuse3472 how was Audrey the perfect actress if she couldn't even sing the part?
@@sergiovela7686 Actress, not singer. Look at the horrible singing of Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard, but a good (not great) actress. It happens. Many people were upset that on the casting of Camelot with Vanessa Redgrave just because she wasn't a schooled singer, but she was a good actress (but I really like her voice in that movie and her singing was good). Even without these examples, LOOK, WATCH CLOSELY, Audrey's act, and she is gold. While it was not a comedy, not really, it does have it's comedic parts, and those parts with Audrey have me laughing out loud. It's like watching Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde (which I know she did an act no one else with a big name would have accomplished), which she nailed and has gone mostly underrated when that act should be praised.
@@markuse3472 This is a musica we're talking about. If you can't meet the basic requirement of singing then you're not the perfect person
@@popland1977 It's a MOVIE musical, not just a "musical." Acting is the most important in a movie, singing would be the second in a movie-musical, although almost as important. Audrey acted Liza's role so perfectly it made Julie envious and pushed for her own act in another movie to win. And I gave an example on how singing may not be as important with the evidence of Glenn Close and her singing attempts in "Sunset Boulevard" which no one seems to care about her poor singing.
Nothing but respect for my Queen of Genovia
Warner Brothers making questionable decisions since the dawn of films
Dayum, Hepburn was robbed. She was such a beautiful person and amazing actress, and she gave an amazing performance in "My Fair Lady." I laugh my ass off in the movie, specially the first third of it yet, it was not meant for serious laughs and that is it: Audrey went beyond her role, intentionally or not, and it was her act that nailed the movie as an instant gem and classic. I don't see at all any "disservice" about My Fair Lady: He cast the exact right actress.
Funny face
lmao
Audrey actually did us a huge favour by accepting the role. Warner's second option was Elizabeth Taylor.
Markus E and should’ve let her sing.........
Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn were both treated so unfairly for this adaption.
I can't imagine anyone else playing Audrey Hepburn's roles in THE NUN'S STORY, CHARADE, and WAIT UNTIL DARK (my personal favorites of her movies). I've come to see her performance in MY FAIR LADY as very good, but I think Jack Warner will go down in history as tone deaf for refusing to cast Julie Andrews. Nevertheless, Julie Andrews became a superstar in short order with MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and we can still hear her singing Eliza Doolittle's songs on the Original Broadway Cast album. And the fact that there was no feud between Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews reflects on their intelligence and grace.
2 classy women
Did you know that Julie Andrews was sought to do the film of WAIT UNTIL DARK? She was even initially announced for it but she was completing the second of her two picture deals with 20th Century Fox and Robert Wise (STAR!) so she did not do it, or a couple of other films she was supposed to make (SAY IT WITH MUSIC, SHE LOVES ME and THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, which she turned down because she didn't want to continue making movies with young people--so she also nixed OLIVER! and GOODBYE, MR CHIPS). She was happy her old friend Maggie Smith won the Oscar for JEAN BRODIE, though Julie later said "I turned that down, fool that I was.")
Dayum, Hepburn was robbed. She was such a beautiful person and amazing actress, and she gave an amazing performance in "My Fair Lady." I laugh my ass off in the movie, specially the first third of it yet, it was not meant for serious laughs and that is it: Audrey went beyond her role, intentionally or not, and it was her act that nailed the movie as an instant gem and classic. I don't see at all any "disservice" about My Fair Lady: He cast the exact right actress.
@@Harringtonml54 I would love to see Julie as jean Brodie but Maggie smith was indeed born for that role.
@TheBrabon1 Perhaps that's because Julie was 28 when she filmed THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Mary Martin was already 52. Martin as Maria on the big screen would have been utterly ridiculous. She was even too old to have recreated the role of Nellie Forbush in the big screen adaptation of SOUTH PACIFIC (she was only 45 at the time that was filmed).
