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Florence Foster Jenkins

  • 2016
  • PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
58K
YOUR RATING
Hugh Grant, Meryl Streep, and Simon Helberg in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
Set in 1940s New York, Florence Foster Jenkins is the true story of the legendary New York heiress and socialite (Meryl Streep) who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. The voice she heard in her head was beautiful, but to everyone else it was hilariously awful. Her "husband" and manager, St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), an aristocratic English actor, was determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give a public concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair knew he faced his greatest challenge.
Play trailer2:25
49 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyComedyDrama

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.

  • Director
    • Stephen Frears
  • Writers
    • Nicholas Martin
    • Julia Kogan
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Hugh Grant
    • Simon Helberg
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    58K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stephen Frears
    • Writers
      • Nicholas Martin
      • Julia Kogan
    • Stars
      • Meryl Streep
      • Hugh Grant
      • Simon Helberg
    • 220User reviews
    • 253Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 10 wins & 48 nominations total

    Videos49

    U.S. Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
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    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:14
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    International Teaser
    Trailer 1:00
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    I Also Compose
    Clip 0:59
    Watch I Also Compose
    Florence Foster Jenkins
    Clip 0:53
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins
    Florence Foster Jenkins
    Clip 1:17
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    Florence Foster Jenkins
    Clip 0:58
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins
    Florence Foster Jenkins
    Clip 0:51
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins
    Florence Foster Jenkins: I Also Compose (US)
    Clip 0:59
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins: I Also Compose (US)
    Florence Foster Jenkins: St. Clair Convinces McMoon
    Clip 0:55
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins: St. Clair Convinces McMoon
    Florence Foster Jenkins: Queen Of The Night
    Clip 1:14
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins: Queen Of The Night
    Florence Foster Jenkins: The First Lesson
    Clip 0:44
    Watch Florence Foster Jenkins: The First Lesson

    Photos125

    Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant and Christian McKay in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant, Meryl Streep, David Haig, and Simon Helberg in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Simon Helberg in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Rebecca Ferguson in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Simon Helberg in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
    Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Florence Foster Jenkins
    Hugh Grant
    Hugh Grant
    • St Clair Bayfield
    Simon Helberg
    Simon Helberg
    • Cosmé McMoon
    Rebecca Ferguson
    Rebecca Ferguson
    • Kathleen
    Nina Arianda
    Nina Arianda
    • Agnes Stark
    Stanley Townsend
    Stanley Townsend
    • Phineas Stark
    Allan Corduner
    Allan Corduner
    • John Totten
    Christian McKay
    Christian McKay
    • Earl Wilson
    David Haig
    David Haig
    • Carlo Edwards
    John Sessions
    John Sessions
    • Dr. Hermann
    Brid Brennan
    Brid Brennan
    • Kitty
    John Kavanagh
    John Kavanagh
    • Arturo Toscanini
    Pat Starr
    Pat Starr
    • Mrs Vanderbilt
    Maggie Steed
    Maggie Steed
    • Mrs James O'Flaherty
    Thelma Barlow
    • Mrs Oscar Garmunder
    Liza Ross
    • Mrs EE Paterson
    Paola Dionisotti
    Paola Dionisotti
    • Baroness Le Feyre
    Rhoda Lewis
    Rhoda Lewis
    • Mrs Patsy Snow
    • Director
      • Stephen Frears
    • Writers
      • Nicholas Martin
      • Julia Kogan(originally uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Meryl Streep does her own singing. Simon Helberg does his own piano playing.
    • Goofs
      The Carnegie Hall concert includes a mixed race audience of servicemen. While the US Armed Forces had limited integration in Europe after the Battle of the Bulge (white officers leading black enlisted men), they remained segregated until the 1950s. If white and black troops had been permitted into the facility at the same time, they wouldn't have been allowed to sit together.
    • Quotes

      Florence Foster Jenkins: People may say I couldn't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: Meryl Streep/Hugh Grant/Keeley Hawes/Joe and Jake (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Oh! Susanna
      Written by Stephen Foster

      Performed by Carl Davis & Stefan Bednarczyk

      Arranged by Terry Davies

    User reviews220

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A gently comedic story of love and deceit.
    Perpetuating little white lies is part of everyday life and keeps society ticking over. But to what point is it acceptable to massage an ego with a dirty black lie. A real whopper. And is such a lie perpetuated by love? Greed? Or the pursuit of personal glory? This is the rather subtle sub-text behind the story of Florence Foster Jenkins.

