What’s this then? They’ve re-released Some Like It Hot!
Erm…. Remind me…. You know, Marylin Monroe, Jack Lemmon Tony Curtis….
Yeah, I can’t ever remember which black and white films I’ve seen... FFS. Well this one is a farcical comedy which sees Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon playing a sax and bass player who are working at a speakeasy masquerading as a funeral parlour (‘Well, if you gotta go, this is the way to do it,’) when they witness a gangland murder and decide the best way to escape is to dress in drag and hot foot it to Florida with an all-female all-blonde, all-babetastic brass band.
And Marylin Monroe is in the band? Just about. She plays Sugar Kane the ukulele touting lead singer, but is always on the verge of being kicked out thanks to her naughty habit of getting drunk.
So what happens? Well madcap hilarity ensues when both the men fall for Sugar (naturally – she’s Marilyn Monroe and she looks unbee-lieeeev-able in this film). Obviously they can’t go for her since they’re meant to be women so a series of bonkers and farfetched plans are hatched.
And is it good? It’s pretty much perfect as films go – aside from Tony Curtis’ British accent which makes Anne Hathway’s in One Day look like the Queen's English. Apparently he modelled it on Cary Grant's Other than that it’s funny, smart, witty and really forward thinking.
Really? Oh yeah, I mean watching it now with a 2014 feminist gaze is obviously going to be problematic; Marilyn plays the simpering blonde intent on finding herself a rich husband and some of the male characters could do with toning the skirt chasing innuendos way, way down, but there’s definitely an argument that director Billy Wilder was really ahead of the game.
How’s that? Depicting homosexuality on screen was illegal at this point but films like Some Like It Hot chose to flout the ban with gay (sorry) abundance. The two male characters repeatedly get confused which gender they’re meant to be, there’s inter-gender kissing and dancing and even the suggestion of an impending same-sex marriage to take place afterwards. Plus, many have suggested that the constant reference to ‘Type O’ blood (which makes you a universal donor) is a suggestion that really, inside we’re able to give ourselves to everyone.
Hmm intriguing…. Oh yes and of course past that it’s obviously a wonderfully guilt-free enjoyable romp. Marilyn looks fabulous the entire way through – despite rumours of her behaving terribly diva-ish on set – and Jack and Tony make an excellent comedic double act. Make sure you catch it in cinemas while you still can.
Follow Jess on Twitter @jess_commons
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.