Some Like It Hot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some Like It Hot is a 1959 comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
In Prohibition-era Chicago, Joe is a jazz saxophone player and an irresponsible, impulsive gambler and ladies' man; Jerry, his anxious friend, is a jazz double bass player. They work in a speakeasy owned by local Mafia boss "Spats" Colombo. Tipped off by informant "Toothpick" Charlie, the police raid the joint. Joe and Jerry escape, but accidentally witness Spats and his henchmen gunning down Toothpick and his gang in revenge (an incident inspired by the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre). Spats and his gang see them as they flee.
Production
Written by Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond, the film was produced by The Mirisch Company. Adolph Deutsch composed the score. Charles Lang handled the cinematography. The film runs 123 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $2,900,000, Some Like It Hot grossed $25,000,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
The film's influence spread across the century; its narrative and tone echo in much later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
This article incorporates text from Wikipedia, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.