If SOME LIKE IT HOT were to be remade (Please, NO!) or a film with a similar plot is brought to the big screen by Hollywood today, it would likely be a crude affair filled with forced, exaggerated and outrageous humour intended to satisfy a mainstream crowd.

I am sorry for sounding so cynical. The truth is, however, that American-made comedies are rarely produced to the same refined quality in taste, broadness in capacity to earn laughter and with such captivating performances as demonstrated here. Take for instance how the screenplay maintains the significance and seriousness of the depression era it is set, yet cleverly utilises this period of history to extract a lighter story to tell. The remainder of the movie, in which ladies attire and female names are adopted by lead male stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, is quite daring for its time. There were many audience walk-outs during an early sneak preview of SOME LIKE IT HOT, which was even banned in the state of Kansas upon its original release citing that the cross-dressing was “too disturbing for Kansans”!

To further prove that SOME LIKE IT HOT is never here to seek a cheap laugh is the number of briefly-stated yet striking comments and actions of value from its characters. One of the most memorable examples to give is the comment made by Jack Lemmon’s character after he becomes fed-up by the continual harassment of men who are attracted to his feminine appearance believing he is indeed a woman! This is a literal illustration of learning what life is like in someone else’s shoes when you wear them! And as is the case with SOME LIKE IT HOT’s real star, Marilyn Monroe (who was pregnant during filming), this movie becomes more joyous to watch as it continues.

It’s fair to say that while there are still comedies of fine quality being produced and an abundance of outstanding actors on the silver screen that we love to this very day, there is simply no modern day Marilyn and no comedy quite like SOME LIKE IT HOT.

4 ½ stars

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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