Two musicians witness a mob execution, go in hiding as female musicians
​in an all-female band, and both fall in love with the gorgeous lead singer.

COMEDY

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Directed by Billy Wilder

Written by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond

Starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis,
George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown

Remake of 1935's Fanfare of Love

Oscar Wins - Best Costume Design

Oscar Nominations - Best Actor (Jack Lemmon), Best Director,
​Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction

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Connor Eyzaguirre

August 27, 2020

8/10

Some Like It Hot is the movie that propelled Marilyn Monroe to global critical acclaim as an actress. She was already the most famous woman on the planet, but now she was taken seriously as a performer. And she shines alongside Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, rounding out a hilarious triple threat in this timeless late 50's comedy classic. This film was one of the first American films to feature cross-dressing and transgender ideals. A lot of the jokes haven't aged particularly well, but it's still a milestone.

Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon) are musicians looking for a chance at the easy life. But every score they stumble onto turns out to be a bust. One day, they witness a brutal mob hit and are forced to go on the run. So, they take jobs as female musicians for an all-female band heading to Miami. Now, they're Josephine and Daphne, for as long as it takes. What they don't count on is the gorgeous lead singer Sugar Kane (Monroe), who captures both of their hearts immediately. Once they arrive in Miami, the two must decide how to approach this, leading Joe to court Sugar as a fake millionaire and Jerry to get seduced by an eccentric real millionaire (Brown). Frankly, it's hysterical, and most of that is owed to Lemmon and Curtis's chemistry, but Marilyn is no slouch either.

Billy Wilder is one of the most accomplished filmmakers of the 20th century. He won six Oscars in his career for writing, directing, or producing, and while I don't think Some Like It Hot is his masterpiece (easily Sunset Boulevard), it's a funny little comedy that still holds up despite a few off-color transgender jabs. But it was a different time. If you can get past that, and you should be able to, it's pretty mild, then I think this is a film anyone can still enjoy today.