Review of Some Like It Hot (1939) by Harry W — 22 Aug 2014

Said to be potentially the greatest comedy film of all time by many critics, Some Like It Hot was a film which peaked my interest for having both that reputation and for featuring an iconic performance from Marilyn Monroe.

It is not hard to see why Some Like It Hot is such a popular film because there are three major aspects of the film which make it so successful: the concept, the tone and the cast. Although the humour in the film is not precisely as effective today as it was upon its original release in 1959, it is nearly as hilarious and is still worth plenty of laughs in contemporary society even though it is a rather long film with a slow pace.

The concept of Some Like It Hot is arguably one of the most popular in American cinema as it depicts male characters dressed up in women's clothing to forge a new identity, although in this situation it is against the backdrop of a crime based plot where the characters are on the run from gangsters. Director Billy Wilder is seamlessly able to integrate crime and comedy into the film so that it comes out as a comedy film with crime based undertones which ensures that the premise can be taken seriously while it also stays straight on mark as a comedy film. The balance between the two is great because the crime story is believable and the way that it blends with comedy is spot on which makes the premise of the film exciting and with a seem of originality. The tone of the film is perfect this way because it means that the film is very funny while also intense at times and therefore it balances a genuine story with a lot of comedy, rendering it a thoughtful and original comedy film. Thanks to excellent direction from Billy Wilder, the material in the film is full of comic energy which is kept consistent with the film from start to finish.

Billy Wilder is one of the most key reasons that Some Like It Hot succeeds. As well as writing out hilarious material, he directs it perfectly by ensuring that the film comes off good from a visual perspective with plenty of good cinematography, convincing production design and perfect costumes for the characters, but more importantly by emphasising the comic virtues of the script. The story itself is funny on surface level, but thanks to a lot of perfectly timed jokes in the organic and strong dialoge of the film, the amount of laughs in the film is very well consistent. While there are some moments of the film which go into focusing more on the characters or the story than jokes and may go on for a while, that just reminds viewers that Some Like It Hot is so involving that it causes viewers to forget that the characters are actually men dressed up as women. Everyone involved in Some Like It Hot got so involved in the production of the film that it is a challenge for the viewers not to get similarly involved in the story. For me, it was easy and I was thoroughly entertained.

But the success of carrying the material is really most dependent on the performances on the cast who all manage to be perfect in their roles.

Jack Lemmon is the funniest cast member in Some Like It Hot. Decked out in drag and having to constantly be hilarious, Jack Lemmon is handed a large responsibility for Some Like It Hot. He proves himself to easily be up to the challenge because his line delivery is constantly hilarious and his dedication to both the character and the character that his character plays is excellent. It is hilarious seeing such a talent actor decked out in costume and going through so many weird situations and so the comedy is great on the surface, and Jack Lemmon's dedication to the part just makes it all the more funny because he is perfect in the role. He leads the film excellently.

And making a hilarious duo with Jack Lemmon is Tony Curtis in potentially his funniest performance to date. Dedicated to putting all the comic charisma he can into the part, Tony Curtis helps to do his part in ensuring plenty of laughs by putting the ideal level of comic stress into his part to depict the trouble his character must face while also implementing in feminine elements to convincingly portray a female character. He is spot on in the part by being physically and emotionally dedicated to the script, and so he supplies an awesome level of laughter to Some Like It Hot.

Marilyn Monroe's ditzy blonde charm makes her essential to the success of Some Like It Hot. Her sex appeal and comedy charm are heavily emphasised in the role and it pays off because her character Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk is a likable foil. She is very friendly in Some Like It Hot and so her contribution to the story enhances the quality of its light nature by adding humour to it all. Marilyn Monroe's sweet and gentle line delivery is perfectly on key with the character and really emphasises the Hollywood archetype that she is memorable for, and so in terms of both storytelling and comic value, Marilyn Monroe is excellent in Some Like It Hot.

Joe E. Brown small role is the icing on top of the cake as well, mainly because of his role in the final scene of the film where he delivers the iconic comedy line "Nobody's perfect". His small role is pivotal and his charm is excellent so his presence is key to the success of the film.

So while it is a somewhat long and slowly paced comedy film, Some Like It Hot is a comedy classic thanks to a perfect balance of tone between comedy and crime genres as well as firm direction from Billy Wilder and excellent performances from a list of talented cast members.