Florence Foster Jenkins was a New York society hostess who fancied herself a singer: she couldn't in fact sing well by any normal standards, but a combination of supportive friends, well-rewarded hangers-on and jokers allowed her to remain blind to this fact. Eventually, this managed delusion led to her appearance in a public concert at the Carneige Hall; this would surely have finally popped the bubble, but as it happened, she died a few days later. The story is affectionately relayed in Stephan Frears' biographical film, an essentially slight affair but highly amusing whenever Jenkins (well-played by Meryl Streep, departing from her normal type) bursts into song. It's one of those tales you couldn't make up.
Review of Florence Foster Jenkins
