Night and Day (1946)

The fictionalized biography of composer Cole Porter from his days at Yale in the 1910s through the height of his success to the 1940s. The film's attempted biography matches many public ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Charles Hoffman (screen play), Leo Townsend (screen play),

Stars:

Cary Grant, Alexis Smith, Monty Woolley

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cary Grant	...	Cole Porter
Alexis Smith	...	Linda Lee Porter
Monty Woolley	...	Monty
Ginny Simms	...	Carole Hill
Jane Wyman	...	Gracie Harris
Eve Arden	...	Gabrielle
Victor Francen	...	Anatole Giron
Alan Hale	...	Leon Dowling
Dorothy Malone	...	Nancy
Tom D'Andrea	...	Bernie
Selena Royle	...	Kate Porter
Donald Woods	...	Ward Blackburn
Henry Stephenson	...	Omar Cole
Paul Cavanagh	...	Bart McClelland
Sig Ruman	...	Wilowski

Storyline

The fictionalized biography of composer Cole Porter from his days at Yale in the 1910s through the height of his success to the 1940s. The film's attempted biography matches many public myths surrounding Cole at the time, despite its lack of relationship with truth. For instance, truth and movie are different in regards to: his sex life (he was a gay man in a marriage of convenience with a divorcee friend), his relationship with his wife, Monty Wooley was a contemporary (not Professor), and his French military experience was a hoax.

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Plot Keywords:

composer | cole porter | marriage | manhattan new york city | nurse | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dag en nacht

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because of strict censorship imposed by the era's Studio Production Code, no mention at all is made of Cole Porter's real-life open homosexuality, or the fact that his marriage to Linda Lee Thomas, though caring and convivial, was not a romantic or sexual one.

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Goofs

When in England, there are street performers singing "Rosalie". The accordion player's hands never press the keys, in fact his right hand is static throughout the whole scene.

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Quotes

Cole Porter: Thanks for all the flowers.
Monty Woolley: Yes, one can only send them to a man when he's flat on his back.

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Connections

Featured in De-Lovely (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Easy to Love"
(1934) (uncredited)
Written by Cole Porter
Sung by an unidentified Trio at The 52 Club, including Fay McKenzie

User Reviews

Music is the High Point

One of Broadway's most brilliant songwriters, Cole Porter (1891-1964) worked hard to present an unflappable image to the world--but in truth he was a tremendously complex man, a homosexual who lived with wife Linda Lee Thomas in a marriage of convenience, subject fits of depression, and suffering horrific pain in the wake of a horseback riding accident which left him crippled at the peak of his career. Add to this the fact that his lyrics were often censored for film, radio, and records and it seems very odd that 1940s Hollywood would attempt a biography. What they did, of course, was fictionalize it to the max, reducing the story of his life to a mix of backstage musical and domestic drama--and transforming the tiny and waspish Porter and his icy bride Linda into handsome Cary Grant and lovely Alexis Smith. The result is pure nonsense, of course, but when you tack in a host of Porter classics--fantasy it might be, but it is entertaining enough to watch.

Grant is no singer, but he has considerable charm, and Smith is as always extremely attractive. The supporting cast is remarkably strong, featuring the likes of Jane Wyman, Eve Arden, Dorothy Malone, and Alan Hale--and rare screen appearances by Monty Woolley and Mary Martin, who deliver knockout performances of "Miss Otis Regrets" and "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" respectively. The DVD transfer is reasonable, and although the bonuses are pure fluff they are amusing. While it may be short on fact with a story little more than pure melodrama, the music and performers make NIGHT AND DAY a reasonably pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Gary F. Taylor, GFT, Amazon Reviewer