My favourite story about Marin Nixon is that a guest to her house saw a gold disc for Mary Poppins. “You didn’t dub Julie Andrews?” They asked in shock. “No” Nixon replied. “I was three cockney geese.”
"Ironically no"
The shaaaaaaaaaade.
i don't get the reference
Which makes no sense considering how well Angela Lansbury can sing.
@@welivedadream In the move "Singing in the rain" Debbie played a character who was providing vocals for a famous silent film actress who couldn't sing.
@@welivedadream Additionally, the actress (Jean Hagen) who Debbie's character was dubbing for was the real-life woman who actually dubbed Debbie Reynolds pretending to dub for the fake actress Lina Lamont! It's crazy.
@@johnn.5033 Wowee, but can you tell me what the source is and can I read imdb for the screen credits or what? Will Wiki Jean Hagen now. Thanks for this as I am doing a double take.
Well.. Doborah Kerr was nominated for The king and I USING MARNI's voice so... Yeah, unfair.
As was Natalie Wood in West Side Story
@@michellemowerdirector Natalie was nominated for Splendor in the Grass, not West Side Story.
La_Trolette There’s no “fair” at the Oscars.
Yeah, especially when Maureen O'Hara--who had a lovely operatic singing voice which sadly was never used to any extent in her movies--was originally cast for the role of Anna. John Ford somehow screwed her out of that part, so it went to Deborah Kerr and Marni Nixon!
@@lucillebadger6554 ni
Jack Warner was a moron as often as he was brilliant. It was stupid what he did to Andrews and it was awful what he did to Hepburn - and short-sighted. He was a dinosaur, unable to move with the times.
But since this gave us Andrews as Poppins I can't be too mad. Sorry to hear that she didn't feel like she deserved her Oscar - she MADE that movie!
He was a moron, stupid, dinosaur yet he produced My Fair Lady a wonderful film. We should have such dinosaurs today.
All those studio bosses were tyrants--Warner, Louie B. Mayer (the WORST), Harry Kohn (Columbia Pictures) and others.
I wouldn’t feel too bad for Julie Andrews for being passed up for the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Julie Andrews will always be the true Mary Poppins, one of the most iconic female roles in movies!
Exactly not to mention she will never be forgot idk who is going to watch my fair lady but generations of generations will watch Disney she was smart
Also, Julie got to play Maria in the Sound of Music and they passed up on the original Maria in Broadway’s Sound of Music, Mary Martin. So she really can’t complain.
@Eric Lind- Wow! I did not know that! I guess being passed to play Eliza Doolittle was the best thing to happen to Julie Andrews!
@@davy209 Audrey Hepburn was the original Broadway Gigi and she didn’t play it in the movie version so it’s actually common that this happened.
@Eric Lind- I’m actually surprised that Audrey didn’t do the film adaptation of Gigi, since she was a huge Hollywood star at that time, unless she originally turned down the opportunity to reprised her role.
Your asides- like that short compilation of dubbed performances and your “no”s- take these video essays to another level. Such magnificent production and depth- these are a JOY
Yes, exactly what I was thinking. I knew a lot a bout this story from the start, but this vidéo blew me away -- it is simply tops in every way imaginable.
I would pay good quality money to see bette davis play mary poppins i meaN IMAGINE THE POWER
"I don't want to go to bed Mary Poppins"
"But ya are Jane, ya ARE in the bed!!"
Bette would have been more in line with Travers' vision of Mary Poppins.
The Shade of it all from Julie was awesome. Also I love how neither woman had a feud over the role and were the classy ones out of it all.
Julie's roast on Jack Warner is genuinely fantastic. Its a great jab mostly because she never comes off as cynical or bitter about not being cast in My Fair Lady.
Poor Audrey.
I don't feel so bad. She still has her 1954 Best Actress Academy Award.
