For all the warnings I had received in print about the low quality and box office performance of this film, I decided to give it a try based on the strength of Grant's persona and acting and Cole Porter's wonderful songs. However, this film disappointed even me going into it with low expectations -- possibly, it's even worse than MGM's "Till the Clouds Roll By" because at least in that film they had decent musical performances. The only original performer in sight (other than Monty Woolley) is Mary Martin, and she's dancing with eskimos for some reason (weren't they Siberian gentlemen?).
It's to be expected that Hollywood biopics will pick and choose facts for presentation, but this movie actually perverts circumstances (who believes Cole Porter was injured in WWI? That he actually touched a gun? Not me) and personalities (Linda Lee was a very wealthy woman when Porter met her in Europe). Smith's performance carries with it no conviction, and we can't really sympathize with her anyway -- why would Linda have married a musician if she hated theatrical people? Why would Monty Woolley be beloved but the rest shunned?
Worst of all is the poor treatment all the songs receive. They actually look like WB shorts, not sweeping musical revue numbers. The sense of historical authenticity (even if for the sake of nostalgia) is completely missing.
A very poor effort.
It's to be expected that Hollywood biopics will pick and choose facts for presentation, but this movie actually perverts circumstances (who believes Cole Porter was injured in WWI? That he actually touched a gun? Not me) and personalities (Linda Lee was a very wealthy woman when Porter met her in Europe). Smith's performance carries with it no conviction, and we can't really sympathize with her anyway -- why would Linda have married a musician if she hated theatrical people? Why would Monty Woolley be beloved but the rest shunned?
Worst of all is the poor treatment all the songs receive. They actually look like WB shorts, not sweeping musical revue numbers. The sense of historical authenticity (even if for the sake of nostalgia) is completely missing.
A very poor effort.