De-Lovely

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Doesn't it seem as if all musicals are love stories? De-Lovely is really a biography, but it is done in the style of a musical, so it becomes a love story.

Cole Porter wrote many of the musicals that America was so fond of in the first half of the twentieth century. His shows include Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, and Can-Can. His songs include “Begin the Beguine,� “I Love Paris,� “Let's Fall in Love,� “Don't Fence Me In,� and “Be a Clown.� A sign of the respect in which Porter's music is held is seen in the array of artists who are part of this film, often singing only a part of a song: Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, Robbie Williams, Natalie Cole and more.

De-Lovely is designed to be a review of Cole Porter's life from his deathbed. Gabe (the angel Gabriel) serves as the director of the show, guiding Cole through various scenes from his life. The story is staged as a musical, with occasional breaks back to the old Cole as he comments about what is happening.

The story is carried along by Cole's wonderful music, sometimes in the context of one of his shows, sometime in a different setting. There is a real feeling here that the way to know and appreciate Cole Porter is through his music. But the film goes on to show us also the life that was behind that music. The music at times acts on two different levels: the outward level that it was used in public, and at the same time a more hidden level about his private life.

Cole was a man full of life and hungry for love. The story begins as he meets the woman who would in many ways be the love of his life, Linda. However, as much as they love each other, their love is not complete. Cole was gay. Linda knew about it, and allowed him plenty of room for that part of his life. But even though Cole often had affairs with other men, and even had a period while working in Hollywood during which he became somewhat indiscreet, as the film moves on, we see the great love that Cole and Linda shared, even in times that would try them severely.

What a complex construct love is. For most of us, most of the various components (sexual, emotional, intellectual) that go into love all converge in a single person. The relationship changes over time. In the case of Cole and Linda, not all the pieces of the puzzle came together as they usually do. Even in this, their love is seen by the freedom that Linda allowed Cole and the devotion and loyalty that Cole demonstrated. Theirs was not a perfect relationship or marriage, but there can be no doubt about the love they shared.

At the beginning of the film, Gabe finds Cole at his piano playing a ballad. He reminds him that you never start off with a ballad. Later he reminds him that you also don't end with a ballad. But De-Lovely breaks those rules, beginning and ending with ballads. The ballads point to the importance of Cole and Linda's love as the overarching theme of the film. Besides, Cole Porter never was one for rules.