Some Like It Hot (1959)

Very funny comedy with everyone involved at the top of their game. Ace director Billy Wilder leads Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon through this delightful comedy romp set during the Prohibition era. Curtis and Lemmon are Joe and Jerry, musicians who pose as women on the run from the Chicago mob. They end up joining Monroe's all girl band down in Miami. Complications ensue. Doesn't get much better than this. Easily one of the best comedies ever made. Curtis and Lemmon make a great team and Monroe is super as Sugar Kane the singer who stays in trouble. Also notable is George Raft as head of the mob trying to catch the two guys who are witnesses to a murder.
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Jerry: "Have I got things to tell you!"
Joe: "What happened?"
Jerry: "I'm engaged."
Joe: "Congratulations. Who's the lucky girl?"
Jerry: "I am!"

The Great Race (1965) is madcap fun...

The Great Race was on TCM last night as part of their Natalie Wood tribute and this epic comedy is still tremendously funny. The story of a go for broke automobile race in 1908 between dashing good guy Sir Leslie (a charming Tony Curtis) and arch-rival Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon in a terrific performance). The race begins in New York and goes to Paris by way of Siberia. Along for the ride is Leslie's right hand man Hezekiah (played by Keenan Wynn) and Fate's sidekick Max (Peter Falk). Also on board is TCM's star of the month Natalie Wood as Maggie Dubois (who is my favorite Natalie role she ever did....funny, sexy and take charge). Lemmon also does double duty as a royal prince. The Great Race is one of my favorite films as it has a constant barrage of slapstick and pratfalls and anything else you could want in a comedy. It's very large in scale, comparable to It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World and it features several cameos inlcuding Vivian Vance, Dorothy Provine, Larry Storch, Denver Pyle, and Ross Martin. It also features a rousing and amusing film score, the Professor Fate theme is to die for. It's awesome seeing Curtis and Lemmon paired up again after their classic Some Like It Hot. And great to see Natalie Wood in an all out comedy. I truly believe that comedy was her best genre even though she was very good in dramas too. I just enjoy her more in comedies like The Great Race. And wonderfully directed by Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther).While the film runs well over 2 and a half hours, it never drags. It will keep you entertained the entire time. One of the best comedies ever made.

Memorable Quotes:

Max: We gotta do something.
Professor Fate: Oh, don't worry. Before this iceberg melts and we drown like rats, we're going to do plenty.
Max: Yeah? What?
Professor Fate: We're gonna starve!
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Maggie DuBois: You mean amazing because I'm a woman.
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Professor Fate: The eternal struggle takes time, Max.

Notes:

This movie is loosely based on an actual 1908 New York-to-Paris race. "The Leslie Special", four of which were built for the movie, was a loose interpretation of the 1907 Thomas Flyer that won the real race.


In the film's press kit, Natalie Wood divulges that she took fencing lessons, sidesaddle lessons and practiced smoking cigars, but her biggest challenge was driving the Stanley Steamer. The steering was difficult ("like turning a tractor, I suspect", she says) and going into reverse was nearly impossible.


During the pie throwing scene there is a running gag that The Great Leslie remains clean while everyone else is covered in pie. Tony Curtis was required to change clothes several times when he was accidentally splattered with debris from a pie that had hit someone else.


The pies used during the pie throwing scene were real, containing fruit, custard, whipped cream and other ingredients. Following this scene the crew devoured more than 300 leftover pies.

Some Like Hot (1959)

Some Like It Hot (1959) Comedy. Director: Billy Wilder.

Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

Federal agent Mulligan, is about to a raid a Chicago speakeasy, run by bootlegger "Spats", based on information he received from "Toothpick". As Mulligan inspects the speakeasy, two members of the band, saxophonist Joe and bass player Jerry, are making plans on how to spend their paycheck. Jerry notices Mulligan's badge and they leave to avoid the police roundup. Looking for work, Joe and Jerry, visit the musician's agency hoping to find another job. The agencies receptionist Nellie, tells them that there is an opening for a bass and sax with a band in an all-expenses paid trip to Florida. Joe and Jerry find out that the positions are in an all-girl band. Later, Joe and Jerry unintentionally witness Spats and his gang shoot Charlie and his gang for ratting out their speakeasy. They are spotted by Spats, but escape in the nick of time. Jerry wants to go to the police, but Joe reminds him they will not be safe from Spats in any part of Chicago. Joe telephones Sid, and using a woman's voice, accepts the job with the all-girl band. Later, that evening at the train station, Joe and Jerry, disguised as Josephine and Daphne, check in with band leader Sue and manager Beinstock, as new members of the Society Syncopators. On board the train, Joe fears that womanizer Jerry will give them away and warns him to act "like a girl".

In the ladies' room, the men/girls met up with singer and ukulele player Sugar, drinking bourbon from a flask. Sugar, begs them not to report her, because she has been warned if she is caught drinking again, she would be fired. During rehearsal, Sugar's flask falls to the floor, Jerry steps forward, and claims the flask is his. That night on the train, (in one of my favorite scenes) Sugar sneaks into Jerry's compartment to thank him for covering for her. Jerry overwhelmed, says that he needs a drink and within minutes a party breaks out. Will these two Drag Queen's be successful in keeping their true identity hidden?

In films like "Tootsie" and "Some Like it Hot" it seems they tone down the fact you have men dressing up in woman's clothing, so you notice the comedy and snappy dialog. The acting of Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe, are wonderful in this film.
FUN FACT:

Director Billy Wilder originally wanted Frank Sinatra as Jerry/Daphne.