LOS ANGELES, March 9, 2004 - "De-lovely," a musical drama about legendary American composer Cole Porter, will crown the 2004 Cannes Film Festival with a special presentation after the Award Ceremony on Saturday, May 22nd, 2004. The film will screen that evening as an official selection out-of-competition. Directed by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler, De-lovely stars Academy Award winner Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd in addition to some of today's biggest pop and rock music stars, including Alanis Morissette, Robbie Williams, Lara Fabian, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, and Diana Krall.

The film was produced by Winkler, Rob Cowan, and Charles Winkler from a script by Oscar nominee Jay Cocks, and will be released in select theaters on June 25, 2004.

With the presentation of "De-lovely," the Cannes Festival also celebrates the 80th anniversary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, a very fitting tribute for the studio that popularized the movie musical many years ago. The tribute, in which MGM Vice-Chairman and COO Chris McGurk will take part, will be followed by exceptional festivities: after fireworks signal the end of the screening, a live concert will be given in the bay of Cannes featuring several of the music stars from the film. The concert will launch the Award Party, which will end late that night.

Nourished by swing and jazz, Cole Porter is the composer who gave the musical its respectability and was one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century. Winkler's film -- whose title is inspired by a song from Cole Porter, "It's De-lovely" -- is literally carried by its music.

Kline stars as Porter, with Judd as Porter's wife, Linda.

Director Irwin Winkler, a renowned, Oscar-winning producer, presented his first film, "Guilty by Suspicion," in official selection in Cannes in 1989.

On the following day, The Closing Ceremony will be dedicated to the screening of the Palme d'Or.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"De-Lovely" Photo Gallery
"De-Lovely" Credits, News and Websites