Some Like It Hot

Rating: 10/10 (21 September 2005)

I heard about this from it being number 1 on 100 Years, 100 Laughs, and it deserved to be, it is one of the greatest black and white comedies in history, from Oscar nominated director Billy Wilder. Basically two musicians, Joe (Tony Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis's Dad) and Jerry (BAFTA and Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Jack Lemmon) who need a job playing their instruments, one day witness a murder, and the gang are now on their trail. To hide themselves, and get a job at the same time, they disguise themselves as two women (probably one of the first cross-dressing films) to join a women's live concert band. They call themselves Josephine (obviously) and Daphne (Jerry didn't like the name Geraldine). During their time in the band, they meet the solo singer of the band, Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (gorgeous Golden Globe winning Marilyn Monroe). To make sure he can get her, Joe disguises himself as a captain of a boat who calls himself Junior, with a very convincing Cary Grant impression/accent, another reason for this disguise is that Joe (as a woman) has an admirer, while disguised Jerry is pestered by Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown). Also starring George Raft as Spats Colombo and Pat O'Brien as Det. Mulligan. The romance, the dressing as women, the accents, comedy faults and great ending with the great line, number 48 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes "Well, nobody's perfect" (after Jerry says he's a man) make this an excellent classic comedy. It won the Oscar for Best Costume Design, and it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film from any Source, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy. Jack Lemmon was number 43, and Marilyn Monroe number 39 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, she was number 6 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Women, Tony Curtis was number 86, and Monroe number 3 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols (she could have been number 1), and she was number 11 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, the film was number 16 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films, it was number 14 on 100 Years, 100 Movies, and it was number 5 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!