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20/20 Filmsight - Film Criticism by David O'Connell

Film Criticism by David O'Connell

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Some Like It Hot

July 15th 2007 22:58

Considered 'culturally significant' and one of the funniest American films in history, Some Like It Hot is an outrageous comedy from Billy Wilder.

It was filmed in 1959, when the subject matter would have offended prudish Americans, and was, in fact, disapproved for production. Now, of course, the same story would be used to generate box-office millions by placing a failing comedian in drag.

Back in '59, though, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dressing up as women to join an all-girl jazz band in order to escape the notice of a Mafia kingpin in nutty Prohibition times... that's sheer genius.

And then, throw in Marilyn Monroe as a sexy, sultry singer for the band, with all the associated fiascos and zany schemes - well, it's bordering on hysterical brilliance.

Luckily for the audience, Some Like It Hot is in black and white, so we don't have to gawk at the horrendous makeup that Lemmon and Curtis have to wear to pass themselves off as frighteningly mannish women. The two actors play it up, though, swinging their hips from side-to-side and slapping frisky men in the elevator.

Even today in 2007, as I watched it at the Chauvel Cinema, the memorable script and dialogue had the audience cracking up in hysterics. It's odd to think that humour from almost 50 years ago would still be laughable.

Wilder is a master of comedy, giving his actors plenty of screentime and going in for the close-ups when he wants Monroe to flutter those long, dark lashes. The action is frenzied at times, and Wilder's visual gags have been replicated countless times since.

What about the girls? Well! Wilder may not have been known as a lurid peeping tom, or a seedy breast-man, like Russ Meyer, but Wilder's film reels are oozing with feminine skin.

Wilder claimed that Marilyn Monroe was a nightmare to work with, forgetting her lines and arriving late on scene, but when the camera's rolling, he's forgotten all about it, showing off her shapely, buxom figure. The movie makes the juxtaposition of Monroe and the two men in drag so ridiculous that it's totally unbelievable. Fortunately, we're not here for reality.

As Roger Ebert says about Monroe:

"...Monroe moves her body higher and lower in the light with teasing precision. It is a striptease in which nudity would have been superfluous. All the time she seems unaware of the effect, singing the song innocently, as if she thinks it's the literal truth. To experience that scene is to understand why no other actor, male or female, has more sexual chemistry with the camera than Monroe."

Zowie!

I say: Yes, definitely one of the best comedies to come out of American studios. Rent it and lap it up.

See it for: Yikes! Marilyn Monroe... we get to see a lot of her, including her outfits, designed by famed Hollywood costumer, Orry-Kelly, which teasingly show off her remarkable cleavage and her shapely back.

Plus, perhaps the most memorable closing lines ever on screen.

*this image is from the Yahoo! site on the movie

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Posted By: Cibbuano - Category: United States

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Comments

12 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by DuskDevi

July 15th 2007 23:59

Rugby World Cup 2007

"...well...nobody's perfect..."

And I'm not talking about John Eales!

Classic film Cibby...it's considered to be one of the funniest films of all time.

I love the "...jello..." line!

MM may have been a nightmare to work with but she was luminous. Plus Jack Lemmon was a honey!

Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner

July 16th 2007 00:12

Cibby,

a truly classic movie, and one I think everybody should see...Lemmon and Curtis, the train scene...need I say more?

LOL

Great review!

Take care,

Nick

Comment by Cibbuano

July 16th 2007 00:17

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duski, this is one of those films that I've always meant to see, but I've always excuses myself out of it. To see it in a cinema, though, was fantastic. The soft-focus closeups of Monroe - she really owns the scene...

nick, I love the train scene, with the party in 'number 7'...

Comment by Chic Critique

July 16th 2007 01:18

One of my all time faves - great review Cib!

Comment by Miswanderlust

July 16th 2007 03:21

Killer Beats
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Hipnotherapy

Cibby
Wonderful review of a postmodern film.... I am going to put it on my Netflicks to see again. Thanks for the recommendation
Mis

Comment by Cibbuano

July 16th 2007 03:34

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Mis, if you have a local library, you can find these old classics there, too!

chic, I think I might watch it again this week...

Comment by Miss Natalie

July 16th 2007 06:18

I love MM, it's unfair how beautiful she was... Do you ever think that some movie stars of that era were never supposed to get old? James, Marylin, Elvis.

I haven't seen this movie in so long, it inspired me to purchase stocking with a steam along the back.

Next MM movie to watch 'How to marry a millionaire' my ultimate favourite Marilyn movie

Comment by JohnDoe

July 16th 2007 07:47

Film & TV on DVD

Billy Wilder is one of the great writer/Directors in film history and Some like it Hot is a fine example of his work. On the surface mainstream, beneath subversion and comments of middle america and it's amores.

His teaming with Marilyn Monroe for the Seven Year Itch brings out one of her best performances.

Sunset Boulevarde is my favourite Wilder work..
Some other gems are:
The Apartment
Double Indemnity
Stalag 13
Ace in the Hole
Witness For The Prosecution
The Front Page
The Private life of sherlock Holmes
One, Two, Three

Comment by Cibbuano

July 16th 2007 08:18

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Nat, she was beautiful, and it's perhaps due to her death that she'll always be remembered as being timeless... she had a lot of personal problems, and I think she might have had a Spears-style breakdown...

JD, what a great filmography! Did you do a post on any Wilder movies?

Comment by JohnDoe

July 16th 2007 22:04

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Cib,

I reviewed Sunset Boulevard and The Odd Couple.

I will be doing some of his others soon perhaps even a retrospective overview.

Comment by Aimzster

July 19th 2007 02:59

Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
First Time Mum

Hi Cibby, I have this DVD in my collection. When I read the blurb, I was expecting something corny. I've seen the 'guys dressed as gals' formula too many times and these were produced in the 80s, how cornier would an older movie be? But it wasn't the plot that reeled me in, it was the actors. I didn't expect to like Marilyn Monroe either but I did althought I did spot scenes where she was obviously reading her lines. But the movie is definitely hilarious and I wish I could have seen it on a big screen.