One of the greatest movies ever made

Rating: 10/10 (17 February 2016)

'They don't make them like they used to!' We've all heard that saying, but when it comes to this movie, it's very true. This is a 'classic' in every sense of the word. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star as Joe and Jerry, jazz musicians who inadvertently witness the St. Valentine Day's massacre. Knowing they were spotted and the mobsters are on the lookout for them, they disguise themselves as women and escape to Miami with an all-girl jazz band. Lead singer of the band is Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) and Joe, now in drag and calling himself Josephine, falls in love with her. Using some male clothing he managed to commandeer, Joe sets out to impress Sugar by pretending to be millionaire heir to Shell Oil. At first, things seem to be going well for him as he changes from 'Josephine' to 'Shell Oil Junior', maintaining both disguises successfully, however for his friend Jerry (using the name Daphne), things aren't as easy as one of Miami's genuine resident senior millionaires, 'Osgood Fielding III', has become smitten with 'her' and does everything to woo Daphne with roses, dinner and dances, and even a proposal of marriage. However, their seemingly complex, but carefree life in Miami is suddenly turned upside down as the hotel they are staying in, is hosting a conference for "Italian Opera Lovers", which is actually a cover name for a meeting of mobsters. The gang from Chicago are there along with their leader 'Spats', Joe and Jerry are spotted and realise they must quit the band and leave as soon as they can. Joe in his 'Shell Oil Junior' disguise, breaks Sugar's heart by convincing her that he can't carry on seeing her and has to leave to go and marry a woman his family has 'chosen' for him. After several chases, the guys, still in their drag, hide out in a conference room and again witness a mob killing, this time of 'Spats' and his gang. Now on the run from the other gang, Joe reveals his love and true identity to Sugar and along with Jerry (still dressed as Daphne) and with Osgood's help, the four escape in Osgood's boat heading out to his yacht. In the back of the boat Sugar and Joe confirm their love and kiss, but Jerry tries to dissuade Osgood with a list of reasons why they can't be together, finally pulling off his wig and revealing he is a man, this leads to one of the most famous lines in movie history as Osgood simply replies..'Nobody's perfect'. Directed by the great Billy Wilder, this film is frequently found at the top of lists of the greatest comedies ever made. Keep an ear out for Tony Curtis' impersonation of Cary Grant as he plays 'Shell Oil Junior'. This is a stunning movie and is a 'must' for anyone's DVD collection.