Some Like It Hot
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Movie Reviews of Some Like It Hot
Movie Review: This movie is HOT, HOT, HOT...
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a recent member of the Billy Wilder fan club, but I'm quickly rising in the ranks for in all honestly I have yet to see a film he has done that has not met with my wildest of expectations. At the moment I've only seen four, but all four (`Sunset Boulevard', `The Apartment', `Double Indemnity' and now `Some Like it Hot'; in that order) are five star films and would most likely make my top 100 films of all time.
`Some Like it Hot' has been a film I have been itching to watch for a long time now. I remember seeing the stage production quite a few years back (at a dinky dinner theater at that) and I remember loving it, even if the production values were a little weak. The story was cute and well executed and I just knew that the film must be stellar, especially with Lack Lemmon in the lead (just love that guy). Still, I had never pushed myself hard enough to actually see the movie. That is until the other night when it was playing on TCM and I just knew I had to take the opportunity to actually watch this classic. I was so pleased with the end result, a comedy that works on every level brilliantly, that I had to watch it again immediately after the credits began to roll (the beauty of a DVR).
`Some Like it Hot' tells the story of two band members, Joe and Jerry, who wind up on the run after witnessing the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. With no where to go they decide to don drag costumes and join an all female band on the road to Florida. Once there both Joe and Jerry (or should I say Josephine and Daphne) meet many obstacles in their hideout, not the least of them is lead singer Sugar Kane Kowalczyk, the boozy blonde who has sworn off love until the right type of millionaire comes along. While Joe tries to become that millionaire, Jerry finds himself dodging the advances of Osgood Fielding III, a skirt chasing divorcee (multiple times now) who is enamored with Daphne's feminine charm. Couple this with the advancing threat of gangster and you have one perfectly complete comedy that hits its mark every single time.
The script is flawlessly crafted, delivery smart and sassy dialog as well as off the wall gags and brilliant character development, allowing us to get to know everyone in the cast and grow to appreciate their predicaments.
The script is embellished by the stunning cast. In all actuality it stuns me that only Lemmon was singled out as Oscar worthy (he was the only actor in the bunch to receive an Oscar nomination; losing to Charlton Heston) when in fact the entire cast is flawless. Yes, Lemmon is the comedic highlight, and his antics are surely best-in-show, but Tony Curtis should have also received a nomination alongside his screen partner for delivering a truly tender and believable performance as the lovelorn Joe. Marilyn Monroe, who won the Golden Globe for her performance, should have also received a nomination, for her performance is iconic. She is the superlative example of what an enticing ditzy blonde should be, and she sets the standard that so many other actresses have failed to live up to. Joe E. Brown steals every scene he's in as Osgood, and his lack of an Oscar nomination is truly saddening.
But this movie is all about Billy Wilder, a director who understands his actors and understands his material and works to deliver a complete film, one that covers all the bases so-to-speak and lives up to his name. So far I've seen four masterpieces by this man, and I have a feeling that the rest are just as impressive.
Movie Review: "Boy, would I love to borrow a cup of that sugar!!"
Summary: 5 Stars
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"Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless, too
Carefree mind all the time, never blue
Always goin', don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody
It's not worthwhile
All alone
Runnin' wild."
The above is the lyrics to one of the songs sung by Marilyn Monroe in this classic film (directed by Billy Wilder) with an emphasis on comedy but that also has elements of romance and crime drama.
Briefly, 1929 Chicago musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) accidentally witness a gangland shooting ordered by mob boss "Spats" Colombo (George Raft, who is perfectly cast). They thus quickly board a train to Florida, disguised as "Josephine" and "Geraldine" (later "Daphne"), the newest members of an all-girl jazz band. Things really get hot when the band's ukulele player Sugar Kane (Monroe) falls for Cary Grant sounding "Shell Oil" Junior (Curtis again) and a relic playboy named Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown) falls for "Daphne." Complicating these budding romances is "Spats" Colombo who also is in Florida looking, with his henchmen, to snuff out the only two witnesses of his gangland shooting.
There is unforgettable and hilarious dialogue between Osgood and "Daphne" at the end of the movie. As well, the most unforgettable line in this entire movie is the very last line and it's delivered by Osgood. (After this last line is delivered, the screen fades to black with jazz music blaring.)
All actors do a good job in their parts. There is a fantastic chemistry between Tony Curtis (who plays Joe/ Josephine/ "Shell Oil" Junior) and Jack Lemmon (who plays Jerry/Geraldine/Daphne). (Note that Tony Curtis' "Josephine" voice was dubbed by another actor as Curtis couldn't speak high enough.) I have to give special kudos to Jack Lemmon who, in my opinion, does an outstanding job throughout this movie. (He's the one who says the line that titles this review.)
This movie has lots of energy from its opening credits to its end. This is partly due to the acting but also partly due to the distinctive jazz music that can occasionally be heard in the background.
There are ten songs in this movie, four performed by Marilyn Monroe. (Note that this movie was released three years before Monroe's death.)
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2001) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has one disappointing extra of Billy Wilder movie trailers. (I'm not judging the DVD on this since extras are optional not mandatory.) Also, be aware that there are no English subtitles but there is closed captioning.
In conclusion, this is a hilarious classic comedy starring the legendary Marilyn Monroe!! I guarantee that if you see this movie, you won't get "the fuzzy end of the lollipop."
