Pygmalion (TV play)

Pygmalion is a 1948 British TV production of the 1913 play by George Bernard Shaw. It was the first time the play was done for television and was the longest production done by the BBC to that time.^[1]

Pygmalion
Based on	Pygmalion 1913 play by George Bernard Shaw
Produced by	Royston Morley
Starring	Margaret Lockwood Ralph Michael Arthur Wontner
Production company	BBC
Release date	8 February 1948 (1948-02-08)
Running time	150 mins
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

It starred Margaret Lockwood who was under suspension by the Rank Organisation at the time for refusing a film role.^[2][3]

Plot

Cast

• Ralph Michael as Professor Henry Higgins
• Margaret Lockwood as Eliza Doolittle
• Arthur Wontner as Colonel Pickering
• Gordon Harker as Alfred Doolittle
• Helen Cherry as Clara Eynsford-Hill
• Mary Merrall as Mrs. Eynsford-Hill
• Bryan Coleman as Freddie Eynsford-Hill
• Beatrice Varley as Mrs. Pearce

Reception

The production was very well received.^[4] It was voted best TV production of the year and Lockwood voted Best Actress.^[5]

It was Lockwood's first play on TV and she wrote in her memoirs that "I loved every moment of Pygmalion. After the performance I was like a beginner again waiting nervously for the papers, bracing myself to read the criticism. I had not felt this way about notices since I first went on the stage. Thank goodness they were good ones. I was generously praised."^[6]

Lockwood later toured with the play on stage.^[7]