Review of Some Like It Hot (1939) by Chris W — 14 Oct 2013

This raucous comedic farce from Billy Wilder is often considered to be one of the best and funniest comedies ever made...and you know what? The reputation isn't wrong.

Joe and Jerry are two Chicago jazz musicians who, after witnessing a gangland murder, are forced to go on the run. Obtaining some costumes, they board a train for Florida with an all girl jazz band as its newest and more homely members "Josephine" and 'Daphne".

Besides the obvious problems with having to keep up their ruse in general, things really get complicated (and hilarious) when Josephine falls for fellow band member Sugar Kane, and an aging playboy falls for Daphne. Also, the mob happens to find their way to Florida as well...

Everyone talks about how funny this film is, and yeah, I expected to laugh, but I also figured this film would be kinda overrated as well. Much to my surprise and delight, this film had me in stitches through almost all of the runtime, and I didn't think it was overrated at all. This really is a sharp, witty, and breezy comedy masterpiece. It set the standard for all future cross dressing related comedies, and has yet to be topped.

Tony Curtis is great as Joe/Josephine and Jack Lemmon is tremendously awesome as Jerry/Daphne. George Raft is fun as the mob boss who wants them dead, and Marilyn Monroe is a delightful knockout as Sugar Kane. As the man who falls for Daphne, Joe E. Brown is an absolute scream.

The film does go for some obvious targets with some of the jokes, but they are deftly handled, and feel quite relevant and fresh. Yeah, there is the obvious need for suspension of disbelief, but that only adds to the fun.

With a strong start that just keeps building and building, this truly is one of the all-time greats that you really must see if you haven't already done so.