In ancient Greek mythology, Pygmalion fell in love with one of his sculptures, which then came to life. The general idea of that myth was a popular subject for Victorian era British playwrights, including one of Shaw's influences, W. S. Gilbert, who wrote a successful play based on the story called "Pygmalion and Galatea" that was first presented in 1871. Shaw would also have been familiar with the burlesque version, "Galatea, or Pygmalion Reversed". Shaw's play has been adapted numerous times, most notably as the 1938 film "Pygmalion", the 1956 musical "My Fair Lady" and its 1964 film version.