Pygmalion (1938) - Essential Art House
by Leslie Howard, Anthony Asquith
List Price:
Our Price: $12.30
You Save: $7.61 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Leslie Howard, Wendy HillerDirector: Anthony Asquith, Leslie Howard
Brand: IMG
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-02-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Reviews of Pygmalion (1938) - Essential Art House
DVD Review: Leslie, We hardly Knew You
Summary: 5 Stars
Charles Laughton was Shaw's first choice for this film, gratefully; he was talked out of it. Leslie Howard delivers one of his great performances as Higgins. He captures the snide sarcasm, without hitting it with a hammer. Howard was famous for underplaying and even taught this to his friend, Humphrey Bogart. Bogart's second child is named in his honor.
The problem with Harrison is that he is far too old for the part and even older for the film. It is hard to suggest a romance under those conditions. Howard is in his early 40s and looks a bit younger. Shaw did not consider this a love story but it clearly becomes that, more than the social satire that was intended.
Harrison also declaims the role, as if he was a bit hard of hearing. One can understand this approach on stage but it gets tiresome on film, where subtlety is appreciated. Howard explores the nuances of the role without over-blowing the emotion. He mines it for every comic twist. His timing is infallible and Hiller is the perfect foil for his tyranny.
Watch his eyes, he has some of the most expressive peepers in the business and knew how to use them for the camera. (Ronald Colman was also famous for his ability to act through his eyes.) Howard was nearsighted and loved playing roles that allowed him to wear his glasses. There are several such parts in his catalogue. Suggest you check out `The Stand In," with Bogart. Of course the "Scarlet Pimpernel," is a must. "Pimpernel Smith," a wonderful remake of his original film.
Many films can be found on Amazon and other sites and are worth having. "Pygmalion," is beautifully restored and there is a wonderful new Shaw box with Wendy Hiller in "Major Barbara," featuring a younger and better suited Rex Harrison. "Caesar and Cleopatra," with Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains. There are many more great films out there and his real genius, is tragically unappreciated in GWTW. It was his least favorite role, and the one for which he is best remembered. A shame.....
"Pygmalion," only suggests the realization of a romance at the very end and that was as intended. We are confident that they get together but Shaw leaves us wondering how and when.
For those who only know Leslie Howard from GWTW, this film is a revelation. He hated "Wind..." and only did it as a favor in return for staring in and producing Ingrid Bergman's first American film, "Intermezzo."
Howard returned to England where he directed and starred in several fine films during the war. He also did a great deal of documentary work for the war effort. He was killed in 1943 while on a trip to Portugal, when his plane was shot down by the Germans. The exact nature of that trip is still in question. He was just 50. It is not generally known that Howard was Jewish, of Hungarian extraction. He married out of the faith and was not very concerned about religion but his hatred of the Nazis is obvious from his work. Had he lived, he might have developed into a fine actor/director, such as Wells or Eastwood or Chaplin. Even so, the work that he leaves is a testament to his great talent.
A lesser known fact is, that despite a wife and two kids, he was one of the most insatiable ladies' men in Hollywood. Joan Blondel said that he could sit between two women and flirt with both and make them believe it. Bette Davis remembered that she held him at arm's length for three films. One of his children wrote that he could never avoid the female temptations of Hollywood but always came home to his family. Ironic, for a man who cultivated the exact opposite image. He was also an amazing polo player and loved horses. Surprising, that he did not play more roles that took advantage of his skills as a horseman. Actor, Director, Stud, Athlete, inside the shell of a shy, romantic, poetic, scholar.
Description of Pygmalion (1938) - Essential Art House
Synopsis:Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: NR
Street Date: 02/10/09
Wide Screen: no
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Random HarvestWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-01-11; DVD
Best price: $5.13
Price in other shops:
Of Mice and MenImage Entertainment; Release date: 1998-08-26; DVD
Best price: $5.24
Price in other shops:
For Whom the Bell TollsUniversal Studios; Release date: 1998-11-17; DVD
Best price: $6.43
Price in other shops:
Pygmalion (Dover Thrift Editions)by George Bernard Shaw
Dover Publications; Published: 1994-10-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
RebeccaSony; Release date: 2008-10-14; Published: 2008-10-01; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
Pygmalion (Enriched Classics Series)by George Bernard Shaw
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005-07-26; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.65
Price in other shops:
Scarlet PimpernelRelease date: 2007-05-15; DVD
Best price: $9.99
I Know Where I'm Going! (The Criterion Collection)HILLER,WENDY; Release date: 2001-02-20; DVD
Best price: $26.15
Price in other shops:
My Fair LadyPar; Release date: 2009-10-06; DVD
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
Pygmalion (The Criterion Collection)HOWARD,LESLIE; Release date: 2000-09-19; DVD
Best price: $56.96