De-Lovely: The Cole Porter Story

From the Editors

"The most unusual and enchanting musical in years" (Roger Ebert), this cinematic ode to legendary composer Cole Porter is at once buoyantly fun and "heartbreakingly beautiful" (Liz Smith). OscarÂ(r) winner* Kevin Kline (The Ice Storm) is "perfection" (Rolling Stone) as the elegant and deeply complex Porter in a film that offers "knockout performances" (Gene Shalit) from Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, Alanis Morissette and Robbie Williams, and "melancholy, wit and style to burn" (The Philadelphia Inquirer)! From Paris to Venice to Broadway to Hollywood, the lives of Cole (Kline) and Linda (Ashley Judd) Porter were never less thanglamorous and wildly unconventional. Though Cole's thirst for life strained their marriage, Linda never stopped being his muse, inspiring some of the greatest songs of the twentieth century.*1988: Supporting Actor, A Fish Called Wanda
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Customer Response

How I enjoyed and Loved De-Lovely
I love De-lovely. I started watching it right before I turned 14. I wanted to watch that because of my favorite actor Kevin Kline. It was happy and joyful at first, but the it turned out sorrowful and horrific. I was worried When cole porter Broke his leg, I was about to cry. I thought he was dead. I also cried when Linda Porter died and I was about to leave but I didn't want to miss the whole thing. I have watched it for at least a year. I have known the movie really well. I should have watched De-lovely sooner and then At least I would have enjoyed it for the rest of my life. I rented it at the Public library and Someone said to me that De-Lovely is the best film and none of her family members didn't like it and I said that I loved it but my Dad and My sister didn't like it. And then the other person asked me what I was watching and I said, "De-Lovely. I already saw it but I want to watch it because of my favorite actor Kevin Kline." And I was watching some parts. The next day, I was watching the terrible horse accident part and someone I met at school said something bad and I'm like "what did you say?" and he said that he was sorry. The Reason My Dad and My sister Didn't like De-Lovely is because Cole Porter was Kissing a man. my Sister Once Explained to me How painful it is to Break a bone and it is more than hurting your muscle. I didn't even know what it was until I fell in love. This movie was the second ever PG-13 movie for me to cry and get worried. The first was The Secret Life of Bees (Which I'm not talking about here) Because I usually see it from Childrens Movies or something like that.

Truly a terrible movie...
Where did Kevin Kline's career go wrong? Was it the curse of the Oscar he got for Fish Called Wanda? Whatever, he's totally wrong & just awful as Cole Porter. The direction & performances in no way invoke spirit of the era, they're just leaden. Everyone involved should have been forced to watch Fry & Laurie's Jeeves & Wooster 1000 times before attempting this massacre of a great artist.

Cole Porter movie
The movie is good but the sound track is the best. If you like music, save your money and just buy the sound track. If you like movies, buy this one and watch Ashley Judd. She carries the movie. Kevin Klein, at times, is almost hateable ("stupid is as stupid does" Momma Gump).

De-Lightful!
2 time Tony Award winner Kevin Kline's superb acting and musical talent combine to make this beautiful film a sight to see, and the music is simply one of a kind. I loved this film and would recommend it to anyone!

The critics got it wrong
"De-Lovely" is a story based upon the life and music of song writer extraordinare, Cole Porter.

His music is the backdrop and spirit of the movie. It is performed by "star quality" people such as Natalie Cole, Robbie Williams and Cheryl Crow which adds a unique positive dimension to the movie.

The performances by the leads, Kevin Cline and Ashly Judd are sensitive, powerful and realistic. The supporting cast is equally up to putting further understanding to Porter and his wife.

The sets and costumes are idealized versions of life in the 30's and 40's of the upper classes. They are strikingly beautiful.

I've read the critical reviews which came out when the movie first appeared and feel those people got it wrong . . .again! They are so used to seeing a biography film done as a history lesson that they totally missed the spirit and flow of the film. (I understand critics had the same parochial/myopic tendencies in such films as Sound of Music and Music Man)

This film is certainly about Cole Porter's life as reflected in his music, his public life and his private life. It is not a "date" sensitive movie. It develops the complexity and conflicts of the characters by using the music as a cue. For example, the wedding scene uses the song, "De-Lovely" whose lyric discusses getting married and spontaneous things that lead to marriage. "Let's Misbehave" is part of a party sequence which describes a swinging part of Porter's life before he gets back into professional writing. "Experiment" leads into a part of the movie which deals with his many homosexual contacts. "Every time we say goodbye" is presented about the time Porter's wife dies. Each of these concepts is beautifully presented, with perfect emotion, and reality.

Lastly, if you are looking for a phony history lesson, get the movie about Cole Porter staring Cary Grant. If you are looking for a totally enjoyable film which captures the essence, wit, spirit and life of the man and his music, "De-Lovely" is the ticket. I have recommended this to each of my friends who did not see it because of the critical panning and each has concluded that the critics totally blew it. This is going to become the classic, long lasting, accurate definitive view of one of the world's greatest song writers.

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