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De-Lovely

  • 20042004
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
De-Lovely (2004)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
98 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Music

Inspecting a magical biographical stage musical, composer Cole Porter reviews his life and career with his wife, Linda.Inspecting a magical biographical stage musical, composer Cole Porter reviews his life and career with his wife, Linda.Inspecting a magical biographical stage musical, composer Cole Porter reviews his life and career with his wife, Linda.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irwin Winkler
  • Writer
    • Jay Cocks
  • Stars
    • Kevin Kline
    • Ashley Judd
    • Jonathan Pryce
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irwin Winkler
  • Writer
    • Jay Cocks
  • Stars
    • Kevin Kline
    • Ashley Judd
    • Jonathan Pryce
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 233User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 13 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Official Trailer

    Photos98

    Kevin Kline and Alanis Morissette in De-Lovely (2004)
    Natalie Cole in De-Lovely (2004)
    Elvis Costello in De-Lovely (2004)
    Diana Krall in De-Lovely (2004)
    Robbie Williams in De-Lovely (2004)
    Lara Fabian and Mario Frangoulis in De-Lovely (2004)
    Lara Fabian in De-Lovely (2004)
    Sheryl Crow in De-Lovely (2004)
    Ashley Judd, Kevin Kline, and Irwin Winkler in De-Lovely (2004)
    Irwin Winkler in De-Lovely (2004)
    Kevin Kline and Kevin McNally in De-Lovely (2004)
    Kevin Kline and John Barrowman in De-Lovely (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kevin Kline
    Kevin Kline
    • Cole Porteras Cole Porter
    Ashley Judd
    Ashley Judd
    • Linda Porteras Linda Porter
    Jonathan Pryce
    Jonathan Pryce
    • Gabeas Gabe
    Kevin McNally
    Kevin McNally
    • Gerald Murphyas Gerald Murphy
    Sandra Nelson
    • Sara Murphyas Sara Murphy
    Allan Corduner
    Allan Corduner
    • Monty Woolleyas Monty Woolley
    Peter Polycarpou
    Peter Polycarpou
    • L.B. Mayeras L.B. Mayer
    Keith Allen
    Keith Allen
    • Irving Berlinas Irving Berlin
    James Wilby
    James Wilby
    • Edward Thomasas Edward Thomas
    Kevin McKidd
    Kevin McKidd
    • Bobby Reedas Bobby Reed
    Richard Dillane
    Richard Dillane
    • Bill Wratheras Bill Wrather
    Edward Baker-Duly
    Edward Baker-Duly
    • Boris Kochnoas Boris Kochno
    Angie Hill
    Angie Hill
    • Ellin Berlinas Ellin Berlin
    Harry Ditson
    Harry Ditson
    • Dr. Moorheadas Dr. Moorhead
    Tayler Hamilton
    Tayler Hamilton
    • Honoria Murphyas Honoria Murphy
    Lexie Peel
    • Patrick Murphyas Patrick Murphy
    Greg Sheffield
    • Boath Murphyas Boath Murphy
    Peter Jessop
    • Diaghilevas Diaghilev
    • Director
      • Irwin Winkler
    • Writer
      • Jay Cocks
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    De-Lovely is an original musical portrait of American composer Cole Porter, filled with his unforgettable songs. In the film, Porter is looking back on his life as if it was one of his spectacular stage shows, with the people and events of his life becoming the actors and action onstage. Through elaborate production numbers and popular hits like "Anything Goes," "It's De-Lovely," and "Night and Day," Porter's elegant, excessive past comes to light - including his deeply complicated relationship with his wife and muse, Linda Lee Porter. —Anonymous
    • jukebox musical
    • horseback riding
    • cole porter character
    • monty woolley character
    • louis b. mayer character
    • 116 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A love that would never die and music that would live forever.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Music
      • Musical
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for sexual content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many scenes in the film are actually one continuous shot. The scene where Cole is visiting the gentleman's club during the song "Love For Sale" is a good example. The scene is supposed to be representing three different times where Cole was in the club. Most of the dancers are costume personnel who would perform costume changes on other actors and themselves and then walk back into the shot. Even the singer changes hair pieces and earrings in this shot.
    • Goofs
      The scene depicting the song "So In Love" on the opening night of "Kiss Me, Kate" depicts the song as a duet between the two leads during the show's Shakespearean play-within-a-play. In "Kiss Me, Kate," "So In Love" is not a duet. Both of the leads do sing solo versions of the song at a different point in the show, however neither takes place in the play-within-a-play.
    • Quotes

      Monty Woolley: Cole, he's only an actor but he still may be right. He's tried it 7 times already, the song's a problem.

      Cole Porter: The song is not a problem, it's a challenge. Jack! Jack my boy, how can I help you? Ask me anything.

