Movie: Florence Foster Jenkins

Nope. Never heard of her.This is based on the, extraordinary - now that I think about it - story of a wealthy American socialite who’s only ambition was to sing. But she did it badly.The film with Meryl Streep in the lead – no-one else can carry off these high-pitched voices depicting real life people like she can – concentrates on the efforts her English (occasional) actor husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) goes to only invite people who are equally oblivious of tone and rhythm as his beloved. Even the talented pianist they hired quickly became fond of her and played his heart out to accompany the terrible performances.According to Wiki, she alone handpicked her audience so no press or serious music lovers came – unless they were accommodating, I suspect. Certainly, everyone loved her.The film is really based on two artist’s sex-less but clearly loving relationship (she contracted syphilis from her first husband on their wedding night). She lives in her luxury Manhattan pad while he sleeps in another apartment with his girlfriend. It’s never clear whether Jenkins and Bayfield are legally married as she uses her old married name. These two and the 1940s period dress are the draw of this film, rather than the comedy value off bad singing. I love a film with good frocks. And manners. She earned a living as a piano tutor until her lawyer father died leaving her money, as he wouldn’t have funded the music education she desired. Oddly enough, Bayfield, an out of work actor came her way after her inheritance came but he did manage her career with love and dedication.She finally played a public concert when she hired out Carnegie Hall, the press came and the secret was well and truly out.A surprisingly enjoyable watch once it kicked off and good to see Hugh Grant playing a character of his age, pretty well as it happens.7½/10@RickieWrites