    Based on a true story, Florence Foster Jenkins tells the story of a truly awful singer (Meryl Streep), cossetted in her closed world of a 1944 New York hotel and pampered by her husband St Clair Mayfield (Hugh Grant), who is otherwise entwined with the sensuous Kathleen (Rebecca Ferguson). Together with ex-actor Mayfield, the wealthy Florence is the co-star of the show at her self-owned "Verdi Club" where she has a non-speaking role enacting various 'tableau' scenes. But in the interests of following her dreams she recruits the help of famous singing instructor Carlo Edwards (the marvellous David Haig) and an enthusiastic and personable young pianist Cosme McMoon (Simon Helberg, "The Big Bang Theory"). Carlo is aware of what he is in for (he wants to keep the arrangement 'on the quiet'); Cosme is not (to great comic effect).

    This classic re-telling of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' ultimately takes us on a journey to a packed concert at the Carnegie Hall, where many of the tickets have been given away to rowdy and drunk servicemen.

    It's impossible to describe a film as "delightful… just delightful" without hearing the velvety tones of Hugh Grant saying those words. But that's what it is. A treat of moving and at times wildly funny storytelling from director Stephen Frears ("Philomena", "The Queen") that just works from beginning to end.

    Meryl Streep is just glorious in the titular role, oozing charm. Those UK readers will probably fondly remember the piano playing 'skills' of the late, great comedian Les Dawson (google it for a youtube clip) who had to be an absolutely brilliant pianist to be able to deliberately play so badly. In a similar way, we know (from the likes of "Mamma Mia") that Streep knows how to belt out a good tune, so it requires some considerable skill to deliver Florence's songs as well (or as badly) as she does. Bravo Ms Streep, Bravo!

    And Hugh Grant is often quite unfairly criticized for playing Hugh Grant in every movie (as if Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford are much different?), but here he turns in a totally sterling performance. The drivers behind Mayfield's character are never totally clear (and I won't spoil that here), but in the final reel the motivating factor becomes crystal clear, and Grant has never been better. (Bravo Mr Grant, Bravo!).

    To round off the accolades for the lead performances, Simon Helberg turns in a genius comic performance as the goggle-eyed pianist, who lights up every scene he's in and delivers his lines (e.g. one about a naval encounter) with perfect comic timing.

    Shining again in a supporting role is Rebecca Ferguson ("Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation") who once again is dazzling. Among the bright young acting newcomers of the likes of Vikander and Rooney, Ferguson (who is approaching her mid-30s) brings a level of sophisticated glamour and maturity to the screen that is strongly reminiscent of the great starlets of the 1940's and 50's like Kathrine Hepburn or Lana Turner. She is fast becoming one of my favourite actresses. Also worthy of note is Nina Arianda as gold- digging starlet Agnes Stark – effectively playing (at least at first) the "little boy in the crowd" in the Emperor's fable.

    Written by TV-writer Nicholas Martin in his big-screen debut, the story is slowly and subtly unwoven, only progressively revealing the plot points in an intelligent manner. Other screenwriters take note: this is how to do it.

    Cinematography is by the great Danny Cohen ("The Danish Girl"; "Room") and with the Production Design, Costuming and Special effects crew 1940's New York is vibrantly brought to life.

    While the film's leisurely pace might make the younger set fidgety, this is a treat particularly for older viewers looking for a great night out at the cinema. The film got a good old-fashioned round of applause at my showing when the credits came up. "Delightful… just delightful". Go see it.

    (Please visit http://bob-the-movie-man.com for the graphical version of this review and to comment with your thoughts. Thanks).
    helpful•151
    32
    • bob-the-movie-man
    • May 4, 2016

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 12, 2016 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Official sites
      • KinoPoisk.ru
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Italian
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Florence
    • Filming locations
      • Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK(Carnegie Hall - exterior)
    • Production companies
      • Pathé
      • BBC Films
      • Pathé Pictures International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $29,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $27,383,770
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,601,313
      • Aug 14, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $49,052,787
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Hugh Grant, Meryl Streep, and Simon Helberg in Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
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