(1959; 2 hr; 16 scenes; black and white; wide screen)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
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Movie Review: One of cinema's greatest comedies
Summary: 5 Stars
The Amazon review of this movie hit the nail on the head - anyone hoping to write the next great screen comedy should forget the how-to books and the comedy-by-numbers formulas, and instead study this movie inside out and understand how and why it works. It is one of Hollywood's greatest comedies - the AFA rated it the best comedy in film history.
Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are dead-on accurate in their comedic timing and their characterizations. Their delivery is flawless, never coming off as scripted or forced. And they are a scream, especially Jack Lemmon as Curtis's hapless sidekick. Lemmon delivers laughs both when he speaks and when he's simply giving Curtis nasty glares.
Marilyn Monroe, although not a genuinely great actress, here is cast in the perfect role - in which her own personality lends itself to Sugar Kowalczyk. She plays the not-too-bright blonde role to the hilt and interacts with Curtis/Lemmon brilliantly. Frequently in comedic pairings or trios, one element is flat and has to be carried by the other or others - but in this case, the three leads are flawless together.
And Joe Brown as millionaire Osgood nearly steals the show - if it weren't for Lemmon's own performance, Brown would have stolen the show entirely. His last line, the final line of the last scene of the film, is the biggest scream of the whole movie.
The script is brilliant and the director made terrific choices in terms of letting the actors work naturally together, opting for B&W instead of color, etc. The only drag on the film comes from the gangsters, who seem to have been lifted wholesale from ganster movies of a few decades earlier - their part in the story takes a bit too long to develop, and during that time Curtis and Lemmon don't have much to do, if anything at all. Nevertheless they are crucial to the story and are not part of "filler" material, as they would be in contemporary comedies.
Buy this movie, don't rent it, or buy the special edition if you want the additional interviews and reminiscences. It's an essential part of a complete movie collection.
Movie Review: Some Like It Hot
Summary: 5 Stars
ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon & Marilyn Monroe star in this 1959 comedy which will make even the most serious of people laugh. Nominated for seven Oscars & winner of one (B & W Costume Design), Some Like It Hot entertains from beginning to end. The story takes place in Chicago during the Depression; Curtis (saxophone) & Lemmon (bass) are musicians that aren't doing well. They witness the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre & they're seen by the murderers, Lemmon's bass fiddle takes a few shots. Of course, they decide to run. They can't get a gig until they find out about an all-girl band that's heading for Miami & is short the same instruments they play. Marilyn Monroe is in the band & the comedy is only now warming up.
Curtis & Lemmon dress in drag in order to join the band because no men are allowed. Monroe likes to drink & Curtis & Lemmon are more than willing to aid & abet her. Curtis, the playboy, wants to develop a relationship with Monroe so he takes on the persona of a rich bachelor. The farcical irony of this stems from the fact that Lemmon (in drag & makeup) has gotten an older, rich bachelor to fall for her(him). The part of the rich bachelor is played by Joe E. Brown. Curtis appropriates his clothes & yacht in order to pursue & woo Monroe.
It's a good thing that this movie was filmed in black & white. The makeup used on the two male leads appears to be garish even in this medium. The use of color film would have made this much too apparent.
George Raft, famous for his gangster role twenty years earlier, makes a featured appearance as the gangster who orchestrated the hit & who's now looking for the runaway musicians. And, of course, he ends up in Miami when the mob has their annual get together there. The ending is fast & furious with laughs abounding, not much is subtle here. The ending is a classic when Joe E. Brown proposes to Jack Lemmon's female personna. Lemmon makes every excuse possible why he/she can't marry him. Finally, Lemmon confesses he's a man & Brown's reply is hilarious. You must see it to believe it.
Movie Review: SoMe LIkE it HoT
Summary: 5 Stars
In the movie Some Like It Hot its a great movie and its genre is comic and lovely.It takes place in Chicago and in Forida.This movie is about two musicians that accidentallywitness a gangland shooting and then they the other people wanted to killed them. Morover they two musicians Joe(Tony Curtis) and Jerry(Jack Lemmon)decide to go to Florida to participate to a girl jazz band. The problem is that they cannot go as boys so they decide to dress themselves as girls and to present themselves as JOsephine and Daphne. in they way to Forida they meet a lverlorn singer that is Marilyn MOnroe.Their plan is perfect until Josephine falls in love with Marilyn Monroe. Then at the same time a old man falls in love with daphne and wants to engage her.
One conflict that the movie has is when the old man tries to engage daphne but she told hin that they can't marrie and she gievs a lot of excuses to him and he says that it doesn't matter that he would forgive her. in addition at the end she says to him that she is a man and he asnwers him that is ok that nobody is perfect. I think that was a good conflict because eventhough she try to get away with it he accepts her without having a problem.The usual is that he wouldn't accept her bor being a man, but that didnt matter to him.
The character in this movie are really good actors all of them had a great actuation.The only thing that was different is that the gangster got killed and i think they didnt have a good acting. all the sets wre good except for the one that i just talk about. The lightning in the movie was very creative it was very good, the costumes wre really nice and everyone dressed great in the movie.
The music the movie has was ok too because it goes with the type of the movie. I had never seem a movie like this and i think it may relationate with the real life where people does this kind of things. I recomend this film to all the people that want to have some fun and entertain themselves with something good like this movie.