My Fair Lady: the Ascot Gavotte

[@SordidGuy]

Personally, this is my ABSOLUTE favorite scene from any film ever! The music, choreography, music, wardrobe, music, ALL!!! I'm now 60 and haven't enjoyed any movie scene more......yet!

[@kathleenzepeda5713]

Absoblumenlutely

[@chriss1519]

Agreed.

[@Darkness-ie2yl]

My mom introduced me to this when I was a small boy. On a tiny island. Truly opened my mind.

[@geomancer6371]

This would be the Masquerade scene of The Phantom of the Opera. But for me, this is more enjoyable because of the satire: haughty and humorous at the same time.

[@justorigores]

Puedo decir lo mismo en español

[@Sweetthang9]

One of the greatest fashion moments in the 20th century.

[@DanielLiebert-i1p]

The fun-loving King Edward VII, died in 1910 just before the Ascot races but (since the King was a total horse lover and 'would have wanted it that way' they held it but only if the ladies wore black and at most black and white outfits. The result was the fabulous 1910 Black Ascot with the cream of Edwardian high society women madly struggling to outdo each other's outfits.... especially the INSANE hats! This was, of course, the inspiration for Cecil Beaton.

[@JenneeWren]

I love how Henry is the only one not wearing gray and the only one who ever bumps into anyone. He's totally out of step with high society, awkward, and out of place. And yet HE is the one coaching Eliza. hahahahaha! Perfect. Just perfect symbolism/characterization in this scene. Love it, love it, love it!

[@Teddybearboy]

It's this sudden realisation of how he himself is a misfit in his own society that makes me love this scene and these old musicals. If this were shot today Henry would be 28, handsome, a total ladies' man and his slight misogyny would be entirely written off purely because of his irreproachable good looks.

[@stephaniegittinger7980]

And that he needs her as much as she needs him, because what he teaches her isn't nearly as valuable as what she teaches him.

[@saxongirl2054]

@@Teddybearboy Henry couldn't be 28 because in the original play by Bernard Shaw he was 42. If it was a older woman with a younger man i'm sure you wouldn't mind.

[@saxongirl2054]

He accepted teach her because he saw as a challenge i don't think he care about high society.

[@sarahwarfield7458]

@@saxongirl2054 -given that Shaw meant the play to be a satire of the class system, I suspect part of the appeal to Higgens was the opportunity to make a mockery of high society.

[@ashtonhatter5179]

My favorite part is 2:55 when the two ladies spot one another wearing the same outfit and the lady on the right gives the lady on the left the up down, summarily concludes that she pulled the outfit off better than her counterpart, and turns away in the most superior manner. Utterly iconic.

[@robbievancartier8563]

Smashing, positively dashing...

[@RadicalCaveman]

I had to watch this scene again, as its strange, over-the-top satire had stuck in my head since I was a child. I'm not sure I've dislodged it.

[@caseydominick7806]

Right? I love how satirical it is but normal people won't get it

[@vincentb.moneymaker5527]

One of the top 10 scenes in movie history, with choreography that manages to be both humorous, witty and elegant all at the same time. It's accompanied by costume design by Cecil Beaton that will likely never be surpassed. And then there are the hats by the Parisian milliner Madame Paulette. They are each literally, and I mean that literally, individual works of art. Finally, serenading the scene are the lyrics, which perform the seemingly impossible task of measuring up to its perfection, line for line.

[@Bluejeans0701]

The female costumes are amazingly beautiful! I am really in awe of the talent of Cecil Beaton for designing these costumes.

[@ceciasa3376]

The lady on the far left in the front at 2:07 caught my eye. I'd say the dress is black and white but they all are XD

[@bettyottman1718]

The ladies look very elegant and most culture.

[@LusciousTwinkle]

It is just perfect. I can't remember another scene in a film that had so much effect on me. There is meaning behind every style...and all very British!!!

[@dwa22204]

Is it just me, or does one of the ladies resemble Elizabeth Taylor??? She was about half of the way through the number.