@@TheDRMISTERY Audrey acted occasionally afterwards in the following films:
_How to Steal a Million_ 1966
_Two for the Road_ 1967
_Wait Until Dark_ 1967
_Robin and Marian_ 1976
_Bloodline_ 1979
_They All Laughed_ 1981
_Always_ 1989
Both actresses got screwed.
Audrey was a great actress, but wrong for that role.
After I learned of this..her departure from films in late 60's made so much sense. Couldn't imagine what it must've been like for her. To be so lauded @ the dawn of 60's...come through this scandal, and have to endure the pop cultural donibation of Julie's 2-punch (Poppins/SoM). Ugh..I absolutely hate it. Love all 3 films mentioned tho..
I always feel bad for Audrey Hepburn. I loved her as Eliza. Naturally, I saw "Mary Poppins" before I saw "My Fair Lady." But, I enjoy both films.
I know a fair amount on this topic. I teach musical theatre to young people. I know a lot but this video seemed so fresh and new. So well done. I will say that my fair lady was labeled an English musical in this video and I’m not sure what the categorization for that would be , but it’s very much an American musical written by an American and a German-American based on an English play by Shaw with a majority of cast members who are English. But for all purposes and American musical theater piece and film. I quibble as this video presentation was brilliant.
Thank you so much for watching! Yes - I love Lerner and Loewe! I meant it was about/involved British culture.
Be Kind Rewind aww! I love the personal response! Yes, I thought that’s what you were leaning towards. Great series! I sent to my film historian friend. Hoping to get you even more subscribers!
This bothered me, too, because MY FAIR LADY and MARY POPPINS may be about British people/culture, but they were made by Americans for Americans. Even the movie versions of both were filmed in California.
@@musicaltheatergeek79 Yep! That's kind of the point! Americans were fascinated with British culture and loved representing it within own pop culture. Part of this meant bringing in a lot of British films (the pumpkin eater and seance on a wet afternoon are both british films made in britain) but part of that also meant just exploring voyeuristically like in The Lion in Winter, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, and a bunch of other stuff Disney bought like Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, etc. Camelot was the same way - British themes for American consumption.
@@queenofnochill Yes! ua-cam.com/video/r5ly_iAmEOE/v-deo.html
I'm confused why there was a scandal regarding lip synching in a movie musical. It's the worst kept secret of the genre. I can't think of a single musical that didn't dub someone
I think no one dubbed the cast of The Last 5 Years.
Mary poppins :/ nobody was dubbed I think.
First time I hear about this, and I just gotta say omg Julie Andrews slayed with that comeback at the golden globes!!! OMG GET IT
I like knew all of this already especially being obsessed with Julie and reading her Book, remember Blake Edwards directed breakfast at Tiffinys and he was married to Julie Andrews everything just connects so weirdly, oh and when Walt went backstage to ask her to check out this movie that he was doing MP she had to deny because she was 3 months pregnant with her beautiful daughter Emma. But it is good that Julie didn't get the part in my fair lady because she wouldn't have did the sound the music cuz when she did Mary Poppins the director wanted to see some footage of Mary Poppins because the movie wasn't out yet and then Walt Disney agreed to let them see some and then he thought she was perfect play Maria. But much later Julie says she remembers Hepburn saying to her, “Julie, you should have done it, but I didn’t have the guts to turn it down.”
Once again a brilliant video, thank you!
I feel really bad how misled Audrey was by the producers. I think her original recordings are charming and in the film, you can easily hear how the vocal quality switches over whenever Eliza starts singing. But I love that Julie and Audrey never gave any leeway to the "feud" created by the media, class acts all the way. Fantastic video, earned yourself a sub
"....and Bette Davis.
Which.....imagine". 😂 😂 😂😂 😂 😂
The original Mary Poppins from the Travers-books was much saltier and grimlier than Julie Andrews interpreted her. Actually, Bette Davis would have been a very fitting choice if you go with the books. Even in the movie Mary Poppins isn't very kind to anyone, she's rather severe, narcissistic, even tries to gaslight the kids when they talk about the horse race. It's just Julie Andrews' charms that make her still seem loveable.
