the girls in the band

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2004)

A comedy classic from Billy Wilder which regularly comes in at the top or near the top of 'funniest of all time' lists, this feature has many assets. First, there's a sweet and infectious portrayal by Marilyn Monroe of the lonely singer Sugar, on the hunt for a rich man. Then there is the chance to see Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in drag for much of the movie - Lemmon, as daft Daphne, looks a fright but puts in a great, bubbly, comic performance as the girl who really does snare her own millionaire; while Curtis, as the overly made-up Josephine, sashays about with some style, while also appearing as a mock playboy who talks like Cary Grant (allegedly).
George Raft is the gangleader the 'girls' are running away from; while Joe E Brown is great as Daphne's beau Osgood, a man who after lots of marriages to show girls will marry just about anyone! The script piles on the laughs thick and fast, while Marilyn gets to sing songs like 'I Wanna Be Loved By You', 'Runnin' Wild', and 'I'm in the Mood for Love'.