[@DanielLiebert-i1p]

In 1910, King Edward VII (A big race fan) died just before Ascot and they were going to cancel it but decided if he was there he would want it to go on. In the Black Ascot of 1910 ALL the ladies wore only black and white and tried to outdo each other. Cecil Beaton was inspired to do his 'black & white' Ascot by the incredible old photos of it.

[@kentondickerson]

What a frenzied moment that was.

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

Kenton Dickerson Didn't they maintain an exhausting pace?

[@iampedro101]

@@S-CB-SL-Animations Twas a thrilling, absolutely chilling

[@Darkness-ie2yl]

The most exhilarating video ever 😐

[@alaskacosplay]

IAMPEDRO 101 moment of the Ascot opening race.

[@Philmoscowitz]

I like to sing it with Italian intonation, like this: "What a frenzied a moment that was."

[@woofy60]

most memorable scenes of all in this movie... i just love the costumes and posed singing.. so grandeur..

[@brucepowell9252]

An outstanding way to see Edwardian society at its best.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

I don't care if they were to be all the same, with those outfits...gosh its just fantastic!

[@thedandelion157]

I have to say I dearly missed the lyrics so I thought it wouldn't hurt to put them here... Every duke and earl and peer is here Everyone who should be here is here What a smashing, positively dashing spectacle The ascot opening day At the gate are all the horses Waiting for the cue to fly away What a gripping, absolutely ripping Moment at the ascot opening day Pulses rushing, faces flushing Heartbeats speed up, I have never been so keyed up And second now they'll begin to run, Hark a bell is ringing, they are springing forward look, it has begun What a frenzied moment that was Didn't they maintain an exhausting pace? 'Twas a thrilling, absolutely chilling Running of the ascot opening race

[@nancyanderson1201]

Hope is a dangerous

[@macbolan9374]

"Every duke and earl and 'per' is 'her', everyone who should be 'her' is 'her.' "...spectacle the ascot awp-ning day."

[@ちゃちゃこ-y2y]

How I am glad ❕ A lot of thanks from Japan 💖

[@EpopeeYoustyle]

Memories

[@geomancer6371]

"here" is pronounced as a very fast "hyah" -- at least in my ears (eyahs - pronounced slow) 😉

[@gunnarthorsen]

"I have never been so keyed up.." with deadpan faces, lol!

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

Xerxes Vazquez I'm actually looking at my script here, also it says "I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO KEYED UP!", in all caps. Plus, I've got 2 roles: Selsey Woman and Mrs. Higgins!

[@sian186]

I remember watching this movie when I was younger. I absolutely died from laughter. I still laugh every time 😂

[@RoyFive]

IKR!

[@k0pstl939]

thats the point

[@k0pstl939]

@@lefinlay it does say keyed up

[@AstralPixie]

My favorite part is the few minutes after this. Henry bumps into his mother, leans over and kisses her and she says, "Henry, what a disagreeable surprise".

[@amaliaventuri9485]

Henry's mom is truly the greatest. She gets it.

[@mallikavenkataramani4724]

Awesome. I watched twelve times

[@amyfisher6380]

Every time I see media coverage of the British Royal Family, I think of this scene.

[@dwa22204]

This film should be required viewing for anyone studying fashion. They really don’t get any bigger than Cecil Beaton.

[@elisephung]

they started doing the mannequin challenge before it was cool

[@annechrissewards643]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music these guys ever wrote

[@PeterFoster-fj7kq]

The melody is just the best. The lyrics typify the way the idle rich view their status im life. Gosh if all we had to worry about was being exhausted watching a horse race.

[@howva]

I love how they look through the binoculors when the horses are nearest to them haha

[@Aramanth]

So elegant the horses must have their own private tea after the races! Love the black artificial Christmas Tree hat at 2:20!!

[@panickingpineapples3949]

Haha I didn't see the 'hat' part so I was looking around stupidly thinking "Where's the Christmas tree?"

[@L0wn3y4]

Hahah didn't notice that 😭😂😂

[@stevemorris6855]

Genius lyrics. Genius choreography. Genius costumes. Horses going wrong way. 3/4. Still best musical scene ever.

