Cole Porter was very much alive and apparently approved of this film, "Night and Day," in 1946. It is a highly fictional and greatly romanticized film about his life up until the mid-1940s. And, what prominent entertainer wouldn't want Cary Grant to portray him in his life's story? Why not one of the handsomest, popular and well-liked actors and leading men of the day? Well, that was Grant, but it certainly wasn't Cole Porter. Porter didn't have the looks and handsome appearance of Grant. But he had personality and flair, and drew crowds of entertainers - the "in" people of the professions and trade. These he invited to join him in his constant partying and living it up.
Some news coverage at the time this film came out noted that Porter hadn't said much about the film but was glad that it was being made. More than one critic commented that he was always front and center for all of his staged shows, and that he enjoyed the limelight and attention. Even in the 2004 biopic that delved more into his personal life after college, his character makes reference to the 1946 film and just says that his friends would find that film hard to believe.
Porter's story is not one of a struggling musician who makes good. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, never wanted for money or the things it could buy, and he attended Yale University. But talent knows no class, or race, or sex, or even character. And Cole Porter was loaded with talent. He clearly was a musical genius. And one of the greatest among American musicians - composers and songwriters.
Over five decades, Porter wrote the lyrics and music of more than 200 songs. Many of them became hits. He wrote and composed the music for six college musicals while at Yale University, in 1911 to 1914; and then composed and wrote 28 stage musicals, seven film musicals and one TV musical. Several of his most popular tunes are still heard in movies and sung and played by bands and groups well into the 21st century. Among those are "Night and Day" of 1932, "Anything Goes" and "I Get a Kick Out of You" of 1934, "Begin the Beguine" of 1935, and "So in Love" of 1948.
A very good cast joined Cary Grant in the making of this highly sanitized and romanticized biopic of Porter. He was just 55 years old when it was made and some of his best musicals were to be over the next few years. The smash hit, "So in Love" isn't in this film because he didn't write it until 1948.
While this film doesn't delve into Porter's life, with his bisexual relationship with Linda Thomas and his homosexual affairs, it does give a good snapshot of his college days at Yale from 1911-1914. That's where his musical talent came to the fore, and he became a lifelong friend of Monty Woolley. Woolley, although obviously older than he had been at the time, plays the part of himself from those Yale years through the time the film was made. The later, more penetrating biopic on Cole Porter's life - "De-Lovely" of 2004, didn't cover Porter's breakout years. So, the role of Monty Woolley was greatly reduced in that film.
The cast all do a good job in this film, and how could anyone not be entertained with the playing and singing it has of Cole Porter tunes?
Some news coverage at the time this film came out noted that Porter hadn't said much about the film but was glad that it was being made. More than one critic commented that he was always front and center for all of his staged shows, and that he enjoyed the limelight and attention. Even in the 2004 biopic that delved more into his personal life after college, his character makes reference to the 1946 film and just says that his friends would find that film hard to believe.
Porter's story is not one of a struggling musician who makes good. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, never wanted for money or the things it could buy, and he attended Yale University. But talent knows no class, or race, or sex, or even character. And Cole Porter was loaded with talent. He clearly was a musical genius. And one of the greatest among American musicians - composers and songwriters.
Over five decades, Porter wrote the lyrics and music of more than 200 songs. Many of them became hits. He wrote and composed the music for six college musicals while at Yale University, in 1911 to 1914; and then composed and wrote 28 stage musicals, seven film musicals and one TV musical. Several of his most popular tunes are still heard in movies and sung and played by bands and groups well into the 21st century. Among those are "Night and Day" of 1932, "Anything Goes" and "I Get a Kick Out of You" of 1934, "Begin the Beguine" of 1935, and "So in Love" of 1948.
A very good cast joined Cary Grant in the making of this highly sanitized and romanticized biopic of Porter. He was just 55 years old when it was made and some of his best musicals were to be over the next few years. The smash hit, "So in Love" isn't in this film because he didn't write it until 1948.
While this film doesn't delve into Porter's life, with his bisexual relationship with Linda Thomas and his homosexual affairs, it does give a good snapshot of his college days at Yale from 1911-1914. That's where his musical talent came to the fore, and he became a lifelong friend of Monty Woolley. Woolley, although obviously older than he had been at the time, plays the part of himself from those Yale years through the time the film was made. The later, more penetrating biopic on Cole Porter's life - "De-Lovely" of 2004, didn't cover Porter's breakout years. So, the role of Monty Woolley was greatly reduced in that film.
The cast all do a good job in this film, and how could anyone not be entertained with the playing and singing it has of Cole Porter tunes?