Record Price For "My Fair Lady” Film Rights

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 15

Record Price For "My Fair Lady” Film Rights

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, February 6. The motion picture rights to "My Fair Lady,” the most successful musical in the history of Broadway, have been bought by Warner Brothers for 5.500.000 dollars.

The final agreement was announced today jointly by the president of Warner Brothers, Mr Jack L. Warner, and the chairman of the Columbia Broadcasting System. Mr William S. Paley. The price was said to be a record for motion picture rights. There had been long negotiations and spirited competitive Hollywood bidding for the rights to the Lerner and Loewe musical, of which CBS. was the majority owner.

Preparations would begin immediately for the filming of "the most lavish musical

entertainment in the history of motion pictures,” Mr Warner said.

He disclosed that Alan Jay Lerner, author of the book and lyrics, had begun work on the scenario.

The president of Warner Brothers said he would personally supervise the production. “We will use the finest talents available for the most ambitious project we have ever launched,” he said.

Columbia Records, the division of the C BE. which holds the original cast’s recording rights, has sold more than 3.250,000 “My Fair Lady” albums.

“My Fair Lady,” the longest-running musical on Broadway, passed its two thousand four hundred and forty-ninth performance tonight at the Mark Kellinger Theatre. The previous record was held by “Oklahoma” with 2212 performances.

More than 3.000.000 people have seen “My Fair Lady” on Broadway, where the musical’s gross takings are 18 million dollars. Besides the New York production, “My Fair Lady” is currently playing in London, Buenos Aires and Berlin. There are companies in New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.