[@nano15j]

The costume design in this film was beyond this world

[@MicaRayan]

Electric scene. One of great moment in cinema history!

[@kerstindahlqvist9641]

I Would have loved working in the custume department in this film. The women's clothes are beautiful.

[@cyrilmauras4247]

The women's costumes were designed by the British photographer and designer, Sir Cecil Beaton, in the black, white and grey motif.

[@Matt571]

I like the older woman with the glasses who gives a shocked look, she's so funny

[@bettyottman1718]

Elegance, Culture and Radiant Looks.

[@CarlsVlogs]

I think that was the best part of the film:}

[@edisonmichael6345]

The way this showcases the artificial, every-move-is-intentional, clockwork aspect of that society is about as deadpan as their stone faces as they are discussing the race as being "thrilling". The race itself is but a few seconds that justify their peacockery. It is the moment the audience starts to understand that: A) Henry is just as much an outsider in that society as Eliza, even if for completely distinct motives. B) Her candor in talking about how crappy her family is entices Freddy because, while she looks and enunciates like a lady of "his" world, she is absurdly, refreshingly out of sync with their rehearsed behaviour and that captures his imagination. C) There is something cold and heartless in high society as much as there is fight for survival in Eliza's original one. In the end, her not being cut for that life is not as bad a thing as it might seem, as long as she can get her flower shop out of it.

[@ryanborder189]

Thats it-in a nutshell-perfection!

[@stephaniegittinger7980]

Anyone else who is listening to this on the opening day of the 2018 Ascot races, raise your hand. Anyone? Just me?

[@geomancer6371]

0:40 That is a very tough pose to hold. Strong abdominal muscles, lady. Kudos! In the actual play this would be excruciating because she won't be able to move until everyone moved. In the movie, she can hold until the camera cuts away or the director says, "Cut!"

[@johncollins7062]

The impulsive line, at the Stage Door, to marry that 'stunner' must have been around the block.

[@MrJackKnightSays]

I remember watching this at the age of seven and being absolutely spellbound by the sheer elegance of the monochrome outfits.

[@MbartM96]

Me too! he was one of those rare people who blessed with so many talents.He was a talented photographer,artist,costume designer,set designer and writer, Anyone would be jealous!!

[@valeriecampbell9581]

what amazingly beautiful costumes

[@abcdef8915]

I know it's meant to parody the upper classes but this scene is a fabulously iconic.

[@tompalm64]

Movie moments don’t get much better than this scene! 💕🎵

[@rubytuesdayphoenix]

I watch this every year on the first day of Ascot. I think it's a damn shame that there isn't an organized effort to get all the attendees to recreate this scene.

[@karenharris4027]

I absolutely ADORE this scene!! I imagine myself in one of the outfits!

[@jacquelinesternberg8461]

Incomparable costumes by Cecil Beaton!

[@honeylarue1]

Gorgeous scene of the film! 💙🖤💚💜💛❤

[@KuiWagacha]

When designers could TRULY design, and women believed that discomfort was worth it!!!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Looking like a god was yes worth it.

[@anotherartfulwhippersnapper]

You clearly did not pick up on the satirical nature of this film

[@FredPickett]

I love this/Some of the best entertainment is from musicals/from Broadway/and movies.

[@demilovatofaith]

the more I look at pictures of actual edwardian fashion, I realized that the movie costumes are on the more extravagant and romanticized. and the hair and makeup is more 60s like than 1900s.

[@kenorton5531]

oh....and wonderful......great art.

[@JulieWallis1963]

demilovatofaith its a movie, made for entertainment, *not a blooming documentary* learn the difference. As the movie was made in the 1960s its hardly surprising that you think you can see hints of the decade in the fashion, like I said, it’s a film, not real life.

[@Kinglystateof]

demilovatofaith I agree that I’m a purist when it comes to the costuming and I’m actually working on the costumes for My fair lady now. It’s a lot of moving parts but we research our subjects and decided on a few romanticized things because it’s the stage not the screen

[@timhazeltine3256]

Actually, take a look at period photographs of the 1910 Ascot. The millinery was quite extravagant. Beaton was spot-on.

