‘Saturation release’ for Florence Foster Jenkins
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FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant has been set by Pathé for a saturation release across the UK on 6 May 2016.
The comedy drama directed by Stephen Frears (Philomena, The Queen) tells the inspirational true story of the eponymous New York heiress who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. The film celebrates the human spirit, the power of music and the passion of amateurs everywhere.
The voice Florence (Streep) heard in her head was divine, but to the rest of the world it was hilariously awful. At private recitals, her devoted husband and manager, St Clair Bayfield (Grant), managed to protect Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give her first public concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, St Clair realised he had perhaps bitten off more than he could chew.
The film’s supporting cast members include Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) as Florence’s long suffering piano accompanist, Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) and Nina Arianda (Midnight in Paris).
The film is produced by Michael Kuhn (The Duchess) and by Tracey Seaward (Philomena, The Queen). It is executive produced byPathé’s Cameron McCracken, BBC Films’ Christine Langan and Qwerty’s Malcolm Ritchie. Nicholas Martin wrote the screenplay and the creative team includes Director of Photography Danny Cohen (The King’s Speech, Les Miserables), Production Designer Alan Macdonald (Philomena, The Queen), Costume Designer Consolata Boyle (Philomena, The Queen), Composer Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Philomena) and Editor Valerio Bonelli (Philomena).
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Curious whether Mrs Streep will bring this off as well as Mrs Jenkins:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjURO9L5fdc
Reportedly Meryl Streep is a hard worker. Practice makes perfect.
FFJ’s accompanist was Cosme McMoon. Why does she have a lady pianist in the film? Makes no sense.
Sorry, my mistake. Misread the penultimate paragraph.
It will need to be darn good and accurately researched to be an improvement on Peter Quilter’s unforgettable stage play in the capable hands of the hilarious Maureen Lipman et al. Who will do the “singing”, although it doesn’t really matter in this context, does it? I guess it should sound like the actual recordings, so maybe they should be used!
Maybe Streep, who enjoys doing accents so perhaps could learn to sing out of tune, might have a go at the singing herself. When she was young, Streep had singing lessons from Estelle Liebling, a pupil of the great bel canto teacher Mathilde Marchesi. Liebling taught and coached a galaxy of famous singers in New York including Beverly Sills, whom Liebling continued to coach throughout her entire career.
I am reliably informed that Ms Streep did all the singing herself in the film….
Florence for Oscar!
Watch out for a funny cameo role for British pianist Jonathan Plowright….
Such a shame thta Mauren Lipman did not get the part. She successfully brought Florence Foster Jenkins to glorious life on the West End stage of London a few years ago.
I have RARE, authentic items from the estate of Florence Foster Jenkins…from personal correspondence, to Verdi Club items…email me for further info and pictures of each item.
Once they’re gone…..
Susan
Email address?
dhansenpga@gmail.com
Thanks SH !