Me = oh No , She Is P.L Travers Mary Poppins Version .
I cracked up so hard 😂 😂
Audrey was an absolute class act. She still stayed humble and gracious despite being done wrong. If anything, it's a testament to her ability and star power that she was still able to make My Fair Lady work despite all of the bullcrap that went on. Heck, you know an actress is something truly magical when she is able to make roles she was miscast for (Holly, Eliza) iconic.
Yeah- you could tell tides were turning when Jack Warner tried to pit actress against actress and both end up cordial, respecting each other, and becoming friends. As for Bette Davis as Mary Poppins- a spoonful of sugar helps the whiskey go down.
Julie can throw some shade!
@By Way Of Deception David Niven, in one of his books on Hollywood, related that Julie had a sticker on her little British sports car that read: Mary Poppins was a pusher. Yes, she definitely was a quick wit.
I feel sorry for both of them but I agree that ultimately it's the performances and now I can't imagine anyone other than Audrey playing the part of Eliza. I don't care that the singing is dubbed. Nobody made an issue of Deborah Kerr being dubbed in The King and I. Audrey nails the role, especially the comedy. The Ascot scene is delicious from start to finish, and nobody would've looked better in those costumes.
NOBODY was more elegant than Audrey Hepburn.
I think Julie is as elegant, I couldn't also believe her as the "guttersnipe" in the beginning. Audrey pulled both off.
Tom Ripley but this is still musical! Audrey turn the role to legend level but she’s not 100% play it.. cause she’s not singing it
I agree!!!!!
In general, the Western audience likes seeing actor's do it all. That's why they get praise for learning or losing/gaining weight for roles.
Natalie Postman and Mila Kunis for taking up ballet (even with the controversy)
Margot Robbie for ice skating
The "rawness" in the Les Miserables with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway
Which is weird because I personally don't mind if a dub is used for the singing parts. Bollywood does this all the time and no one hates it.
We even prefer when singers are also songwriters
Idk. Just an observation 🐱
Audrey had the voice for Eliza--speaking and singing--and it is an atrocity that they dub it with Marni Nixon (nothing against Ms. Nixon, but MY FAIR LADY was not an opera). Audrey had the regal bearing to give Eliza that "flower girl turned into a duchess". I will always love and adore Audrey. And she will always be My Fair Lady.
And if memory serves correctly, Rex Harrison, before he died, was on stage with Audrey and Julie and forgot their names (he was suffering from Alzheimer's). He looked at each lady, smiled, and stated that the two ladies were "My Fair Ladies". Nuff said.
I agree.
Rex Harrison couldn't sing ...but they didn't have his voice dubbed.
I find it kinda funny that the Marry Poppins Returns poster looks a bit similar to the My Fair Lady movie poster.
The press is pathetic for trying to spin the whole thing into a hopeful catfight. Nothing's changed. But they know their public, the wretched, jealous and envious creatures that they are.
Can't we just be happy with ALL the talented and lovable people we have in this world? The more the merrier, no?
Can you imagine Bette Davis walking into the Banks home? She would’ve put down her umbrella and snarled, “WHAT A DUMP!”
lol lol lolllllllllll
I have heard this story about a million times, but each time I do it with the same inner excitement that I would read a page turning detective story with: "What next, what next?" My heart keeps pumping. The story ends really well, going through this production maze. But I always end up feeling sorry for Audrey, who had no clue about the situation with the entire vocal charade. Love both of these amazing actresses, such iconic figures in the world culture and movie world.
2:52 I think this role solidified the reason we say Audrey was far more than the Breakfast at Tiffany's persona. She had a powerful range, seen best in her incredible Eliza portrayal
Одри была действительно принцесса!Джули бы на экране не смотрелась бы как принцесса,да в высшем кругу ее не приняли за принцессу!
