It is my opinion that the most difficult film Genre to succeed in is comedy. It is a movie style that if not done correctly, ends up as an embarrassment for its creators and stars. It is not surprising that some of the best comedy film makers such as Chaplin, Keaton and Allen are considered geniuses today. In reality there are few truly funny films that stand the test of time.
On many lists of best comedy movies, Billy Wilder’s sexual romp, “Some like it Hot”, ranks right up there with the best. The film truly deserves its reputation. It is a delightful pleasure for first time viewers and continues to amuse and excite on countless repeated views.
The premise of two Young horny heterosexual males dressing up as women in drag, within the combine of an all girl group was brilliant. It has been oft repeated since and sometimes with great success (Tootsie and la Cage Aux Folles for example). The film features two Jazz band members Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) as they witness a bloody mob massacre (copied after the famous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre from the 20’s). They are marked for elimination and decide to dress like women and hide out as members of an all girls band. They have become Josephine (Curtis) and Daphne (Lemmon).
One of the band members is the super luscious and sexy airhead Sugar (Marilyn Monroe in her greatest role). Sugar, as in almost all Monroe characters, appreciates what her physique does to men and is determined to marry a millionaire. Both Joe/Josephine and Jerry/Daphne lust after sugar and the train scenes in the bed bunks allow Monroe to shine with all of her natural physical and comedic timing as her explosive body implores both men to get rid of their costumes and fast. They don’t do this of course, and the charade continues with hilarious effect. Joe does a double disguise as he pretends to be an heir to an oil fortune in order to drive Sugar into his bed. Curtis plays this 3rd part as a man pretending to be Cary Grant and his Grant impersonation is such a perfect and humorous interpretation of Grant that at the time even Grant himself was embarrassed at all the laughter it caused claiming that he did not sound like that. He did however, which was why it was and still is so funny.
Lemmon is one of Hollywood’s great actors who time and time again proved that he was a funny comedian with impeccable timing and great charm. I heard that Jerry Lewis was first offered the part and we are lucky that he turned it down. Lewis would have kept his high pitched personality on both gender turning roles while Lemmon has created two distinct and convincing personas in Jerry and Daphne. It is what makes his character so funny. It is a character who would later boldly play with his real sexual preference that could never have been made at the time if it was not so hilarious and part of a comedy. The last line of the film is splendid and a classic line not soon forgotten. Lemmon in my opinion gives one of his greatest performances and raises the level of what it takes to act in comedies.
While the film tells the story of the predicament of Joe and Jerry and has great acting throughout the main and sub character roles, it is the sex goddess Marilyn Monroe who steals every scene she is in. It is impossible to take one’s eyes off of her when she is on the screen. She also comes off as natural, seemingly not acting and not interested in the sex that tempts everyone with her walk, dress and alluring talk. It is true the Monroe really only played one role type in her short career, but nobody did and has done it better then her. Sugar is this character at her very best and at her funniest.
This may not be the funniest movie ever made, but as much as I try, I just can’t think of another movie that is funnier.
1001 Movies before you die 