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. CREDITS: TM & © MGM (2004) Cast: Mario Frangoulis, Kevin Kline, Kevin McNally, Lara Fabian, Ashley Judd, Sandra Nelson Director: Irwin Winkler Producers: Simon Channing Williams, Rob Cowan, Gail Egan, Georgina Lowe, Charles Winkler, Irwin Winkler Screenwriter: Jay Cocks.
I feel a sudden urge to sing the kind of ditty that invokes the Spring
So, control your desire to curse while I crucify the verse
This verse I’ve started seems to me the „Tin Pan-tithesis“ of melody
So to spare you all the pain, I’ll skip the darn thing and sing the refrain
The night is young, the skies are clear
And if you want to go walkin’, dear
It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely
I understand the reason why
You’re sentimental, ’cause so am I
It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely
You can tell at a glance what a swell night this is for romance
You can hear, dear Mother Nature murmuring low „Let yourself go“
So please be sweet, my chickadee
And when I kiss ya, just say to me
„It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s delectable, it’s delirious,
It’s dilemma, it’s de limit, it’s deluxe, it’s de-lovely“
You can tell at a glance what a swell night this is for romance
You can hear dear Mother Nature murmuring low „Let yourself go“
So please be sweet, my chickadee
And when I kiss ya, just say to me
„It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s delectable, it’s delirious,
It’s dilemma, it’s de limit, it’s deluxe, it’s de-lovely“