I can't believe they dubbed Angela Lansbury!!!!!! She's incredible
Dame Angela has won five Tonys for her starring roles on Broadway. She's a good singer. Mame, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy were three of her Tony wins.
@@SymphonyBrahms Angela should have done Mame in the film instead of Lucy. By that time, Lucy had lost her singing through decades of smoking and sounded terrible in the movie. Don't get me wrong, I'll always love Lucy, but she was miscast in this part.
@@SymphonyBrahms Lansbury was dubbed in "The Harvey Girls" which was 18 years before she appeared in her first broadway musical "Anyone Can Whistle". Although just the year before she was Oscar nominated for "The Picture of Dorian Grey" in which she does sing two songs quite well, so it is a shame MGM didn't give her the chance. Maybe they thought she couldn't carry the style of the music in "The Harvey Girls", which is silly but my only thought as to why.
“Audrey Hepburn, as many dorm rooms will tell you...” I feel so seen right now😂
And of course, this practice of getting bankable stars instead of the original players is still very prevalent. I'm sure I'm not the only who thought Bernadette Peters could have still been able to pull off the Witch in Into the Woods, or how about Bebe in Chicago?
Hollywood is even more divorced from Broadway than it was back then. The average moviegoer hasn't heard of Broadway stars or seen the shows, so they have to bring in star power. The only possible Broadway-to-film adaptations I could see getting much demand for the original cast are Hamilton and Wicked -- and I'm not so sure about the latter at this point.
Bebe, Right on. She would have shone.
And just like "My Fair Lady," it turned out that replacing Bernadette with Meryl Streep didn't do the film version of "Into the Woods" any good in the long run.
Thank you for the detailed analysis of this fascinating episode in Oscar history. I look forward to all your videos.
Have you ever thought about similar videos about:
1. Ginger Rogers' win in 1941
2. Shirley Booth in 1952
3. The absolutely crazy history of the 1951 Oscars with Bette, Anne Baxter, Gloria and Judy Holiday?
I want all of these and I refuse to look up what went down until we get a proper video!
What happened with Ginger Rogers?
Agreed--#3 would be a killer vid for us classic-flick junkies. Bet that ‘Be Kind’ would do a great job with it.
You know "Be Kind" is going to get around to 1950, but it's probably the all-time classic year to do, and so rich with scenarios I'm sure she's going to take the time to do it right and properly address all the variables involved with how things played out (no one's asking, but I'll take Davis that year).
it will take a while!
Poor Audrey indeed, the main reason why she did n’t get an Oscar nomination was the fact that her singin voice was n’t used. That’s really cynical. My fair lady would have been a much better movie. After My fair lady, Audrey took a sabbatical year, and rejected a Role offer in Dr. Zhivago. There’re rumours that she decided than to stop with her movie carrière, although she played in 3 movies after this experience.
She started working for charities in Africa
My Fair Lady is a musical remake of Pygmalion. If she wasn't singing, then she could have easily just done a role in Pygmalion instead.
Gunnhild Edwards Yes but it wasn’t her decission. She wanted that her singin voice was used, So Pygmalion was not an option. They used the voice of Mimi Dixton, only in ‘Just you wait Henry Higgens they used Audrey’s voice, that s a pity.
@@bartvanos1466 they should
Let Audrey Sing The Song Because I Hear That Wouldn't It Be Loverly Audrey Ver And while she no Julie Andrews , Atleast She Try .
This proves beyond any shadow of a doubt what kind of man Jack Warner was. Yes he was a successful and clever businessman who made Warner Bros studio the success that it was. But he was also a cunning, manipulative man who cared little for the people that worked for him.
He wasn't above using others to get what he wanted. He infamously pitted Davis and Crawford against each other playing on the long standing animosity that existed between the pair.
Fortunately both Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn proved themselves too smart and classy to be used as pawns by him and the studio system and handled the whole thing with dignity and grace.
