Cary Grant plays Cole Porter in "Night and Day," a biography of sorts of the great composer and lyricist. Alexis Smith plays his wife Linda, Monty Woolley plays his best friend, as he was in real life, and performers include Ginny Simms, Jane Wyman, Mary Martin and Eve Arden.
Most of this biography is pure fiction, except for a few details. Porter was indeed injured while riding and endured something like 30 operations. I don't believe he and Linda ever separated, and by all accounts were quite devoted, despite Porter's same sex dalliances. His family did want him to be a lawyer, and he did drop out of law school. He apparently did serve in the French Foreign Legion during World War I.
However, the important part of this movie is Porter's gorgeous music, which shines throughout. Certainly he wrote some of the most beautiful music and lyrics ever, including the title song, "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Begin the Beguine," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and countless others.
This is an unusual film for Cary Grant. It calls on his class and sophistication, but not the humor he brought to a role. He looks very handsome and is very convincing with the piano fingerings. He does a little singing, surprisingly, and his voice was pleasant, with a fast tremelo. Alexis Smith is stunningly beautiful and elegant as Linda. Both roles are somewhat wooden, just a backdrop really for the singing and dancing.
"Night and Day" doesn't have a great script, but it's definitely worth seeing for the music and musical performances, particularly by the silky-voiced Ginny Simms, Mary Martin doing her breakout number, "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," and Eve Arden as a French entertainer.
Most of this biography is pure fiction, except for a few details. Porter was indeed injured while riding and endured something like 30 operations. I don't believe he and Linda ever separated, and by all accounts were quite devoted, despite Porter's same sex dalliances. His family did want him to be a lawyer, and he did drop out of law school. He apparently did serve in the French Foreign Legion during World War I.
However, the important part of this movie is Porter's gorgeous music, which shines throughout. Certainly he wrote some of the most beautiful music and lyrics ever, including the title song, "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Begin the Beguine," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and countless others.
This is an unusual film for Cary Grant. It calls on his class and sophistication, but not the humor he brought to a role. He looks very handsome and is very convincing with the piano fingerings. He does a little singing, surprisingly, and his voice was pleasant, with a fast tremelo. Alexis Smith is stunningly beautiful and elegant as Linda. Both roles are somewhat wooden, just a backdrop really for the singing and dancing.
"Night and Day" doesn't have a great script, but it's definitely worth seeing for the music and musical performances, particularly by the silky-voiced Ginny Simms, Mary Martin doing her breakout number, "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," and Eve Arden as a French entertainer.