My Fair Lady

2022 - 12 - 25

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Image courtesy of "Fortnite"

My Fair Lady: Rex Harrison's 'Appalling' treatment of Audrey ... (Fortnite)

Rex Harrison made a charmingly rude Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady but the awful reality was shockingly different. According to fellow Holywood legends he ...

His personality never changed and during the filming of Doctor Dolittle in 1967 in St Lucia Harrison was so enraged during a clash over his contract that he moved his yacht to block the cameras. He used to send the wine back from his own cellar and then rip into the butler for serving it to him." However, Eileen Younghusband, who was a Women’s Auxiliary Air Force officer and served alongside the actor said: "He treated us like dirt. It quickly leaked to the press that she was being dubbed and wasn’t ‘really’ singing the part she’d wrested from Julie and for which she was being so highly paid." Andrews was reported to have used a profanity to describe her time with Harrison on Broadway, while he, during their explosive run, once stormed out of the theatre shouting. The actor had had a harder time with Andrews who was more overtly strong-willed. "He was charming and funny and a great raconteur but, Jesus Christ, what he did to people. In fact, Harrison has raged behind the scenes that he was only be paid $250,000, one quarter of Hepburn's fees. He said: "I'd done the show for so long in the theatre with Julie that any new leading lady was going to be a problem. Rex Harrison, who gave one of the most transcendental performances ever, was—and I don’t say this lightly—the most appalling human being I ever worked with. Yet, Harrison was always absolutely convinced that the show, and subsequent film, were all about him. Rex Harrison made a charmingly rude Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady but the awful reality was shockingly different.

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Image courtesy of "Gamers Grade"

Julie Andrews' extraordinary My Fair Lady revenge over Audrey ... (Gamers Grade)

This was a terrible shock for the “demonised” Hepburn, who had been a darling of the critics and public until then. The actress found herself at the centre of a ...

I must say, I take my hat off to the marvellous people in Hollywood who twiddle all the knobs and who can make one voice out of two.” Hepburn and Nixon rehearsed and then recorded together with the actress still convinced her voice would primarily be used, and still having vocal lessons every day. In the end, it is estimated that up to ten percent of the final recordings are Hepburn. Hepburn was also assured that her own pleasant singing voice would be used primarily, except for the higher notes. When do we start?” But when she was asked to come in for a screen test, she replied: “Screen test? Furious at her refusal, Warner publicly declared he would only consider established screen stars for what was shaping up to be the most expensive film in Hollywood history at that time: “You can say ‘Audrey Hepburn’ and people instantly know you’re talking about a beautiful and talented star. Director George Cukor said: “When she began, it was an agony for that girl to sing. The actress found herself at the centre of a distressing storm of bad press and ill-feeling when her casting was announced, throughout filming and even when it was released. Firstly, she was offered the enormous sum of $1million. This was a terrible shock for the “demonised” Hepburn, who had been a darling of the critics and public until then. She had been humiliated and betrayed by the filmmakers when her voice was dubbed by Marni Nixon. Except that everyone seemed to want another star, who had never appeared on the big screen.

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Image courtesy of "Enews"

My Fair Lady: Rex Harrison's “Appalling” Treatment Of Audrey ... (Enews)

Harrison won a Tony Award for his role as Henry Higgins on Broadway opposite Andrews and followed that up with a Best Actor Oscar for his brilliant 1964 ...

Lucia Harrison was so angry during a clash over his contract that he moved his yacht to block the cameras. He was an impeccable actor but basically hysterical – and inconsiderate for the conscience of his fellow actors.” However, Ellen Younghusband, who was an assistant officer in the Women’s Air Force and worked alongside the actor, said, “He treated us like dirt. It was soon leaked to the press that she was dubbing and wasn’t “really” singing the part she ripped from Jolie and for which she was being paid big bucks. Actor Jared Harris, who was also his protégé, reported how Harrison struggled to retain the staff: “He could never find someone who would stay, because he was so awful. The actress became famous for refusing to sing one of Andrews’ most iconic lines during the play and he tried to get her fired.

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