The Ultimate Movie Musicals Bracket - Round Four, Day Three
How kind of you to let me come.
We’re halfway through the fourth round of the Ultimate Movie Musicals Bracket! Can you believe it? What was once a Sweet Sixteen is much closer to being an Elite Eight. Today, you have to send two more musicals forward and two more musicals packing. Ready? Let’s go!
(17) Beauty and the Beast (1991) vs. (8) My Fair Lady: Even when I was younger and I would watch My Fair Lady either on American Movie Classics (back when that was what AMC stood for, figuratively and literally), on Turner Classic Movies, or via a two-tape VHS copy, I both liked the film and also wondered why on Earth Eliza Doolittle returned to Henry Higgins at the end. I get why he wants her to, and why he looks like the cat who ate the canary when he realizes she has returned. But I don’t get why she would want that. I never have.
I do not have such qualms or questions about Beauty and the Beast. Vote for the Beast.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
My Fair Lady
(4) The Sound of Music vs. (12) On the Town: I am very glad that On the Town has made it this far into the competition, and I think we all know that we are saying goodbye to the film in this matchup. How do you solve a problem like Maria? Well, I don’t think these sailors know the answers.
How do you vote?
The Sound of Music
On the Town
I've never thought that the ending of My Fair Lady represents a victory for either of them--it may feel that way in the moment but that last line "Where the devil are my slippers?" indicates that while we've seen her change, he hasn't changed at all. I've always thought it was noteworthy that it didn't end with a more typical passionate embrace or smooch. I think in the original play, Shaw has them not get together at all. Anyway, I voted for My Fair Lady.