A Billy Wilder classic

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 2006)

Billy Wilder made some of my favorite films in Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot. A great presenter of romantic comedies and of drama as well. It was interesting reading how Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis and Anthony Perkins and Mitzy Gaynor had been considered for this movie. Who knows what could have happened with Billy Wilder directing but what he got out of Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon was classic. I often wondered why this was filmed in black and white instead of color and the IMDb explained it as Wilder didn't like how Curtis' and Lemmon's makeup appeared on screen in color. I can't buy the explanation given that their makeup looked green on screen. That could have easily been corrected. I think color would have brought more attention to their overall appearance as men dressed as women and made them look less plausible and more like men in drag in the enhancement of color so for overall effect he shot it in black and white. It also fits the 1920's themed story. I've never seen this on the big screen but it was a staple on TV in the 60's and 70's and has been since. I've probably seen this at least a dozen times and have alway enjoyed it. It's been a few years since I've seen it last and I wouldn't mind seeing it again soon. A great cast in support with George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown who is especially good and Nehemiah Persoff. Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Actor for Jack Lemmon, it won it's only Oscar for Best Costume Design. It's a quick paced, fun film but for me falls a little short and I would give it a 9.0 on a scale of 10.