Some Like it Hot probably wouldn't be viewed as taboo as it may have been when it was originally released in the late 50s. It focuses on the prohibition era of the 20s and two musicians, Joe and Jerry, who witness a "mob hit". Unfortunately, the mob head notices them and refuses to leave witnesses, ordering they be killed. Fretting for their lives the men flee to Florida as part of an all girls band, adapting the alter egos of Daphne (Jerry) and Josephine (Joe). Only problem is Sugar, Marilyn Monroe whom Joe, falls for. Immediately the two men are thrown further into their lie, Joe pretending to be two people he is not, Josephine and the heir to the Shell oil industry to impress Sugar, and Daphne, gets caught in a love affair with a rich man who believes he is a woman. As if that weren't enough, the mob ends up in Florida and finds out who they really are, leading to a whole chase.
The movie is a combination of romance, suspense, and hilarity. The characters are hilarious in both of their personas and you can't help but get caught up in the drama they create for themselves. Once you believe that they are in the clear and have rid themselves of the danger of being caught, another problem arises and in the ends leads us into a Scooby Doo chase with multiple costume changes and random door exits.
The premise is one that is absolutely ridiculous in and of itself, two men as women and traveling with a band and no one noticing they don't belong? Not very likely, but I will expand my disbelief to unmeasurable bounds if only to have the ending that I get here.
The acting is also superb. As I mentioned in the review of the Seven Year Itch, I must commemorate the acting of Marilyn Monroe. She plays the same ditzy blonde here of course, and reminds me where we get stereotypes, but I couldn't hate her. I learned more about Sugar in this movie than I did the main characters Joe and Jerry. Yet the character development is one of my favorite things about this movie. Not only do we learn about Joe and Jerry but we watch as they create new identities and stories for those identities. Within this movie we have two characters playing five different people each of which has a very distinct and differential personality. The character shifts are also very easy to follow. Joe who is at first opposed to the idea of dressing up as a woman quickly jumps on board to save his life. He acts professional until he notices how great Sugar is and creates a completely new personality to suit her needs. Jerry, on the other hand, is furious with Joe to start but quickly becomes excited when surrounded by the woman's band. Still mad at Joe, he disdainfully agrees to "wing man" his date with Sugar by going out with a rich old man. The next morning Jerry, as Daphne, is happily engaged. The shifts are notable and hilarious, I cannot unsee John Lemmon happily shaking maracas dressed as a soon to be married woman (as I will mention in my next blog John Lemmon is one of my favorite actors and certainly an asset to this movie and cinema in general).
I have been asked if I've seen this movie hundreds of times, and sometimes I see it advertised as playing in theaters, they do that in my hometown, but I am unhappy to admit I had never before last week. This is certainly a movie I believe everyone should have the joy of watching. There have been so many adaptations into modern movies, White Chicks, that I it is still relevant today.
Certainly one of Billy Wilder's greatest movies, it's hard to order them, but definitely among the top 5. If you want to watch something wildly hilarious and a bit chaotic, watch this movie.
The premise is one that is absolutely ridiculous in and of itself, two men as women and traveling with a band and no one noticing they don't belong? Not very likely, but I will expand my disbelief to unmeasurable bounds if only to have the ending that I get here.
The acting is also superb. As I mentioned in the review of the Seven Year Itch, I must commemorate the acting of Marilyn Monroe. She plays the same ditzy blonde here of course, and reminds me where we get stereotypes, but I couldn't hate her. I learned more about Sugar in this movie than I did the main characters Joe and Jerry. Yet the character development is one of my favorite things about this movie. Not only do we learn about Joe and Jerry but we watch as they create new identities and stories for those identities. Within this movie we have two characters playing five different people each of which has a very distinct and differential personality. The character shifts are also very easy to follow. Joe who is at first opposed to the idea of dressing up as a woman quickly jumps on board to save his life. He acts professional until he notices how great Sugar is and creates a completely new personality to suit her needs. Jerry, on the other hand, is furious with Joe to start but quickly becomes excited when surrounded by the woman's band. Still mad at Joe, he disdainfully agrees to "wing man" his date with Sugar by going out with a rich old man. The next morning Jerry, as Daphne, is happily engaged. The shifts are notable and hilarious, I cannot unsee John Lemmon happily shaking maracas dressed as a soon to be married woman (as I will mention in my next blog John Lemmon is one of my favorite actors and certainly an asset to this movie and cinema in general).
I have been asked if I've seen this movie hundreds of times, and sometimes I see it advertised as playing in theaters, they do that in my hometown, but I am unhappy to admit I had never before last week. This is certainly a movie I believe everyone should have the joy of watching. There have been so many adaptations into modern movies, White Chicks, that I it is still relevant today.
Certainly one of Billy Wilder's greatest movies, it's hard to order them, but definitely among the top 5. If you want to watch something wildly hilarious and a bit chaotic, watch this movie.
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