[@scottcolmes6570]

I don't know if you will see this, four-years-ago-person, but, yeah, that is kind of true. Period pieces usually look as much like the period when they were made than the period they're supposed to be showing. You can usually tell when a movie about the American Civil War was made, just from a still from it. They made a good effort here, but it is fantasy, after all, and you can tell it's a 1960's job.

[@JaniceLDN]

RIP the delectable Audrey Hepburn and the incomparable Rex Harrison

[@sumitchowdhury4914]

And the great Jeremy Brett. RIP.

[@LEGACY59CONTINUES]

OMG, the hats and dresses❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hughmackay5200]

Wonderful film with glorious music

[@redball81]

great points!! just saw this film for the first time yesterday and this was one of the most--if not the most--fun & memorable scene!

[@houseoftone8939]

Pure nostalgia, having recently watched the film again, last time was 1964, what a cold callous person professor Higgins is and what an extremely beautiful person Audrey Hepburn was....come on Dover, move your blooming arse!!!!!

[@jochenstossberg5427]

Henry's actually a sweetie. He was just determined to win his bet and not get emotionally involved.

[@goodgollymisspolly5163]

My Mother actually raised me properly. I yelled "Move Your Blooming Arse!" anyway.

[@lisamurphy2314]

When I was a tiny one year old my mom says this was my favorite song and I would dance to it by swaying back and forth.

[@Arkhn695]

J'adore ! Je regardais ça à mon enfance !

[@timhazeltine3256]

The monochromatic black and white scheme was inspired by the famous '"Black Ascot" held in 1910 shortly after the death of King Edward VII. The ladies and gentlemen wore black because the country was in mourning after the King's death.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

The main inspiration for this scene was wooden birds on a cuco clock, or birds in general. They nailed it, and I so adore the high society fashion, very much reminiscent of the art nouveau and avant garde of the 1930s-50s

[@RogueWJL]

The genius of Cecil Beaton.

[@HuggyMackay]

Gorgeous costumes and lovely music.

[@dixieworker]

These dresses and hats remind of Princess Catherine’s amazing appearance at trooping the colour

[@GCOCO-xd9ye]

So classy and elegant !

[@DMBall]

Women's hats in the 1900-1910 era were so enormous that the city of London passed an ordinance banning hatpins longer than 12 inches, as potentially concealed weapons.

[@MarianoBulaBlackOrpheus]

straight out of an cecil beaton photograph.

[@Mike-zh1ew]

Makes sense, Beaton having directed it

[@LusciousTwinkle]

Just perfect.

[@lynh1826]

Still gorgeous

[@tocororo]

The wardrobe!😍

[@lizzyol]

love this scene. Hilarious :D

[@tadimaggio]

An entire society summed up in three minutes of choreographed motion. Despite occasional tremors like the French Revolution, this European world of privilege and sophistication represented an unbroken line of cultural descent that reached back to the fall of Rome in the fifth century. Then, only a few years later, it all burned up in the holocaust of the First World War. And we are now hammering out our lives amidst the ruins of what should, by rights, have been our elegant Palace of the Nations.

[@Mike-zh1ew]

I wouldn’t say world wars destroyed that world, when at this day it still exists exercising power over the world, and while modern wars affected the old order, it’s still there in some way, and not unlikely to get back at its place again

[@MorrahaDesigns]

Sakes alive this feels like it ought to be in a 60's dystopian film!

[@theghostinthemirror8158]

Them: I have never been so keyed up! Also them:😐

[@adamaustin8955]

This is why I Love the 'Canto Bight' scene from "Star Wars - The Last Jedi" It instantly reminded me of one of my favourite musical visuals :o)

[@emmarobertson2775]

this scene cracks me up evertime!

[@greenleaves3637]

nice and posh

[@robzrob]

Magic.

[@Useaname]

Excellent, but very sad as there's no-one left alive from this movie, even the crew.

[@zaftra]

I'd imagine the children are.

