It's actually de-vastating to learn about the heartbreak American songwriter Cole Porter went through while effortlessly penning upbeat love songs like De-Lovely.

In Irwin Winkler's darkly vibrant biopic we first meet Porter (Kline) when he's enjoying the celebrity circuit in Paris... and living a double life as a closet homosexual.

This doesn't stop society gal Linda Lee (Judd) making a beeline for him and Porter happily reciprocating interest in the dynamic young woman.

The French summer is full of carefree days, strolling arm-in-arm through Parisian parks pausing only to trot out a ditty at strategically placed joannas. "Ooh, look, an unmanned piano!"

Even Porter's other life as gay sexual predator with a predilection for ballet dancers doesn't appear to phase the, it has to be said, too-good-to-be-true Lee.

However, after they tie the knot the high-living Porter begins to take advantage of his wife's selfless indulgence and strains in the relationship begin to show.

Never less than ravishing to both look at and listen to, Winkler's study of an essentially decent yet flawed genius is a qualified triumph.

The cast - particularly Kline and Judd, giving a performance that restores faith in her talent after a series of duds - are never less than excellent.

There's a marked British input - Jonathan Pryce plays Porter's agent, Kevin McNally his oldest friend and, bizarrely yet competently, bad boy Keith Allen is Irving Berlin. Then there's Mick Hucknall.

The musical interludes also succeed - Robbie's humorous take on De-Lovely, Ol' Four Eyes Elvis Costello cuts a rug with Let's Misbehave while Natalie Cole delivers a pitch perfect version of Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye.

Some things don't work - the device of a spectral Porter to look back on his life with Pryce and pass comment is too theatrical - but largely it's about two people in a relationship that was far from a marriage of convenience.

De-cadent, de-lightful yet rather de-pressing.

Tim Evans.