Arts writer Debra Levine gives legs to the midcentury choreographer in her new book “Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance”

He rizzed up Broadway shows like Kismet, was a midcentury nightclub powerhouse and taught Marilyn Monroe how to shimmy. Arts writer Debra Levine’s new book Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance is officially released on Tuesday and explores the lost biography of the hugely influential dance maker.

Before his star was eclipsed by Bob Fosse in the 1960s, dancer Jack Cole was Hollywood’s favorite exotic choreographer, teaching stars like Mitzi Gaynor, Gwen Verdon and Danny Kaye his torrid moves for dozens of movie musicals at MGM, Columbia and Fox.

Jack Cole lords above the superb Kraft Sisters, Beatrice and Evelyne, circa 1942Credit: Photo by Maurice Seymour, Chicago

Cole contributed movement to dozens of movies but may be best remembered for his work with Marilyn Monroe, including her legendary Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend number from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. “With all due respect, Marilyn was a schlump,” says Levine, editor of Arts Meme. “He was her mentor and her guru. He taught her how to throw her shoulders back, her breasts out and walk like the goddess she became under his tutelage.”

Levine devotes an entire chapter to the tortured production of Monroe’s penultimate film Let’s Make Love. In their 1960 review, the New York Times ripped Monroe and co-star Yves Montand. “Not much is happening with a rather untidy Miss Monroe,” the paper quipped. “The old Monroe dynamism is lacking.” What happened? “She was completely coming apart at the seams,” Levine explains. “By the end of filming it was Monroe, Jack Cole, a cameraman and a few gaffers. It was like making a home movie because the director threw up his hands and couldn’t deal with her anymore. It was up to Jack Cole to finish the movie.”

“My Heart Belongs to Daddy” From “Let’s Make Love” Credit: Photo courtesy doctormacro.com

Levine will be presenting Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance at Chevalier’s Books in Larchmont on August 12. She is speaking with Bruce Vilanch at Book Soup in West Hollywood on August 21. The author will be interviewed prior to a screening of Let’s Make Love (1960) at the Laemmle Royal on August 19

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