Some Like it Hot (1959)

Star of the Month... Marilyn Monroe

"I wanna be loved by you alone... boop-boop-bee-doop!"

Marilyn Monroe is held by co-stars
Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon

'Some Like It Hot' is the 1959 romantic screwball comedy starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, and directed by Billy Wilder.  The supporting cast includes Joe E. Brown, George Raft, Pat O'Brien,  Joan Shawlee and Nehemiah Persoff.

The film was named the funniest movie of all time by the American Film Institute, and also the 14th best film ever made. 

In 1989, the film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."

'Some Like It Hot' is set in 1929 and begins as musicians Joe and Jerry (played by Curtis & Lemmon) witness a murder and they flee for their lives. To avoid being found by the murdering gangsters,  Joe and Jerry disguise themselves as women, and call themselves Josephine and Daphne. Josephine and Daphne join an all-girl band, with vocalist Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (played by Monroe). To complicate things, a millionaire Osgood Fielding III (played by Brown) falls in love with Daphne, and proposes. Meanwhile Joe (as Josephine) falls for Sugar.

Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Caine

Musical program

The film is semi-musical with Marilyn singing three songs from the 1920s hit parade: "I Wanna Be Loved By You", "Runnin' Wild" and "I''m Through with Love".

Song - "I Wanna Be Loved You"

Song - "Runnin' Wild"

Song - "I'm Through With Love"

Did you know...

• The film was originally meant to be filmed in colour, but was changed to black and white due to a green tint in the make up worn by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon
• Some of the working titles for the film include 'Fanfares of Love' and 'Not Tonight, Josephine'

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Costume Design - Black & White
• Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture - Comedy
• Golden Globe winner for Best Actress in Musical or Comedy (Marilyn Monroe)
• Golden Globe winner for Best Actor in Musical or Comedy (Jack Lemmon)
• Academy Award nomination for Best Director
• Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Jack Lemmon)
• Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction - Black & White
• Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography - Black & White 
• Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay based on material from another medium

Closing remarks

I strongly recommend 'Some Like It Hot' to virtually everyone. It is especially a good film to show if you are trying to introduce someone to classic film.

It is by far one of the funniest movies I have ever seen, though I'm not convinced it is "the funniest". Other films from memory which I personally funnier are 'Clue' (1985) and 'What's Up Doc?' (1972). Ironically both these two films star Madeline Kahn, who also happens to be one of my favourite comedians.

ANNOUNCEMENT: JUNE 2012 STAR OF THE MONTH - MARILYN MONROE

For my first ever Star of the Month, I have chosen my all time favourite movie star, sex symbol and pop culture icon... Marilyn Monroe. 

Glamourous... dazzling... legendary... there is and always will be one Marilyn Monroe.
 Born Norma Jean Baker on 1 June 1926 (she would have turned 86 yesterday had she still been alive), Marilyn went on to become one of the most remembered of all movie stars - still notorious now, fifty years after her death.  


The image of Marilyn's white dress blowing up in the wind from The Seven Year Itch is still one of the most iconic and recognisable images, almost 60 years after the film was released. 


The charm of Marilyn Monroe has babbled film enthusiasts for decades, as she was definitely not the most talented actress in Hollywood. I often find I attribute my fondness to Marilyn Monroe in the same as my fondness to Kylie Minogue. Although Kylie is not the best singer, she has something which captivates people. In the same way, although Marilyn was not the best actress she has something which captivates people.


Despite her dumb blonde personal Marilyn was intelligent and had a high IQ.  She was not just a blonde bimbo who starred in musicals and comedies. She had a number of dramatic roles which proved she could act. This can be seen in  films such as Don't Bother to Know (1951), Niagara (1953), Bus Stop (1956) and The Misfits (1961).


Aside from being able to share with you all my thoughts on Marilyn's classic films, I am genuinely excited about yet again going through my Marilyn film collection. Throughout the next 4 weeks I will do my best to watch the following films, which I've categorised into 5 films themes.

From Norma Jean to Marilyn... Early work

• The Asphalt Jungle (1949)
• As Young as You Feel (1951)
• Let's Make it Legal (1951)
• Love Nest (1951)

Breakthrough performances

• Don't Bother to Know (1951)
• We're Not Married (1952)
• Monkey Business (1952)
• Clash by Night (1952)

International success... the 20th Century Fox era

• Niagara (1953)
• How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
• The Seven Year Itch (1955)
• River of No Return (1954)
• Bus Stop (1956)

Musical Marilyn

• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1952)
• There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
• Some Like it Hot (1959)
• Let's Make Love (1960)

Beyond the legend... Final films

• The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
• The Misfits (1961)
• Something's Got To Give (1962)