I've never seen My Fair Lady, but I can't imagine the story being done any better than this. It's a hell of a script, tight as can be and moving the story along with maximum efficiency, as well as providing some wonderful comic dialogue for Howard, Hiller et al. It's not particularly cinematic, but it's such fun that it doesn't really matter.

The musical adaptation, "My Fair Lady", is better-known but this version is simply better. The musical waters-down and sweetens what here shines as an intensely clever satire about the ambiguous relationship between an insufferable upper-class wretch and his protégé, a lovable simpleton. Shaw adapted the script from his play himself and so his wit remains undiluted. To top it off it's directed by the sensitive and intelligent Anthony Asquith with great acting from Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller.

Represents classical British cinema at its best! Sterling performances by Howard, Hiller, and Lawson. Shaw liked the movie, even with the altered ending.

essentially it's the exact same movie as my fair lady, except it's missing the music and a couple subtle differences. i prefer the acting in this one, but the fact that my fair lady preserved the script and even the set design so perfectly that it's hard to appraise one having seen the other. what it comes down to is that both of these movies are great so take your pick, if you prefer a musical with slightly degraded acting or a movie with nuanced differences, sans music. take your pick.

A fantastic, perfectly executed film. The performances are excellent, the story is endearing and thoughtful, and the film is really funny as well.

My Fair Lady is just no fun without the songs

Like most people, my primary knowledge of Shaw's play comes from My Fair Lady. Asquith's rendition lacks the song and spectacle of the Audrey Hepburn/Rex Harrison movie, but the wit shines much brighter. Leslie Howard (also a co-director) and Wendy Hiller are quite memorable in their roles, and the supporting cast is uniformly superb. The film lacks a certain flourish, but makes up for it with the great performances, tight pacing, and of course Shaw's brilliant words.

Classic film and must see.

Funny film with good ol' English.

A long gap since I watched My Fair Lady, I enjoyed this adaptation as well. My Fair Lady is the colorized, costumized, musicalized, a little bit sillier AND Hepburnized version of Pygmalion more than another treatment of the same play. Neither suffers from this.

A simple tale elevated by some exemplary filmmaking & performances. Leslie Howard can be a bit much, though.