Director's Series: Billy Wilder's SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

Some have called the gender-bending comedy/farce SOME LIKE IT HOT one of the funniest films ever made. And, while it is not fall-on-the-floor, pie-in-the-face funny, it is certainly very entertaining with strong central performances that come from the heart - a hallmark of Billy Wilder’s films.

Set in the Prohibition-Era, SOME LIKE IT HOT, tells the tale of 2 struggling musicians who are witnesses to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and must go under-cover with an All-Girl Band to hide from the mobsters that are looking for them.

It’s a great premise for a comedy of gender, using the 1920’s setting to comment on Gender-politics of the 1950’s as these 2 men learn what it is like to be women…and fall in love along the way.

Tony Curtis (HOUDINI) and Jack Lemmon (MR. ROBERTS) are perfectly cast as the 2 musicians on the run. Curtis had established himself as a leading man of the time and his good looks and charisma carry the backbone of the film while up-and-coming performer Lemmon was the perfect foil and carries the bulk of the comedy and Wilder knew he put his film in steady hands as Lemmon more than rises to the occasion, stealing the picture from Curtis and their Leading Lady and earning an Oscar nomination in the process.

And that Leading Lady? Marilyn Monroe at the height of her “Marilyn Monroe-ness” (which is good and bad). Monroe gives a steady performance as Sugar the object of desire for both Curtis and Lemmon who’s a layered, human-being that both men come to know. It is a marvel of editing that Wilder was able to get a solid performance out of the erratic Monroe (who would often show up late - or not at all - to set and would require multiple takes to get a shot that he could used). But he was able to do so and this is one of Monroe’s better performances on screen.

As is typical of Wilder, he fills the edges of this film with wonderful character actors from George Raft to Pat O’Brien to Joe E. Brown to “that guy” character actor/mob muscle Mike Mazurki. The corners of this film are filled with interesting things to look at.

As is the Cinematography from Charles Lang and Art/Set Decoration by Ted Haworth and Edward G. Boyle - 2 of the 6 Oscar nominations for this film. The period costumes by Orry-Kelly ended up winning (deservedly so) the Oscar for Best Costumes.

But, make no mistake about it, this is a Billy Wilder film and Wilder is at his zenith in this film, sure-handedly driving the action and the performances from a script that he wrote with his long-time collaborator I.A.L. Diamond. Both the Screenplay and Wilder’s Direction were Oscar-nominated.

Like many films that were made over 50 years ago, there is some creakiness around some of this film, but like a fine wine, SOME LIKE IT HOT ages nicely and holds up as an All-Time GREAT Comedic Film.

Letter Grade: A+

10 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)