"Some Like It Hot" is a Black and White tragedy that could have been such a great success in Color.

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2004)

A terrific comedy and entertaining movie; well written, well directed by the great Billy Wilder, and well acted by all, but for some inconceivably stupid reason made in Black & White, where in Color it would have been a huge winner. Probably the best motion picture Tony Curtis ever made and a great Jack Lemon piece of work, not to mention an excellent performance by the incredibly sensuous Marylin Monroe, not to mention the rest of a great cast.
But the Black & White kills half the jokes, and even more of the overall humor and really leaves Marylin looking rather plain. Am I sexist? When it comes to the beautiful job in the creation of the quintessential beauty of Marylin Monroe, yes, I enjoy the great aesthetic gift of nature to mankind that she was. Not to mention that she wasn't a dumb blonde, but surprisingly insightful. When she married Joe Dimaggio, a reporter asked her if she regretted her early tragic life. Marylin Monroe answered, "No, because it all brought me to this wonderful moment." That's real insight. Unfortunately, Dimaggio had no idea how to commit to loving someone who was deeply troubled by her past and evidently he couldn't stand the competition, so once again she got dumped and dumped on.
"Some Like It Hot" is a Black and White tragedy that could have been such a great success in Color.