By Lubna Abdel-Aziz If you can still "begin the beguine", or gently sway "in the still of the night" to the tender sounds of tropical splendour; if you can thrill to the memory of a lithesome Astaire twirling a radiant Ginger to the haunting refrains of magical musicals, then surely you will delight with the delicious sounds and sights of De-lovely. However, if you are of a more recent vintage and rock to the chords of Robbie Williams or Alanis Morisette, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow or Natalie Cole, then De-lovely is the film for you. If you know or care for neither, but are more inclined towards a reflective subject or a nostalgic biography of one of the greatest songwriters of the century, or a romantic tale of everlasting love and eternal devotion, then surely De-lovely is the delectable summer fest awaiting your pleasure. Producer/director Irwin Winkler is passionate about his latest film, which unveils the extraordinarily unconventional love story of the legendary composer/lyricist Cole Porter and his marriage to the wealthy socialite Linda Lee Thomas, one of the most beautiful women of her generation. In a world of hollow relationships and shallow affairs De-lovely is a refreshingly touching tale of a bizarre and unique love story that attempts to reveal the mystery of "this thing called love" even in that fickle, futile world of show business. If you think you have never heard of Cole Porter, you have heard Cole Porter. His gentle lyrics and refined music have been regularly and consistently played for decades on radio, television, stage and screen. Singers of every age, from Ethel Merman,Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand and Harry Conick Jr have cherished his music. His is the story of the American Musical, which remains to be America's singular contribution to the art of the 20th century. He set the standards of style and wit, unmatched in the world of song. Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, Lets do it, lets fall in love Master of the double entendre, he delighted in opposing anyone who dared to oppose another person's private pleasures. Porter's significance is not limited to his sparkling rhymes and syncopated rhythms, but to his sophistication, elegance, and total attitude of embracing a modern era with a sense of freedom and lack of inhibition. A hearty sensualist unafraid of the erotic, he dared to be an open homosexual when such behaviour was decidedly taboo, and was able to maintain a happy marriage for 35 years when most marriages in the world of show business broke up within a few years or even months. Porter's world was as intoxicating as the bubbles in a glass of champagne, and as mysterious as the chords In the Still of the Night. Unlike most tunesmiths struggling through the narrow lanes of Tin Pan Alley, Cole Porter was born (1891) to considerable wealth. His maternal grandfather James Omar Cole, was the richest man in Indiana who harboured dreams of having his grandson become a lawyer and take over the family business. Cole's musical talent became evident early on. He studied piano and violin at six. At age 10 he wrote a complete operetta with words and music. At 11 he published his first piano piece, Song of the Birds, dedicated to his mother. During his last year at Worcester Academy he completed his first score of a full length Broadway musical. At Yale he left a legacy of over 500 shows and songs like Bingo Eli Yale and Yale Bulldog Song that are still being performed today. On graduating from Yale in 1913 he entered Harvard Law School according to his grandfather's wishes, but two years later secretly transferred to the School of Music without his grandfather's knowledge. His first Broadway musical opened in 1916, See America First starring Clifton Webb, but closed two weeks later. Depressed and despondent, Cole travelled to the Continent and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion in 1917. He received the Croix de Guèrre from France, and after the war he rented a luxurious apartment in Paris where he hosted the élite of Parisian society. He was smitten by the "gay divorcée" southern belle, Linda Lee Thomas, reputed to be eight to 14 years his senior, and despite his open homosexuality they were married in 1919 until her death from emphysema in 1954. Linda redirected his career, tolerated his dalliances, and became his muse, coach, confidante, critic, and constant companion. Their marriage endured almost four decades because they both simply adored each other. The Porters spent much of the 1920s living abroad, lavishly entertaining society's most fashionable. She introduced him to Irving Berlin, then America's leading songwriter who recommended him to producer E Paul Goetz, for whom he wrote several Broadway hits. He was by far the smartest, most elegant, most educated, most sophisticated songwriter of his time. He never needed to work one day of his life and yet he never stopped working. Of the 50 plus Broadway musicals and films, which included such favourites as The Gay Divorcée, Du Barry was a Lady, Anything Goes, Can Can and Silk Stockings, Porter saved his masterpiece to the end. His many travels and experiences culminated in the rich score and literate lyrics of the Broadway hit Kiss Me Kate (1948) with songs such as the frivolous I am Always True to You Darling in my Fashion, the educated Brush Up Your Shakespeare, and the very poignant So in Love With You Am I, cleverly placed in the film as a tearful Porter sings it to his dying Linda. In 1937 Porter suffered a crippling injury while horseback riding when his mare rolled over him crushing both his legs leaving him in pain for the rest of his life. His wife and mother both refused to have his legs amputated, so vain was Cole about his appearance. After 30 operations in 20 years Cole finally succumbed to the amputation of one leg four years after Linda's death in 1958. As lights come up an aging Cole Porter is stumped at his grand piano, tinkling the ivories and awaiting death, when a mystery guest arrives and whisks him off to the theatre where his life story is being staged. As the events flash before his eyes in Dickensian style down memory lane, a life full of glamour, romance, and gaiety unfolds. The charming music never stops with renditions of 40 of our favourite songs, staged with wit and style celebrating Porter's passion and incomparable musical gift, but the focus is always the lifelong romance between the Porters themselves. It is this unique love story that is at the heart of the film that Irwin Winkler produced and Jay Cocks wrote with the versatile Kevin Kline as Cole Porter and the stunning Ashley Judd as Linda. Critics are already talking Oscar for the stars, and audiences leave the theatre recapturing their youth, singing and tapping to the lilting tunes of Cole Porter. While Hollywood's 1946 first biopic of Porter's fascinating life, Night and Day (written while sailing down the Nile) was far removed from reality, De-lovely paints a true picture of the musical prodigy, his flamboyant lifestyle, his many escapades, his pains and heartaches, his ups and downs, and always his undying love for Linda. Porter's name is synonymous with songs that are linguistically and culturally as sophisticated, as they are rich and haunting. It still evokes visions of high society, jazz clubs, Paris nights, chilled martinis served on the Lido. Ablaze with sexy double meanings, clever rhymes within rhymes, melodies and chord progressions, so hypnotic they remain favourites among crooners and chanteuses of every age. In 1960 Yale awarded Porter an honorary doctorate. He died in 1964 leaving to posterity a rich and fascinating body of work, full of charm, sophistication and suggestive sensuality. Ned Rorem, Pulitzer Prize winning composer praises Porter's songs for being "equal in vocal arch and harmonic ingenuity to the songs of Monteverdi and Schumann". You be the judge: So taunt me and hurt me Deceive me, desert me, I'm yours till I die So in love, so in love, so in love With you am I Cole Porter from Kiss Me Kate Absolutely, infinitely, definitely, de- lovely E-mail address: [email protected]
