Before it became an Oscar-winning movie,My Fair Ladywas a Broadway stage musical starring a young Julie Andrews. However, if Andrews had played Eliza Doolittle on screen, she might not have had the opportunity to take on one of her most iconic roles:Mary Poppins. When the musical was adapted into a movie, Andrews was passed over for the lead in favor of movie star Audrey Hepburn, even though Hepburn’s singing voice was dubbed over.
In the same year as herMy Fair Ladydisappointment, Walt Disney offered Andrews the chance to lead thecast ofMary Poppins, his upcoming musical project.My Fair LadyandMary Poppinswere both huge hits in 1964, competing against each other in major Oscar categories,although not Best Actress. Over time,Mary Poppinsgarnered a more lasting impact on pop culture, remaining one ofJulie Andrews' best moviesfrom her incredible career that would go on for decades.
Julie Andrews Proved The Studio Wrong When She Won An Oscar For Mary Poppins While Audrey Hepburn Was Snubbed For My Fair Lady
Mary Poppins' Box Office Was Music To Disney’s Ears
Jack Warner, studio head of Warner Bros, followed conventional logic when he wanted an actress with Hollywood name recognition to star inMy Fair Lady(viaTIME).Hepburn was a proven box office sensation, having already starred in hit filmsRoman Holiday,Breakfast at Tiffany’s, andCharade,while Andrews only had stage credits to her name. Andrews understood the financial reasoning but was naturally disappointed, saying in an interview (viaVanity Fair): “[…] there was a fantasy of what a thrill that would be.”
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Walt Disney saw Andrews in the Broadway musicalCamelotand immediately saw her star potential. He wanted her to play Mary Poppins so badly that he even delayed production to accommodate Andrews' pregnancy. Magically,Mary Poppinswould go on to gross even more thanMy Fair Lady, despite having one-third of the budget.
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BothMy Fair LadyandMary Poppinswere nominated for numerous Oscars, but Andrews won for her role as Mary Poppins while Hepburn was not even nominated for her role as Eliza Doolittle. Warner Bros. played by standard rules and got a standard result. Disney took a risk on a relatively unknown star and came away with a film legend and a franchise.
Why Mary Poppins Has Withstood The Test Of Time Better Than My Fair Lady
My Fair LadyandMary Poppinswere both celebrated in their time by critics and audiences, butMary Poppinshas endured as the more popular movie.Mary Poppinsgot a sequel,Mary Poppins Returns, as recently as 2018. The story of makingMary Poppinswas adapted into a film,Saving Mr. Banks.Mary Poppinswas even referenced in Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.It is the magical realism ofMary Poppinsthat makes the movie timeless,blended with instantly recognizable images, like theMary Poppins costume.
In contrast,My Fair Ladyis a period piece predicated on a view of classism that felt outdated in 1964, let alone 2024.My Fair Ladywas inspired by a Greek myth where a sculptor falls in love with his own creation,which illustrates why the foundational romance ofMy Fair Ladyfeels so problematic. Henry Higgins can only love Eliza Doolittle after he molds her into his perfect society woman.
Mary Poppins Returns: Every Easter Egg & Reference to the Original Film
From tap dancing bankers to old kites, Mary Poppins Returns contains multiple references to the original, including some familiar faces.
Though certain sequences and scenes inMy Fair Ladyare endlessly rewatchable, the movie as a whole can be uncomfortable. Ultimately, while Julie Andrews lost the role of Eliza Doolittle, she won much more with the role of Mary Poppins. The next year, Andrews starred inThe Sound of Music, demonstrating howMary Poppinswas the spoonful of sugar that she needed to launch her Hollywood career.
Mary Poppins
Cast
Based on the classic book series by P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins stars Julie Andrews as the famous magical nanny, who arrives under mysterious means to look after the Banks children in early 1900s London. Considered one of Walt Disney’s crowning achievements, the film blends live-action and animation with whimsical storytelling and song and has been a staple children’s movie since its release in 1964.
