Author The Old Vic
Published 30/08/2023
1938 – George Bernard Shaw pens the screenplay for the Oscar-winning film adaptation
Although the playwright was rumoured to have had a strong dislike for Hollywood itself, he won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the 1938 film adaptation and became the first person to be awarded both a Nobel Prize and an Oscar.
1956 – Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady premieres on Broadway.
Julie Andrews starred in the musical adaptation with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The plot closely follows that of the play, but with an alternative ending – one that some argue made the story more conventional than Shaw had intended. The production would go on the win six Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, and it set a record for the longest run of any musical on Broadway.
1964 – Cukor directs Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison My Fair Lady, the film.
With a production budget of $17 million dollars, the film adaptation of the Broadway sensation was the most expensive in US history and brought the story of Pygmalion to many more people worldwide. Rex Harrison reprised the role he originated on Broadway, but many were surprised when Audrey Hepburn was cast as Eliza over Julie Andrews. The film went on to become the highest grossing film of 1964 and won eight Academy Awards.
1980 – Willy Russell’s new play Educating Rita premieres at the Donmar Warehouse
Susan is a working-class hairdresser who decides to join the Open University to find new possibilities. Her assigned tutor, Frank, has long since become disillusioned with his role but is forced to reconsider his attitude when faced with bright eyed and enthusiastic Rita. There is an underlying connection between the two as their roles flip, Frank finishing the film with a new role in Australia, and Rita unsure as to where her next steps will take her having lost her enthusiasm for the academic lifestyle. Julie Walters was nominated for an Olivier Award for her role, and later went on to star in the 1983 film adaptation alongside Michael Caine.
1990 – Julia Roberts and Richard Gere star in Pretty Woman directed by Garry Marshall
Having been stood up by his girlfriend, Edward hires Vivian (a sex worker) for the night. They hit it off and he asks her to attend social events with him on his business trip for the rest of the week. He gives her $3,000 to reinvent her look on Rodeo Drive and teaches her the proper etiquette for a business dinner he has that evening. He is astonished by her transformation and, after few slip ups throughout the film, involving horse racing, the Opera and eating snails, they fall in love.
1999 – She’s All That directed by Robert Iscove
With a mission to replace a cheating ex, high school jock Zach accepts a bet by choosing the most unpopular girl in school, Laney, to be his date to the big dance. After many failed attempts to befriend her, Zach asks her to a party, and she finally agrees. Zach’s sister steps in to provide the make-over of the century and (long story short) after a battle over who takes who to Prom, Laney and Zach end up kissing by a pool, all bets forgotten, and they graduate happily-ever-after having been nominated for prom King and Queen.
2012 – Alex Garland’s Ex Machina premieres at BFI Southbank.
In this film, Caleb is tasked with discovering whether thoughts and consciousness are possible from Ava, an AI humanoid robot. Caleb grows fond of Ava, and she expresses a desire to see the outside world and grows his trust by telling him secrets. Eventually Caleb attempts to break Ava free, but he is stopped by the creator of the facility who had been watching their interactions all along. Ava quickly kills him before glancing back to look at Caleb who is now stuck inside the facility. She gets into the helicopter meant for Caleb’s departure and later blends into the crowd in an unidentified city.
