ahead of its time and well cast

Rating: 7/10 (23 April 2016)

In some ways the forerunners of fish out of water comedies and gender bending comedies more frequent in later eras. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon play poor musicians accidentally witnessing a mob mass execution during Chicago prohibition. They manage to hide out in Florida an all girl band where Tony is courted by Marilyn Monroe temporarily dressed in Florida entirely in black and white photography as a man and Jack in drag posing as a woman to avoid being executed by the mob is courted by Joe E. Brown. The comedy mounts as Tony has to convince Marilyn he is not an idle rich millionaire and Jack has to convince Joe he doesn't date males. One could expect the mob will show up in Florida to take revenge on escapees of the Valentine's day massacre and then continues to pursue Tony and Jack once they discover how they escaped dressed as women. Brilliant and enticing for its day Tony, Marily and Joe shine as they always do. Jack, who does more of the high jinx physical comedy than the other players in most of his comic films will please those who like his style but not those who think his mugging is too grand in focus for the screen. Holds up well today as a fun two hours yet not a true Golden Hollywood Classic.