Great comedies are very hard to come by nowadays, with only a few notable ones of the past few years being truly worth my time. While the humorous genre was much more prevalent in the earlier ages of film, there are also few back then that have stayed as culturally relevant as others. Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot is definitely one of those, as it still to this day remains a hysterical if not baseline comedy. Wilder has proven himself throughout various different films how adaptable he is when it comes to genre and the way that he is able to infuse many different elements into this film is astounding. This might be one of the only older comedies I know of that has progressively changed meaning due to its age, but different audiences can take so much different enjoyment from this film. Some Like It Hot is the epitome of a great, well-rounded comedy and one that can still be very much enjoyed to this day.
After their secret speakeasy is infiltrated by the police, tenor sax player Joe (Tony Curtis) and bassist Jerry (Jack Lemmon) accidentally witness a mob hit executed by ringleader Spats Colombo (George Raft). They decide to take a risky job in Florida to escape: the only catch is that they have to disguise themselves as women in a female jazz band. This proves much harder for them, however, as they both begin to fall for the band's lead singer Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) while simultaneously trying not to blow their cover. Billy Wilder's script that he co-wrote with I.A.L. Diamond is arguably the greatest aspect of this entire film. Wilder, throughout the two films of his that I have seen, has proven himself as a master filmmaker. Every film that he writes and directs brings a certain panache to it, whether it is humorous or a more tragic tale, such as in Sunset Boulevard. This script contains much more detail and plot thoroughness than any other comedy of this previous day and age. While some audiences get most of their laughs from slapstick or poorly-delivered punchlines, Wilder knows how to write a much more advanced form of comedy. The way that he twists the situations these characters are in to make their predicaments much funnier is unmatched. And while Some Like It Hot also had multiple subplots going on, the intricacy of his script brings everything together for a very clean and hysterical ending. What I loved most about this script is that it really paved the way for these types of comedies: not ones that rely on the actors' improvisation skills, but rather creating an overall enjoyment out of the craft of the film itself too. Writing fantastic humor is certainly no easy feat, but Wilder has excelled in setting the bar for what a well-rounded comedy can do.
The chemistry between these three leads is undeniable as well. Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe are all stupendous performers in their own right, but what surprised me the most was the amount of sheer passion that radiates from the three. Older comedies such as this tend to derive most of their humor from the spoken lines of the cast, meaning that the actors and actresses usually remain stale while delivering their lines (either that or they are used to doing drama and have no sense of humor). These three leads, however, showed that a comedy can be much more than that. Their performances were so full of energy and physical humor that honestly reminded me more of something that would be released today. The way that these three interacted with each other, whether Joe was "Josephine" or Jerry was "Daphne" made for absolute hilarious madness and it was obvious that each actor truly put their all into it.
Along with Wilder's script, I think what really makes this film as progressive as it appears is its treatment of women and the LGBTQ+ community. While Joe and Jerry were cross-dressing as women, they were also given the same treatment that women received back during the Prohibition Era. Believe it or not, women were not treated very well and when Joe and Jerry experienced it for themselves, it was very eye-opening to them. Despite a few expected stereotypes of the time, they were never blatantly misogynistic, but getting treated that way provided for some amazing character development. Not only did they learn to respect and appreciate the plight of women back then, but they developed an understanding for gay culture (re: the last scene of the film). Even though a good majority of it was played for basic laughs, it has aged surprisingly well without being rudely disrespectful or harmful towards people who identify as such. As always though, it is important to remember the cultural reality of the time and how it affected cinema such as this.
Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon absolutely shine in Some Like It Hot, with the very former paving the way for every perfectly-timed, comedic scene. Not only does Wilder's direction make this comedy unforgettable, but his script makes for one of the best and most thought-out stories of his time. I can honestly say that I was expecting a much more misogynistic and ill-hearted comedy, but I am surprised at how phenomenal this film was throughout its entirety, utilizing progressive writing and themes to tell a solid and comedic story.
My Rating: ★★★★½
No comments:
Post a Comment