A film that will always endure the test of time

Rating: 7/10 (7 September 2004)

There are certain films that are just so 'classic' that when one mentions it, they are usually met with a knowing smile. 'Some Like it Hot', directed by the great Billy Wilder is one of those films.
'Some Like it Hot' is Wilder's gender-bending comedy wherein two small time musicians, Gerald (Jack Lemmon) and Joe (Tony Curtis) find themselves witnesses to the St. Valentine's Day massacre in Chicago, 1929. They escape, only to find that the only way they can afford to leave town is by dressing up as women and joining an all-woman band traveling to Florida. When Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), a singer and band member enters the picture, the two men fight over her and come up with ways to romance her, while trying to keep their identities (and genders) secret. This works out better for Joe, who finds himself falling for her, while Lemmon ends up with a romantic interest of his own. All the while, the two are threatened with discovery by the band leader, and eventually, by the gangsters who have been holding a nationwide search for them.
I actually watched 'Some Like it Hot' during a Film Club meeting and realized that I had seen this film about a dozen and a half times. Instead of being bored, however, I was afforded the luxury of 'discovering' certain things that I either hadn't noticed before, or had at least glossed over. One thing is that the script is really quite good. Not only does 'Some Like it Hot' have arguably the greatest last line of any film ever, but some of the rapid fire dialogue is hilarious; made even better by the great delivery by the actors. Lemmon and Curtis are always good, but Monroe, while not a great actress is good in this film, and has seriously never looked more beautiful. One other element is some of the chances the film took. There were some risqué scenes and lines that I still am stunned made it through the censors at the time. ('It's not how long it takes; it's who's taking you.')
Many good things have been said about 'Some Like it Hot', and most of it is true. It is truly a classic film, and Wilder is a brilliant filmmaker whose diversity is almost unparalleled. Check it out if you haven't seen it.
--Shelly