I will say that you can see a very stark differences between Jack Warner and Walt Disney when it came to producing a movie. Warner focused too much on numbers and it made him super cautious in his casting decisions, while Disney was more than willing to take risks and fully bank on a less profile actress if he felt that they were right for the role. I guess one decision payed off more than the other since Mary Poppins grossed more money than My Fair Lady.
Love your videos. Julie was sublime in Mary Poppins. That sharp, wicked, wonderfully sung performance could’ve won in any year.
Another fascinating video! I especially loved the “no” montage with all the different actresses. Nicely done!
I just discovered these! What treasures. Don't know if you're still doing them, but I have been watching several over the last 5 hours. My day has been kidnapped by the delight of these episodes.
I’m so happy you decided to look at this!!!
Thank you SOOOO much for mentioning Marni Nixon. To me, she is one of the most devastatingly unsung heroines of movie music. I love her voice.
Great video as always! Audrey Hepburn is absolutely an ICON! Please do a video essay on her someday. Patiently waiting :D
Young Julie Andrews is so heartachingly beautiful ❤
Julie Andrew is the quintessential English pretty rose. Her voice was golden and her charms were accessible to rich and poor alike. I think she was my first screenplay crush followed by Glynis Barber from the hit cops show Dempsey and Makepeace. I even fancied Dempsey a little back then also I think..lol
Did I hear.... an air horn when Julie called out Jack Warner?
I heard that, and an OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH sound effect as well.
A perfectly made mini-documentary. My compliments to your production and research teams, Be Kind Rewind. Bravo!
I feel torn. On one hand, it would have been amazing to have seen Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle in the film, but that would have made it impossible for her to be Mary Poppins, a role that would absolutely not be what it is without her, and which I hold in very high regard, and very closely to my heart. On the other hand, Audrey Hepburn is a fantastic actress, and her unique sensibilities are the ones I, as someone who was introduced to the character through the movie, cannot dissociate with the character and the story itself.
That is why I feel both glad that Julie Andrews' Mary Poppins and Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle exist, and disappointed that Julie Andrews' Eliza Doolittle does not (at least on cinema)
Another wonderful video essay! Love, love, love your work ❤️
Every video you contribute to this site is absolutely phenomenal. Your research, both literally and pictorially is outstanding. Love your work!
Binge worthy videos
Bette as Mary would be iconic. Dont front.
jajaja...for real
I love your channel so much! Your analysis is so thorough!
I am a freak for both ladies. I didn't know about any of this until watching your videos BUT like Julie can't be replaced as Mary Poppins... NO ONE ..not no one could do as good as Audrey in My Fair Lady. I knew she was famous but after seeing her in MFL... I never adored her as much as the script for my fair lady. AND the actor that plays her dad. Man oh man.. his talent still gives me goosebumps. Good ole Hollywood.. where you forget your stressful life for 2 hrs or 3 hrs. I watch these movies a few times a year. Well thanks for the video. I'll be 60 and I never knew all this. I just know both ladies filled those spots and I can't see anyone else in them... Julie turned down Bedknobs and broomsticks.. then changed her mind. Angela Lansbury already signed her contract. I just can't see Mary Poppins and George Banks in a romance. So GLAD that didn't happen. Angela is another Great!
so you havent seen Julie's my fair lady? even the little clips here on YT from reenactment.. imagine its just a reenactment and wasn't the original play.. and listen to the Orgnal Recordings?
Another fantastic video! I loved your ending words on how in the end we remember the performance and not the politics behind it all. For that reason maybe over time Julie felt more deserving of her Oscar. Thanks for all the effort you put into your videos! They're the most interesting things on UA-cam.
I love the writing and narration behind this video. The story itself was and is interesting but again, the writing and narration is equally attractive. Great job!
This channel has become so beloved that the recent videos spontaneously get 1k likes 👍👍 great job
5:07 when you realize that all THAT CRAZY HAIR was actually a plant in the background. . .
Marilyn Monroe did her own singing in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She had years of vocal training and even released an album.