[@bbenjoe]

Actually there are. After a quick search on imdb, I found one Dinah Anne Rogers, who played one of the maids. Being born in 1932, she is at the humble age of 92. Most likely more are still around. Child actors, around the age of 80.

[@Julian7507]

Make me remember Renoir paintings,beautiful ladies with rosy cheeks

[@JMarieCAlove]

Yes! That's it, they looked exactly like that, I didn't remember the person who painted that.. thank you! 😊

[@vazmo14850]

clearly the Royal Wedding today! Hats hats hats~!

[@solangelostan6016]

absolute banger

[@maritzajimenez8527]

I loveeee it!!

[@user-dk3gp9pr7p]

i remember grasping for a word to describe this when i was 12. i didn't know the word camp yet

[@KimmyQueen]

Ev'ry duke and earl and peer is here Ev'ryone who should be here is here What a smashing, positively dashing spectacle: the Ascot op'ning day At the gate are all the horses Waiting for the cue to fly away What a gripping, absolutely ripping Moment at the Ascot op'ning day Pulses rushing! Faces flushing! Heartbeats speed up! I have never been so keyed up! Any second now They'll begin to run Hark! A bell is ringing, they are springing forward, look It has begun! What a frenzied moment that was! Didn't they maintain an exhausting pace? 'Twas a thrilling, absolutely chilling running of the Ascot op'ning race

[@tomward2688]

Excellent staging! Can't help wondering how they seemingl managed to engineer a troupe of horses and riders to gallop through the set at full belt like that! Must've had a huge set at their disposal - I'd certainly doubt very much if the director and technical crew had any kind of CGI to create the effect for them back then in the early sixties! Well, however it was managed, it certainly was pretty dramatic!

[@jochenstossberg5427]

It was all CGI Tom. They had it back then - not like it is now but every studio had a brilliant tech team.

[@simonf8902]

The hats !!

[@Haffmatthew]

What brilliant choreo

[@alittlelois4405]

i just did this musical! loved this scenee

[@MarkPrigoff]

Love it!

[@verkaforever]

3:06 Lady second from left is the lady who swoons when Eliza swears.

[@mdandollah]

may i know what kind of bag the gentlemen are using

[@Astrobrant2]

But those HATS!!!!!!

[@EHH246]

Good for those extras that were staying as still as possible while those horses ran by to emphasize this stiff culture. LOL

[@LOURO19]

Eu queria morar nessa cena!😊

[@BarrySeymour]

Pulse pounding.

[@Cloudipy]

Every second looks like a Renoir Painting

[@williamrussell956]

Greatest Musical Evee

[@panickingpineapples3949]

Is it wrong that I haven't seen the movie but have seen the musical live

[@lolbots]

you have failed in life

[@HajimeIshii-dn6mz]

2:50 I love this hat and dress best!

[@KimmyQueen]

The Gavotte is a French folk dance by the way. Which is another facet of interesting as it deals with this scene.

[@premanadi]

True, but it had made its way in stylized form into most of European music for hundreds of years. Bach wrote them, as did many other composers. By the period this film is set in, it had lost its original associations.

[@KimmyQueen]

@@premanadi Thanks. My point still stands and if anything it reinforces the point of the scene.

[@zazassia]

Ev'ry duke and earl and peer is here Ev'ryone who should be here is here What a smashing, positively dashing spectacle: the Ascot op'ning day At the gate are all the horses Waiting for the cue to fly away What a gripping, absolutely ripping Moment at the Ascot op'ning day Pulses rushing! Faces flushing! Heartbeats speed up! I have never been so keyed up! Any second now They'll begin to run Hark! A bell is ringing, they are springing forward, look It has begun! What a frenzied moment that was! Didn't they maintain an exhausting pace? 'Twas a thrilling, absolutely chilling running of the Ascot op'ning race Source: Musixmatch

[@merledoughty5787]

almost Glibert & Sullivan I am off to buy a dvd of MFL

[@njplr]

As many times as I've seen this, it only struck me this morning how Fossei-esque this scene is. Maybe it's just that the choreography is very deeply rooted in the 60s? Just wondered, am I way off base here? I am NOT one of the "musical cognoscenti", more just a plain fan of classic show tunes.

