This past Friday I was lucky enough to finally see My Fair Lady on the big screen. The Academy (you know, the ones who hand out the Oscars) was holding a special 70mm screening of the restored original print, and apparently the 70mm version hasn't been screened since the film was first released 45 years ago. After seeing it for myself, I have to say it's downright tragic. The colours were fantastic, especially the flower segments during the opening credits, and I could just see so much more than I ever have before. You could actually read the elocution cards tacked all over Eliza's bedroom walls, and the more subtle facial expressions were just divine. The mix of emotions that came over Rex Harrison's face in that final scene was incredible. It actually brought tears to my eyes.I've said it before when I've caught other Audrey films being screened, but if you can ever catch any of her movies on the big screen, GO. Not only is it a totally different experience than watching at home, but the audience reaction and interaction is fabulous. The small theatre was packed, and many of the people there had never seen My Fair Lady before. Shocking, no? But it was great. They laughed hysterically at Henry's colourful insults and Eliza's childish antics, and groaned when Henry wondered why women couldn't be more like his perfect self. It was fantastic.There was also a small costume and design sketch exhibit in the lobby:
Forgive the darkness and the glare, but the costumes were protected by thick glass and absolutely no flash photography was allowed.
And please forgive my raccoon eyes, but I'd come straight from an unusual photoshoot and my makeup wouldn't come off! I kept my Wayfarers on as long as possible. :)Lastly, but most importantly, I'd like to give a very huge thank you to Ellen, who performed nothing short of magic to get us tickets to this sold out event. Whatever she wants I will gladly give her as a thank you for this great night!
Christie's broke records and made international headlines when Audrey Hepburn's most famous little black dress, the iconic black column dress from the opening scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany's, sold for an unheard of £467,200 on December 5 of last year. This year, Christie's hopes to induce another bidding frenzy by auctioning off yet another classic Breakfast at Tiffany's dress at the end of the month. The dress going up for sale on May 30 in New York is Holly's cute little pink cocktail dress, worn in a pivotal scene in the film. Worth noting in this auction is the fact that, unlike the black dress auctioned last December, this pink dress was actually worn by Audrey in the film and possibly even afterward for publicity photos. This dress is expected to fetch between $20,000-30,000. You can read the details for yourself here on the Christie's website (though if you somehow haven't seen Breakfast before, please don't read the Lot Notes at the bottom of the page because it does contain spoilers).
Also for sale in this particular auction is an early Sabrina publicity photo, signed by Audrey herself. The photo is expected to go for $500-700.
A rare photograph of Audrey taken in Switzerland in the 1950s taken by photographer Sanford Roth, expected to sell for $600-800.
A Cecil Beaton sketch of Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady, signed. Expected to sell for $1,500-2,500.
Another rare photo of Audrey, this time holding her Yorkshire Terrier Mr. Famous. Estimated at $600-800.
And finally, a large batch of various costumes, including a dress made for Audrey for her role in Love Among Thieves (no picture available). The group is expected to sell for $1,000-1,500.
You can read more about the pink dress going to auction here.