      Jack: Write another song.

      Cole Porter: Oh God, that cuts me right to the quick. I know it's God awful but it's the best I can do and we open in three days.

      Jack: Where do you get your ideas?

      Cole Porter: I get them all from a little Chinese man in Poughkeepsie.

      Jack: Mr Porter, the song goes so high and so low it's impossible.

      Cole Porter: It's not impossible. I wrote this with you in mind, I can sing it and I have a range of three notes.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Spider-Man 2/Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy/White Chicks/De-Lovely/Before Sunset (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      In the Still of the Night
      Performed by Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd

      Written by Cole Porter

      Published by Warner Bros., Inc. / Chappell & Co, Inc. (ASCAP)

      Produced by Stephen Endelman and Peter Asher

    User reviews233

    Review
    Top review
    Great Music but Short on Substance!
    These last few weeks I have eagerly anticipated the Cole Porter biopic, "De- Lovely", starring Kevin Kline. As I read the initial reviews for this film's early, limited run, I was a bit perplexed at the mixed and somewhat negative assessments. Appreciative of Cole Porter's musical brilliance, I have not only seen excellent stage productions of some of his work, but have performed in the stage production, "Cole", a musical tribute to Porter's musical wit and genius. Subsequently, I was mentally primed for a gratifying movie experience that not only touched upon Cole Porter's music, but a more honest portrayal about his personal life, as well.

    The introduction of decency codes in Hollywood film-making and the swing in public opinion regarding the gay community had great impact on personal lives at the beginning of the Great Depression. One case in point is the life of William Haines, once the biggest money-maker for specific Hollywood studios, but whose career in film came to a grinding halt when film industry moguls tried to force Haines into a proper, heterosexual "marriage" for social appearances as social conservatism grew in strength as so did the deepening depression. A few years later, "Night and Day", the 1946 film starring Cary Grant, greatly distorted the facts surrounding Cole Porter's life. Post-depression/post-war American society was still not ready for the truth about Cole Porter's life, or homosexuality ("the love that dare not speak its name"), in general. Psychologically, the unrest in Cole Porter's mind regarding his closeted sexuality, his marriage to Linda, his extra-marital dalliances with men and his search for satisfying love have had great impact on the themes in his music. After all, no artist creates within a vacuum; personal experiences influence the creation of art, be it music or otherwise. And, having the greatest understanding of any artist's life, creatively, professionally and personally, allows for the greatest understanding of artistic production.

    Although society's understanding and acceptance of gay issues in 2004 would enhance audience favor of this film, regrettably, I left the theater, unfulfilled. This film should have been a snappy cinematic package filled with creative production numbers incorporating Cole Porter's great songs and reflecting upon significant events in his life. Attempts were made. Staging the film as a review of Porter's life viewed scene-by-scene by Cole and his "accomplice" in a darkened theater made for easy understanding of scenes from his adult life. I felt that other, important scenes were missing which would have made for a better understanding of the man. The influences of his privileged childhood in Peru, Indiana, and his college experiences at Yale greatly influenced his direction in life. The easy-to-digest transitions from Paris to various American settings illustrate deft cinematography, staging and editing. However, many scenes looked "too staged" to realistically portray the significant events Cole and his accomplice witness from the main floor of the theatre house. Was this the director's intent? If the staging of the various "scenes" from Porter's life were as Cole remembered them, why were they staged in confining or unrealistic spaces with little bravura and sparkle, considering the man was the essence of these very two things? It's as if every possible cliché was thrown into an impossible to believe setting of Paris when Cole sings to Linda!

    The soundtrack to this film is enjoyable. Witnessing the visual performance of present-day artists singing Porter's tunes, however, was hit-or-miss. It was obvious that lip-syncing was taking place. Why cant' such scenes be filmed live, I wonder? Kudos to Robbie Williams' version of "It's De-Lovely" (looking very impish), Alanis Morissette's ""Let's Do It", and Caroline O'Connor's "Anything Goes". Her vocal similarity to Ethel Merman is noteworthy, although the scene did little to display the talents of music and actor. To gain the full impact of these performances, purchase the movie's music compact disc.

    If you have an interest in the life of Cole Porter along with his music, I would recommend you see this film to gain some insight. However, if your interest lies only at the level of his music and not of the influences upon his creative output, you will gain small reward by seeing this film, which vacillates in its essence of heart and spirit. Nonetheless, I can recommend the movie's CD.
    helpful•3
    0
    • dougramsey
    • Jul 29, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 6, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Just One of Those Things
    • Filming locations
      • Café de Paris, Coventry Street, Soho, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Potboiler Productions
      • Winkler Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,456,633
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $292,963
      • Jul 4, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,611,951
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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