
by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil Intercultural
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/1/16 – On the evening of Monday, August 1st, 2016 this reporter attended a special advance screening of Stephen Frear’s new film FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS at the ArcLight Theater located at 6360 West Sunset Boulevard. FFJ hilariously stars Meryl Streep as the musically challenged Ms. Jenkins and Hugh Grant as her common-law husband, St. Clair Bayfield, whose ardor blows hot and cold. It opens in theaters on August 12th.
Set in 1940s New York, FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS is the true story of the legendary New York heiress and socialite who completely lacked vocal talent but more than made up for this with her steadfast belief in the beauty of her own awful voice. Bayfield was determined to protect Jenkins from the truth at all costs.


Jenkins had in fact been a child prodigy pianist who performed all over the state of Pennsylvania where she was born and even at the White House during the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes. She ended up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her first husband, Dr. Frank Thornton Jenkins, from whom she contracted syphilis before meeting St. Clair Bayfield.

Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant establish an easy and charming rapport as Florence Foster Jenkins and St. Clair Bayfield with able support by Simon Helberg as Cosmo McMoon. The film’s catastrophic musical sequences are intercut with period dance numbers that are much more capably performed.

However, the name of Florence Foster Jenkins definitely deserves to be resurrected and revered by a new generation of culture vultures who know the joy is always in the journey. Enjoy the wild and raucous ride!