Episode 24 February 2nd, 2012

Highbrow! Lowbrow? is back with a fresh new episode. Every two weeks or so, Jesse and Shaun review the top box office earner and Best Picture Academy Award Winner of the same year to see who was right: the critics or the masses. For this episode, we take a look at two fairly similar films from the year 1964: My Fair Lady (Highbrow) and Mary Poppins (Lowbrow).

My Fair Lady, directed by George Cukor, stars Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, a common peasant girl, who is taken on by Henry Higgins, a linguistic professor, to be taught correct english and proper manners. Both Jesse and Shaun found this movie disappointing due to its dull atmosphere and unyielding length. Although Hepburn is a strong actress in most rights, this movie doesn't suit her because of her lack of singing ability and her grating cockney accent. While her singing is remedied by the dubbed vocals of Marnie Nixon, the cockney accent which may reflect the intentions of the filmmakers is trying to get through. The general stuffiness and drudgery that surrounds the story (high English society) while being poked at is hard to relate to. The songs lack a certain magic or excitement that really brings someone into the musical atmosphere, maybe too much stage performance and not enough movie magic. The final message of the film isn't really tolerance or growth but rather a begrudging acceptance of each other. This film was too far from our spectrum to really enjoy and the musical elements weren't strong enough to bring us in.

Mary Poppins, directed by Robert Stevenson, stars Julie Andrews as the titular Mary Poppins, a magical nanny who takes care of two impish kids who are being ignored by their workaholic father. They go on a variety of adventures learning about love, life and music with good ole Burt, played by Dick Van Dyke. There is magic abound in this movie from the way Mary Poppins floats in and out of life, to the cartoon lands they visit with penguins and horse races. The songs are certainly catchy although they can be a little overlong and many of the tunes stick with you a while after the film is done. Every character is memorable, even the minor characters from the Naval Captain neighbor to the laughing and giggling Uncle Albert who can't stop floating. Similar to the mixing of live action and animation in Song Of The South, the effect is carried through in Mary Poppins and comes off exceedingly well along with half a dozen other special effects that really create the magic of this movie. Mary Poppins is a childhood classic that stands the test of time, and although not a perfect movie, it still remains fun to watch.

So which film did the Highbrow! Lowbrow? duo end up choosing? The "greatest musical of all time" My Fair Lady or the Disney classic Mary Poppins? Be sure and check out the latest Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out.