Cole Porter

Inhislifeandinhismusic,ColePorterwas"thetop"—thepinnacleofwit,sophistication,andsuccess.Hissongs—"IGetaKickOutofYou,""AnythingGoes,"andhundredsmore—wereinstantpophits,andtheirmusicalandemotionaldepthshavemadethemlastingstandards.WilliamMcBrienhascapturedthecreatorofthesesongs,whoselifewasnotmerelyoneofwealthandprivilege.Aprodigalyoungman,Porterfoundhisemotionalanchorinalong,loving,ifsexlessmarriage,arelationshipherepeatedlyriskedwithastringofaffairswithmen.Hislasteighteenyearsweremarkedbyphysicalagonybutalsounstintingartisticachievement,includingthegreatHollywoodmusicalsHighSociety,SilkStockings,andKissMeKate(recentlyandverysuccessfullyrevivedonBroadway).Here,atlastisalifethatinformsthegreatmusicandlyricsthroughilluminatingglimpsesofthehidden,complicated,privateman.