Wednesday, July 14, 2004
It's De-not bad
Last night. Free screening of the latest Cole Porter bio-pick, De-lovely. The makeup, wardrobe, set design, and jewelry were indeed "delicious, delightful and de-lovely." And Kevin Kline is "de-vine, dear." But.
I have a couple issues. Cole Porter was gay. The only person they showed him in bed with was Linda Lee Porter, his wife. Why? I guess a big Hollywood picture is just not the right media to reflect real people in all their complexity. Good thing my expectations weren't that high to begin with. At least, the filmmakers did portray Cole in less than hetero interactions. Not explicit, you pervs. But quite unlike Night and Day, the last big Hollywood picture about Porter. Aw, heck, that was only 58 years ago.
Also, when will American cinema come to grips with black people/people of any color at all in our history and culture? We are either missing entirely from where we absolutely, definitely are/were (too many films and television shows to name) or, as in De-Lovely, put in where we were prohibited from being. Like on stage dancing and singing with white people on Broadway in the 20's. Check me on my facts, lovies, but I believe that if Jazz Age theatergoers witnessed a black face alongside a white one on the Great White Way, it was a white actor in blackface.
No, I'm never satisfied. In case you were wondering.
Last night. Free screening of the latest Cole Porter bio-pick, De-lovely. The makeup, wardrobe, set design, and jewelry were indeed "delicious, delightful and de-lovely." And Kevin Kline is "de-vine, dear." But.
I have a couple issues. Cole Porter was gay. The only person they showed him in bed with was Linda Lee Porter, his wife. Why? I guess a big Hollywood picture is just not the right media to reflect real people in all their complexity. Good thing my expectations weren't that high to begin with. At least, the filmmakers did portray Cole in less than hetero interactions. Not explicit, you pervs. But quite unlike Night and Day, the last big Hollywood picture about Porter. Aw, heck, that was only 58 years ago.
Also, when will American cinema come to grips with black people/people of any color at all in our history and culture? We are either missing entirely from where we absolutely, definitely are/were (too many films and television shows to name) or, as in De-Lovely, put in where we were prohibited from being. Like on stage dancing and singing with white people on Broadway in the 20's. Check me on my facts, lovies, but I believe that if Jazz Age theatergoers witnessed a black face alongside a white one on the Great White Way, it was a white actor in blackface.
No, I'm never satisfied. In case you were wondering.
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