Nixon did the high notes though.
www.tcm.com/this-month/article/136015%7C0/Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes.html Gloria Wood did the high notes.
Pamela Grow On UA-cam Marni Nixon: Singing voice of the stars. She says she did some singing for Marilyn Monroe song Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend.
Marilyn got her break in Hollywood because executives knew she could sing but needed a lot more work on her acting. Her singing is what made her score roles in the first place.
I believe she could sing coz she performs live , it's just that Hollywood didn't take her seriously
16:01 they keep putting camera on Audrey, she looks really sad and done lol.
I don't think she needed to be associated with this drama
Please do Anna Pacquin winning for The Piano next! I'm obsessed with all of your videos and they actually make my day 100x better. 🥰
At the end of the day, Audrey did her job and deserves praise. She was proud of herself so fair play to her doing something she’s not used to
Ahahahahahahahaaha Bette Davis as Mary Poppins 😂 😂 😂 🦇 💩 crazy 😝 😆
Say no more
I worship Bette Davis. She would have been a disaster as Mary poppins! :D
Although she could well have been closer to what Travers envisaged...…..but in a non-musical.
A spoonful of sugar.....with a dead rat to accompany it!
I howled at that LMAOOO
"which.... *IMAGINE*"
i totally lost it there. btw i love your videos!!!! very insightful, smart, and thoroughly well-reesearched
I wish Audrey would have been allowed to use her true voice and I wish Julie could have had the film lead in a role she found such meaning in. But then without the big studio heads who had to pay attention to the decisions from a business standpoint, things could not have based on art and fulfillment,
I wish you could explain everything, you are so great at breaking down events.
*I wish Audrey would have been allowed to use her true voice*
If you listened to her recordings of "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Show Me," her dubbing was justified. She could carry a tune to a degree (like in "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" shown at 9:05), but she strained to hit the notes in the other more difficult songs and sounded like a dying cat.
I see your point.
Please do more videos. Your level of research is outstanding. I can't get enough of your excellent material.
Wow! Had no idea of the backstory to the casting of Eliza Doolittle. Great stuff! Love these videos.
They should have let her sing as well, Audrey could sign nicely
Another great episode. I absolutely love your UA-cam videos. I get so excited when there is a new episode. So much info and research gone in to them. Hugely appreciated. Keep them coming!!!
Absolutely great assessment. I'd like to put in a little plug for the amazing Kim Stanley, who gives one of the greatest performances on film in "Séance on a Wet Afternoon," hardly a feel-good film like "Mary Poppins" (or "My Fair Lady," for that matter), but iconic in its own way.
One of your best videos yet.
Bette Davis as Mary Poppins is now my desktop background. Love it!
Ive been waiting for this one!!!
The media not letting two incredibly talented and unbothered women coexist as friends? Revolutionary.
Great video!
The Americanization of Emily was brilliant. Great performances by everyone involved.
Lovely explanation thank you!
Yes, Many of us knew about the voice over for Audrey and indeed Julie when not getting the part for my fair lady etc..
But you filled in all the gaps that had been plaguing my mind for many years..
Thank you for this thought provoking and entertaining upload...as yet again, you had me hooked with another video of yours! X
I never knew I needed history lessons on Oscar winners until I discovered your channel, and since then I fell in love with the way you analyze every detail that brought to the night they won. I really can't wait for the next installment, but I have a question: I guess it's on purpose that you only pick women, but... Why? I mean, it's fascinating and there are certainly more nuances to it than with the male winners, but surely there must be something interesting to say about some controversial wins in the male categories...
Anyway, love the channel, keep up the good work! ;)
5:33 I laughed at your "imagine" comment. Nice!
11:47 I LOVE HER EVEN MORE for saying that
That line itself deserved another Oscar
@@saidmrabet4474 yes indeed!
There is a level of respect that grows for both women. Audrey wanted to give an honest performance and was snubbed for truth by jack warner. Julie handled everything with class and grace.