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It was Cole’s “Let’s Do It” from Paris (1928) that established his reputation. After an unsuccessful Hollywood venture writing for film he returned to New York in 1929 for Fifty Million Frenchmen, the first in a string of hit shows. Cole’s lyrics are sophisticated and often risque as in 1930’s “Love for Sale.” His hits include “What Is This Thing Called Love” 1930), “Night and Day” (1932), “I Get a Kick Out of You” from Anything Goes (1934), “Begin the Beguine” and “Just One of Those Things” (1935). “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Easy to Love” are from the 1936 film Born to Dance.

A riding accident in 1937 crushed his legs and left him in severe pain, but he continued to write: “Get Out of Town” (1938), “Everything I Love” (1941), and “I Love You” (1944). “Don’t Fence Me In” (popularized by cowboy actor/singer Roy Rogers) appeared in the 1944 film Hollywood Canteen.

Cole’s biggest Broadway successes were still to come. Kiss Me Kate (1948) ran for over 1,000 performances; then came Can Can (1953) and Silk Stockings (1955). His right leg was amputated in 1958 and he was unable to attend 1960’s “Salute to Cole Porter” at the Metropolitan Opera House. Night and Day (1948) was an unrealistic biography of Porter’s life, but 2004’s De-Lovely covers elements omitted from the earlier film.

- Sandra Burlingame