Review of Some Like It Hot (1939) by Michael Y — 09 May 2011

Some Like It Hot is ranked the American Film Institute's Best Comedy. With Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon playing characters disguised as woman, and staring Marilyn Monroe at her sexiest, this Billy Wilder movie is an inspirational hit.

2 musicians who haven't got a dime find themselves in even more trouble as they become witnesses to the St. Valentines Day Massacre. Willing to do anything to run away, and for a quick buck, they dress up as women and join an all girls band heading towards Florida for a gig. Some Like It Hot is literally sexual innuendo after sexual innuendo, for the full 2 hours. We see cracks at sex, differences of men and women, homosexuality, and just plain male fantasy scenes. I would say that the story writes itself, but there was no movie in its time that was as witty or daring with its comedy as this movie. Written by the comedy genius, Billy Wilder, this movie is just full of one liners and quick comedy. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are a terrific comedy duo, but Jack Lemmon is the comedy mastermind as he constantly cracks sex jokes perfectly. Then of coarse there's Marilyn. Sweet, sweet, Marilyn who performs her part wonderfully, with sexual prowess, but with a destinctive innocense that she does so perfectly. Her reputation for being hell to work with and her many mistakes may stand, but when it's shown in the final cut of the movie, Marilyn's performance is uniquely wonderful.

Definitely one of Billy Wilder's best directed movies. Nominated for many Oscars, and even winning one, Some Like It Hot looks great. Definitely ahead of many other comedies in its time. This movie isn't just witty in its dialogue, but also in its physical comedy. There are many sight gags to behold that are very well executed by the actors. The sets and props hold their own special comedic value as well. I especially love the train scene, not only for it's comedy, but I appreciate movies that are filmed in tight spaces. And this movie does a sexy claustrophia scene very well. This movie definitely has many jokes. But what's even better is the cinematography. An extremely well filmed movie with creative shots executing the comedy very well, but also making the movie very interesting to watch. The lighting in this movie is spacifically its best aspect. The best part is in the scene where Marilyn is singing "I Wanna Be Loved By You", wearing a very sexually hinting gown, and the lighting aiming at Monroe just right so that she looks illuminated, but the light is tilted down on her revealing her womanly figure to its fullest.

Some Like It Hot evolved comedy to the next level. Where sexual references were bountiful but kept like a secret in the '50s, there's no hinding that Some Like It Hot is ALL about sex. And the nature of its comedy was a risk as well. But with a daring and hilarious writer and director, a couplpe of hilarious male leads, and Marilyn Monroe tying the not, Some Like It Hot is a great movie that hasn't dated a bit and is very enjoyable.