Milos Forman's adaptation of the tribal rock musical Hair stars John Savage as Claude, a quiet young man from the Midwest who becomes friendly with a group of New York hippies on his way to begin basic training in the military. The repressed Claude is quite taken with Berger (Treat Williams) and the group of freedom seekers who reside in Central Park. The group encourages Claude to go after a debutante named Sheila (Beverly D'Angelo). Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp masterminded the dances, which attempt to flow from the natural settings of the film. The film includes most of the more famous songs from the original play, including "Donna," "Aquarius," "Easy to Be Hard," "Let the Sunshine In," "Good Morning Starshine," and the title number. Perry Seibert, Rovi
Broadway's celebratory musical about rejection makes it to the screen in a fizzless adaptation by Richard Attenborough that misses the whole point of the Broadway show -- i.e. the dancing and the dancers. Instead, the dancers become a limp Greek chorus for the dead love affair between a choreographer, Zach (a pre-Gordon Gekko Michael Douglas) and his old flame, Cassie (Alyson Reed) the star dancer. Zach is holding try-outs for a new Broadway musical and, as armies of dancers are brought on stage to audition for Zach, he sits in the darkened recesses of the theater, puffing on a cigarette, as he winnows out hopeful dancers who want to become part of the chorus line for Zach's new show. Finally, Zach has reduced the dancers to 16 men and women, and he asks each of them to step to the footlights and tell him about their lives and their dreams. But backstage, while the dancers are confessing their pasts to Zach, Zach's past walks through the stage door. Cassie, Zach's ex-lover, whom Zach met, courted and broke up with in the theatrical environs, has returned. Once a big star, Cassie has returned to the theater -- not to see Zach but to audition for Zach's musical. She needs the work. Paul Brenner, Rovi
The public and private lives of famed songwriter Cole Porter are both explored in this musical drama, in which the aging Porter (played by Kevin Kline) looks back on his life while watching a rehearsal of a stage musical based on his story. As Porter compares notes on the play with director Gabe (Jonathan Pryce), he shares thoughts on his rise to fame in the mid-'20s, writing witty and sophisticated tunes for a string of successful Broadway musicals. Porter seemed to be living a charmed life when he met Linda Thomas (Ashley Judd), a beautiful American woman who, like Porter, was enjoying a sojourn in Paris following the collapse of her first marriage. Thomas is immediately taken with Porter, whose intelligence and charm is a welcome change after her brutal first husband, and the two discover they share a remarkable understanding of one another. Porter and Thomas marry, even though she's aware that her new husband is gay; Thomas is willing to forgive Porter's indiscretions with other men in favor of the emotional support he brings her. However, as the years wear on and the couple takes up residence in Hollywood as Porter begins writing tunes for motion pictures, Thomas finds Porter drifting away from her as his liaisons become more frequent and more serious. Then tragedy enters their life when Porter loses the use of his legs in a riding accident and Thomas is diagnosed with cancer. De-Lovely features a number of noted pop singers interpreting classic songs from Porter's catalog, including Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Elvis Costello, Robbie Williams, Mick Hucknall, and others. Mark Deming, Rovi
- Genre: Musical
- Category Rock Musical, Backstage Musical, Anti-War Film, Marriage Drama, Biopic [feature], Musical Drama
- Theme: Ladder to the Top, Fish Out of Water, Big Break, Culture Clash, Double Life, Tortured Genius, Living With Disability, Romantic Betrayal
- Studio: MGM
- Run Time: 06 hr 04 min
- Language: Spanish, English, French
- Subtitle Language: English, Spanish, French
- Picture Format: pan_and_scan, letterbox, widescreen
- Release Date: October 9, 2007
- Lead Actor: John Savage, Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Terrence Mann, Michael Douglas
- Supporting Actor: Cameron English, Kevin McNally, Nicholas Ray, Alyson Reed, Beverly D'Angelo, Jonathan Pryce, Treat Williams, Sammy Smith, Peter Polycarpou, Melissa Randel, John Hammil, Gregg Huffman, Donna Ritchie, Melba Moore, Mansoor Najeeullah, J. Patrick McNamara, Hector Mercado, Gloria Lynch, Ellen Foley, Chuck Patterson, Chris Komar, Bambi Jordan, Ron Young, Leata Galloway, Karen Prunczik, Jennifer Kent, Carolyn Brown, Nell Carter, Angie Hill, Byron Utley, Charlaine Woodard, Jack Lehnert, Jeffrey Cornell, Johanna Baer, Megan Murphy, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard de Fabees, Timothy Scott, Grand L. Bush, Ren Woods, Mario Nelson, Steve Massicotte, Donald Alsdurf, Harry Gittleson, Natalie Cole, Rahsaan Curry, Mario Frangoulis, Janet York, Lara Fabian, Michael Jeter, Vivian Green, Diana Krall, Joe Acord, Matt West, Mick Hucknall, Blane Savage, Sheryl Crow, Jane Booke, Linda Surh, Caroline O'Connor, Justin Ross, John Barrowman, Charles McGowan, George J. Manos, Pam Klinger, Alanis Morissette, Antonia Rey, Agness Breen, Janet Jones, Elvis Costello, Michelle Johnston, Herman Meckler, Leopold Lemarchand, Jan Gan Boyd, Robbie Williams, Charles Deney, Edward Baker-Duly, Fern Tailer, Nicole Fosse, Richard Dillane, Miles Chapin, Tony Dean Fields, Gregg Burge, Charlotte Rae, Sharon Brown, Kevin McKidd, Richard Bright, Yamil Borges, James Wilby, Cheryl Barnes, Keith Allen, Don Dacus, Michael Blevins, Sandra Nelson, Dorsey Wright, Audrey Landers, Vicki Frederick, Annie Golden, Alan Corduner, John Savage
- Director: Irwin Winkler, Milos Forman, Richard Attenborough