[@scottcolmes6570]

You were not way off base at all. Sixties-style affectionate satire with a topic-- "camp", as they called it-- and the same target (in a way) if you are thinking of Aloof. A film choreographer in 1969 would have been very aware of the dance numbers from an octuple-Oscar winner from six years before. (I'm no expert either, but, yes.)

[@esmeephillips5888]

Since the scene was staged by Hermes Pan, it is quite likely that Fosse (Pan's protege in 'Kiss Me Kate') would have seen and remembered it. Fosse was a borrower.

[@fredpickett6219]

A perfect song for today June 20th/ Since today its being run.

[@maru-df2bq]

These noble people looks like they’re the one behind the cage...irony.

[@timhazeltine3256]

Yes, a bit of tongue and cheek. I think the "cage" is a stylized rendition of the Royal Enclosure at Ascot.

[@julia.c.mcclure92]

2:32 She’s so cute!

[@tadimaggio]

George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" -- and, by extension, "My Fair Lady" -- are like missives from another, and far more civilized, society -- on another planet. Back in 1912, when Shaw wrote "Pygmalion", people still knew that it was better to speak properly than sloppily, better to be educated than ignorant, and better to be elegant and refined than a coarse yahoo. Nowadays, Higgins would be reviled for depriving Eliza of her "natural" accent and culture, feminists would scream the house down at the very suggestion that any man could ever teach any woman anything of value, and, if reminded that it was Eliza who asked Higgins for his services as a teacher and linguist, would rant about her having been brainwashed by "the patriarchy". Finally, our socially conscious brethren would go on -- and on, and on, and on -- about how the cruelties and injustices of the British Empire (which were very real, and which were at their peak in 1912) meant that everything ever produced by English people since the dawn of time should be incinerated.

[@esmeephillips5888]

In the 1920s Shaw became an adviser to the new BBC radio service on speech. He admired the fairly neutral accent and intonation of King George V, on whose pronunciation Shaw's phonetic alphabet- funded by his bequest- is based.

[@Matt571]

@@esmeephillips5888 Didn't Shaw like regional accents and dialects?

[@esmeephillips5888]

@@Matt571 He did not mind them, and you can hear from newsreels that he spoke with an Irish accent. But he felt that a phonetic alphabet should be standardized on pronunciation most likely to be understood throughout the UK and abroad. George V spoke English without either demotic regional inflections or 'la-di-da' aristo mannerisms (he was like the new King Charles III in that) and Shaw, as a BBC adviser, must have been guided by the success of the monarch's Christmas Day broadcasts when making conditions in his bequest. I suspect that as a World State advocate and a monumental egotist, Shaw dreamed that one day the entire world would be speaking George V English and writing in Shavian!

[@Matt571]

@@esmeephillips5888 I know Shaw was a committed socialist, but apparently he had at least one servant. I see what you mean about a more neutral voice and not an affected la di da type voice. The musical version of Higgins hated all accents apart from standard English. I remember he said 'the Scots and the Irish leave you close to tears' and 'hear a Cornishman converse or hear a Yorkshireman or worse'. The character had a ridiculous view of accents, the 4 he mentioned are all lovely accents to my ears

[@esmeephillips5888]

@@Matt571 Shaw was a Fabian, the kind of socialist who always knows what is best for the rest of us. As a believer in eugenics he at least set an example by being childless; he probably thought smart old Higgins would be a genetically worse father than dumb young Freddie for Eliza's kids. GBS was by no means averse to a royal dictator enforcing enlightenment, as he demonstrated in the character of King Magnus in 'The Apple Cart'. But is useless to seek consistency or coherence in political programmes advocated by creative writers. Their imaginations run sway, dragging them into a thicket of contradiction and folly; witness the wild gyrations of Shaw's fellow-Fabian, HG Wells. Writers are almost as hopeless in that way as actors.

[@fredpickett6219]

A good good Musical movie.