Films/DVD Asylum

"Florence Foster Jenkins", the ear worm with teeth.

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A great biographical comedy from 2016 that I wouldn't seek out in a theater, but it came around the other night on cable. Meryl Streep as Florence, Hugh Grant (again) as her hubby, and Simon Helberg (Big bang Theory's Howard Wolowitz) as her piano player.

Great role playing, as you would expect from Streep. Grant, as usual, plays a charming Brit with an insincere smile, but that is what his role is here. Helberg didn't have much info to work with for constructing the piano accompanist, Cosme' McMoon, so he created him. Odd stuff there from Helberg, but it does the job. He studied piano for many years, and did the actual playing in the film.

This is the funny sad story of Jenkins in the 1940's, who made operatic aria recordings that she paid for, and actually performed in Carnegie Hall. Supposedly a serious effort for her, and a joke for those listening. All were entertained, so the ends met. Her singing provided comedic lift at the height of WW2.

The film portrays her as a good and tragic woman, and a rich patron of the New York musical scene. No one told her the truth about her singing because she was a cash cow for the arts.

Florence's records-- the whole cacaphonic 5-record set -- became best sellers in the 1940's, and the top selling recording for the Melotone label, 1941-44. I think Naxos might still have them available.

You would think that Streep, who can really sing, lost her mind in the singing performances, having a grand funk with it. But Florence's recording is played in the end credits, and it was noted that Streep's performances matched Florence's almost spot on. That is truly amazing. It was a studied effort, not random screeching. Quite a nice film.

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