| u ever wondered why one movie musical | | | | character as a cold, selfish woman who is |
| receives critical acclaim and maybe even an | | | | indifferent to the tragedy she brings to her |
| Academy Award and another movie based on an | | | | husband and his empire. Unfortunately, she was |
| equally good Broadway musical ends up on a | | | | permitted to do her own singing with the result of |
| studio shelf, rarely seen after its initial release? | | | | a lessening of the impact of some of the songs in |
| There are several key factors that lead to a | | | | "Camelot." On the other hand, Audrey Hepburn's |
| quality movie musical. These factors include a | | | | singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, a singer with a |
| strong story line and well-written screenplay, | | | | beautiful, trained voice. |
| quality music, great casting, and effective | | | | The casting of the third lead character in each film |
| direction. Great choreography is often a plus but a | | | | also differed in quality. In "My Fair Lady," Colonel |
| movie musical, unlike a Broadway musical, can be | | | | Pickering was played by a distinguished English |
| a quality movie without elaborate dances. In this | | | | actor, Wilfrid Hyde-White, whose acting was |
| article, I compare two movie musicals based on | | | | excellent. Unfortunately, the key role of Lancelot |
| successful Lerner and Loewe Broadway musicals | | | | in "Camelot" was played by a novice Italian actor, |
| -- "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot" -- and I discuss | | | | Franco Nero, with limited command of English. |
| why "My Fair Lady" was an acclaimed, | | | | Although he certainly fit the role physically, with |
| award-winning movie that is still viewed and loved | | | | his exceptional good looks, his acting was stiff and |
| by millions of people and why "Camelot" has | | | | his delivery of lines was almost robotic. |
| become a mostly forgotten film. | | | | The male leads in both films were perfect. In fact, |
| Both plays were successes on Broadway, | | | | the casting of Richard Harris probably saved |
| although "My Fair Lady" did receive more praises | | | | "Camelot" from being a disaster. He was so |
| than "Camelot" and it ran for a significantly longer | | | | well-cast as King Arthur that after the film, he |
| time. Nevertheless, "Camelot" had a healthy initial | | | | became associated with the role and played it in |
| Broadway run and both plays have had three | | | | several major productions, including one on |
| short-run revivals on Broadway. Also, both plays | | | | Broadway and one in London. |
| earned Tony awards for their male leads and | | | | Direction |
| Tony nominations for Julie Andrews, the leading | | | | Both movies had well-known and well-respected |
| female star in both plays. Yet, the movies based | | | | directors, but their approaches to directing the |
| on the plays had vastly different outcomes, with | | | | films were vastly different. George Cukor, the |
| "My Fair Lady" garnering eight Academy Awards, | | | | director of "My Fair Lady," let the story and music |
| including Best Picture and Best Actor, and Camelot | | | | give the movie its strength and character. There |
| earning only three minor awards. So, where did | | | | were no special effects used and no unique filming |
| "Camelot," the movie, go wrong? | | | | techniques, but, rather, just good direction of |
| Plot and Screenplay | | | | excellent actors and actresses performing on |
| Both plays and movies were based on good | | | | studio lots. Cukor used the strong screenplay and |
| works of literature -- "My Fair Lady" on the play | | | | beautiful music of "My Fair Lady" to guide his |
| "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw, and | | | | direction. |
| "Camelot" on the book "The Once and Future | | | | On the other hand, Joshua Logan, the director of |
| King" by T. H. White. The screenplays were both | | | | "Camelot," used far too many close-ups that had |
| authored by an experienced and award-winning | | | | the audience focused on the leads' make-up |
| author, Alan Jay Lerner, who also wrote the lyrics | | | | rather than on the strong plot and music. In some |
| for the songs in both works. Therefore, the story | | | | scenes, instead of presenting a natural context |
| lines and screenplays do not seem to be where | | | | for appreciating the songs or dialog, Logan chose |
| the differences lie. In fact, the plot of "Camelot," | | | | to fill the large screen with the actors’ |
| with its historic setting, romantic entanglements | | | | faces, resulting in a distracting rather than |
| and scenes of chivalry and war, made it a better | | | | enhancing effect. |
| vehicle for film than "My Fair Lady" with its | | | | Conclusion |
| dialog-filled, actionless scenes. | | | | Although both "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot" had |
| Quality Music | | | | the potential to be great films, "Camelot" lacked |
| The scores from "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot," | | | | two of the four factors necessary for a quality |
| both written by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay | | | | movie musical. These factors, strong story line |
| Lerner, are wonderful, with a good blend of | | | | and well-written screenplay, quality music, great |
| beautiful melodies and sometimes poignant and | | | | casting, and effective direction, could be used to |
| other times humorous lyrics. Both shows had one | | | | compare other movie musicals, for example, "Gigi" |
| major hit romantic ballad -- "On the Street Where | | | | and "Brigadoon" or "Oklahoma" and "South Pacific," |
| You Live" for "My Fair Lady" and "If Ever I Would | | | | and the results would be similar. A movie musical |
| Leave You" for "Camelot" -- and both songs were | | | | that is deficient in even one of the four factors |
| dubbed in the movies by professional singers. The | | | | could make the difference between a film that |
| songs for the male lead are more melodious in | | | | lives on for generations or one that gets lost on a |
| "Camelot" and, at least in the movie version, the | | | | shelf. |
| male lead, Richard Harris, had a better singing | | | | Copyright 2008 Claire J Rottenberg, All rights |
| voice than Rex Harrison had in "My Fair Lady." | | | | reserved |
| With basically equivalent scores, it seems that it is | | | | Reprint Rights |
| not the music that distinguishes the two works. | | | | - You have permission to publish this article |
| Casting | | | | electronically in free-only publications such as a |
| Although Richard Harris was the perfect King | | | | website or an ezine as long as the bylines and all |
| Arthur, casting is one major area where the | | | | hyperlinks are included. If you post this article on a |
| movie version of "Camelot" fell short of its | | | | website/forum/blog, all URLs must be set to |
| potential. Both plays starred Julie Andrews and her | | | | hyperlinks (clickable links). |
| beautiful voice added much to the already great | | | | - You are not allowed to change or delete any |
| scores, but, unfortunately, she was not cast as | | | | words or links in the article or resource box. |
| the female lead in either film. However, the | | | | Paragraph breaks must be retained with the |
| producers of the movie version of "My Fair Lady" | | | | article. |
| had the good sense to hire Audrey Hepburn who | | | | - You are not allowed to post/reprint this article in |
| was perfectly cast as Eliza Doolittle. She had the | | | | any sites/publications that contain or support hate, |
| innocence and fragility needed for the role with | | | | violence or pornography or in any indecent or |
| just enough fire in her to finally rebel against | | | | illegal sites/publications. |
| Henry Higgins, while still leaving the audience | | | | - You are not allowed to use this article in UCE |
| sympathetic to her. On the other hand, the | | | | (Unsolicited Commercial Email) or SPAM. |
| female lead in "Camelot," Vanessa Redgrave, | | | | - You are not permitted to insert affiliate links into |
| although an extremely gifted actress, was | | | | any part of this article or into the author's |
| miscast as Guenevere. She presents the | | | | resource box. |