Classic Movie Review: "Night and Day"

This week my husband and I watched a movie about the famous songwriter Cole Porter. It was entitled "Night and Day," after one of Porter's most famous musical pieces. The movie starred Cary Grant as Cole Porter and Alexis Smith as his wife Linda.

Made in 1946, the movie covered Porter's life from college until the height of his success. While some of it appears to match his biography, much of it also fiction.

As a Yale man, his family expected great things from him. However, while they thought he would go into law and take over his grandfather's numerous assets, he had something totally different in mind.

Porter was, at best, a mediocre student but not because he wasn't intelligent. It was due to the fact that he simply couldn't apply himself to anything other than music.

As the film begins, Porter is breaking the news to his family that he doesn't intend to return to college for his senior year. Instead, he intends to pursue a musical career. His grandfather is shocked and obviously disappointed. His mother, on the other hand, understands and wishes him all the best.

Porter joins together with one of his professors, Monty Woolley (who is, by the way played by the actual Monty Woolley). Together they gain enough backing to put together a musical entitled "See America First."

All appears to be going well with the audience held in rapt attention, until something happens that sends the crowd fleeing from the theater. It was notice of the sinking of the Lusitania. That change in history saw Porter's first musical opening and shutting in the same day.

Porter enlists to do his duty for his country and is badly hurt. He is sent to a central medical facility where he once again meets a friend of his cousins, Linda Lee. The two had started a brief romance just before the war heated up but were forced to put it on hold with Cole overseas.

It just so happens that Linda is a nurse at the hospital where Cole is sent. She works hard to raise his spirits and to get him to begin writing music again. It is here that he begins writing the music for "Night and Day."

Linda entreats Cole to go with her to a villa to finish recuperating but he wants to go back to New York to, once again, pursue his career. So they part ways again.

After many failed attempts at writing music for other people, Porter meets Carol Hill (played by Ginny Simmons). She tells him he should write for himself and with her support and that of Woolley, he once again puts a musical together. This time, however, nothing stops his pathway to success.

Through it all, Linda comes in and goes out of Cole's life. She wants something more than a mere friendship and he eventually does propose. However, their relationship never seems quite normal. Porter appears to respect his wife and love her - - like a friend.

When this movie was made, the producers were careful not to make any note of Porter's sexuality. However, since that time, it has been brought to life that he was most likely gay. I assume the strange relationship between Linda and Cole was the movie's way of dropping a very subtle hint without really addressing the matter.

The screenplay penned by Charles Hoffman and Leo Townsend glamorized the life of Porter and his marriage. It's a pretty story, albeit one with very little truth to it.

Director Michael Curtiz seems to do a good job of juggling the story, the music, his actors, and everything else. There are a lot of great scenes and productions for audience members to enjoy.

The music was, of course, Cole Porters so fans of his will love every minute of it. The costumes and sets were lavish and stunning. Nothing less could be expected. It had to live up to a Cole Porter production itself.

Grant was obviously too old to be playing a college student in the beginning. Nonetheless, he managed to pull everything together and make it somewhat believable.

Smith made for a beautiful Linda Porter. Her beauty, charm, and obvious grace filled the screen magnificently.

Woolley was himself. What more could be expected with that regard.

In a minor role was Jane Wyman (as Gracie Harris). It represented a totally new side of Wyman and brought to light her many talents. She almost stole every scene she was in.

I enjoyed this film but I didn't love it so I can only give it two and one-half stars out of five. I think it could have been better.

RATING SCALE USED:
0 = A stinker. Don't waste the money!
1 = Bad. Rent it at your own risk.
2 = Below average. See only if you have time to kill.
2.5 = Average. A toss up.
3 = Good. Worth a looksee.
3.5 = Very Good. I recommend it.
4 = Excellent. Don't miss it!
4.5 = Outstanding. What are you waiting for?
5 = Destined to become a classic. You will be sorry if you don't see it.