Rating: PG13
Genre:
Drama
Theatrical Release: 07/02/2004(USA
Release Date: 12/21/2004
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DD5.1/DDS2.0
Run Time: 125 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Sexual Situations
Distributor/Studio: MGM
The public and private lives of famed songwriter
Cole Porter are both explored in this
musical drama, in which the aging
Porter (played by
Kevin Kline) looks back on his life while watching a rehearsal of a stage
musical based on his story. As
Porter compares notes on the play with director
Gabe (
Jonathan Pryce), he shares thoughts on his rise to fame in the mid-'20s, writing witty and sophisticated tunes for a string of successful Broadway
musicals.
Porter seemed to be living a charmed life when he met
Linda Thomas (
Ashley Judd), a beautiful American woman who, like
Porter, was enjoying a sojourn in Paris following the collapse of her first marriage.
Thomas is immediately taken with
Porter, whose intelligence and charm is a welcome change after her brutal first husband, and the two discover they share a remarkable understanding of one another.
Porter and
Thomas marry, even though she's aware that her new husband is gay;
Thomas is willing to forgive
Porter's indiscretions with other men in favor of the emotional support he brings her. However, as the years wear on and the couple takes up residence in Hollywood as
Porter begins writing tunes for motion pictures,
Thomas finds
Porter drifting away from her as his liaisons become more frequent and more serious. Then tragedy enters their life when
Porter loses the use of his legs in a riding accident and
Thomas is diagnosed with cancer.
De-Lovely features a number of noted
pop singers interpreting classic songs from
Porter's catalog, including
Diana Krall,
Sheryl Crow,
Alanis Morissette,
Elvis Costello,
Robbie Williams,
Mick Hucknall, and others.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
