Some Like It Hot (1959)

Director: Billy Wilder

Stars: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon
Runtime: 121 minutes

Synopsis: After two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.

Performances: 10/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10

Verdict: Billy Wilder is a filmmaker that needs no introduction. Not only is he one of the best directors of all time with many timeless classics under his belt, but he's also one of the most versatile ones. It's difficult to believe that the same person who made "Witness for the Prosecution", "Double Indemnity", or "Sunset Boulevard" is also behind projects such as "The Apartment" or "The Seven Year Itch". And yet, he always delivers.

"Some Like It Hot" is perhaps one of his most well-known and influential (especially in the censorship field) titles, and for good reason. In it, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon brilliantly play a couple of musicians who are unfortunate enough to be present at the scene of a mob hit (inspired by the infamous Valentine's Day Massacre) and who, in an effort to run away from the gangsters who do not want any witnesses to be left alive, dress up as women and join an all-female band going to Florida for a gig there. The lead singer of the band, Sugar (played by a certain Marilyn Monroe), befriends the newly-named Josephine and Daphne who, unfortunately for them, complicate their task by falling for her.

Other than being a hilarious comedy uplifted by two genius performances and incredibly smooth pacing, the film also isn't without meaning and depth. Released in 1959, it's one of the very first movies in which drag is featured and used as a tool to look at gender issues from a different perspective. It's such a clever concept that only lost me a couple of times as I found some scenes to be over-the-top in a way that deviated from the film's tone. There were also a few conveniences (a pet peeve of mine) that were extremely difficult for me to get behind.

But all in all, "Some Like It Hot" justified its status of classic to me. Despite dealing with themes that may be deemed problematic in today's climate, it manages to stand the test of time beautifully. It's clever, original, and entertaining at the same time, and I obviously cannot recommend it enough. 

FINAL GRADE: 8/10