SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959): A Critical Analysis

Introduction

Some Like It Hot (1959) is a comedy film by famed director Billy Wilder, who also directed titles such as Double Indemnity (1944) and The Apartment (1960). The film is centered on two
Chicago musicians Joe (Tony Curtis), and Jerry (Jack Lemmon). They witness a murder in the speakeasy they perform in and decide to flee to Florida in order to save their lives. On a train to Florida, they disguise themselves as women in order to join an all women’s jazz band.

Eventually, they end up befriending the band’s lead singer and ukulele player, Sugar (Marilyn Monroe). Both Joe and Jerry fall head over heels for her and face the challenge of concealing their true identities. All the while trying to get closer to Sugar. Over sixty years later, the film remains a beloved classic. It still causes laughter to erupt through farcical humor and witty one-liners. Some Like It Hot also has incredible and iconic performances from both Curtis and Lemmon. Marilyn Monroe also shines throughout the film.

Message and Humor

Most importantly, the film created a dialogue for important issues we still grapple with today. Namely, gender roles, sexuality, and societal norms. It’s still a source of not only laughter but inspiration for many of the great writers and directors who have come and gone, as well as future creators. Well-known and beloved for its humor, it’s a timeless film that was ahead of its time. Some Like It Hot also featured prime examples of situational humor, witty one-liners, and farcical comedy. The premise is presented with two men dressed as women, which is impossible to not find funny as living as a woman is quite a challenge for a man.

The situational humor aspects are the meat and potatoes of Some Like It Hot. This type of comedy is used most often with witty one-liners that tie it all together. Those who have seen the film can remember at least one funny bit of dialogue, most notably, the final scene:

“Jerry: But you don’t understand, Osgood! I’m a man!

Osgood Fielding III: Well, nobody’s perfect!” 

This kind of comedy can be laughed at by almost everyone. That’s why it’s still being used, often in modern comedy films. Comedies such as Airplane! (1980) and Coming to America (1988) have a new sort of familiarity after watching Some Like It Hot. They too amuse the audience through witty one-liners and situational comedy:

“Hanging Lady: Nervous?

Ted Striker: Yes.

Hanging Lady: First time?

Ted Striker: No, I’ve been nervous lots of times.”

It’s truly evident how much this film has inspired comedy writers. We’ve seen so many legendary comedy films that rouse laughter from one-liners and ridiculous situations that harken back to Some Like It Hot. The film, and its humor, feel universal. It fits all people and their tastes, and that is why it has remained in its legendary status for all this time.

Direction and Cast

Billy Wilder, the legendary writer/director, directed the film. Well-known for films such as The Apartment and Double Indemnity (1944), his directing style is very precise, with every small detail being completely intentional. Some Like It Hot utilizes a variety of camera angles to encapsulate the mood of the scene and the actors. Wilder worked well with the cast, allowing them to be more creative in their performances and showing their personalities in the roles.

Wilder was a jack-of-all-trades. He had a mastery of all aspects of filmmaking and was able to bring together all these important elements together, seamlessly. It’s important to emphasize the performance of the actors as well. The stars, Curtis, Lemmon, and Monroe, delivered extraordinary performances. This film cemented their status as Hollywood legends.

At the time of this film, all three of the stars were reaching a peak in their acting careers which truly ignited the performance and made it so memorable. Curtis and Lemmon disguising themselves as women and struggling to hide their identities in hilariously ridiculous situations truly took an immense amount of talent. They were able to effortlessly switch between their Joe and Jerry roles and their Daphne and Josephine roles.

Monroe’s charismatic performance completed the film, making it unforgettable as no one can think of Some Like It Hot and not picture Monroe. Sugar Kane is captivating and so lovable, causing the viewer to feel a connection to her. This performance was so perfect due to Monroe’s authentic personality and talent. These performances continue to be relevant today as a result of the masterful directing by Billy Wilder and performances by Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe.

Challenging Roles and Censorship

Their chemistry together can be credited with the success of Some Like It Hot and the continued love for it by younger filmgoers. The directing style and performances continue to live on through the films being released today and it will never be forgotten, and it won’t get old. Audiences will always appreciate genuinely talented performances and directors.

At the center of the film’s greatness and controversy was the bending of gender roles and dynamics. It depicts two men dressing up as women. During the time of censorship, via the Hays Code, this was generally unacceptable. Normally, this would prevent the film from airing in
theaters. The Hays Code placed tight restrictions on filmmakers. Leaving very little room
for creativity and fresh content. Some Like It Hot, however, challenged censorship head-on and succeeded in doing so.

The film also sheds light on the challenges of being a woman and maintaining femininity. Under the disguises of Josephine and Daphne, Curtis and Lemmon had to learn how to be like women and live like them. They had to have certain behaviors and manners. They also had to conform to the ideals of femininity in order to be accepted. Examples of this were seen in scenes where they were objectified by men on more than one occasion.

Some Like It Hot also challenges the dynamics of heterosexual relationships as well as sexuality. Joe feels attracted to Sugar, which makes this possible. This is troublesome as he is posing as a woman. David Eldridge, a professor and author of numerous pieces on film writes in his essay on Some Like It Hot:

“Wilder encouraged filmgoers to laugh it off and accept the radical idea that ‘nobody’s perfect.’ If nobody is perfect, and gender roles are fluid and flexible, then maybe every man can overcome his limitations by embracing his feminine side.

Indeed, rather than making even conservative audiences anxious about sexual identity, ‘Some Like It Hot’ encourages viewers to have as great a time as Lemmon evidently does as Daphne, reveling in its liberating qualities. In this, it remains refreshingly relevant today”

These themes are all becoming increasingly relevant today as we continue to struggle with issues of gender roles and sexuality as a society. If this film were to be released in 2023, it’s highly likely that even now it would be met with criticisms from certain groups of people. We have still not completely grasped gender roles and their importance, or lack thereof. It’s important that we look back on this film to examine the state of this issue.

Conclusion

Overall, the legacy of Some Like It Hot still lives on over sixty years after its release. It still evokes laughter and puts smiles on the faces of its viewers. The film couldn’t have been the same without Billy Wilder’s direction and the performances of Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe. The chemistry between these incredible actors is what made the film so iconic and memorable after all these years.

On top of this, Wilder can be accredited with opening a dialogue on the issues of gender roles and their expression in cinema. Defying the Hays Code’s harsh restrictions, it’s arguably the most important feature of this film. It teaches us that we’re all human and that our roles as men and women in society are not easy to carry out because “nobody’s perfect.”

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