Some Like It Hot (1959)

98% of critics liked it
(43 reviews)
93% of users liked it
(77,313 ratings)

The launching pad for Billy Wilder's comedy classic was a rusty old German farce, Fanfares of Love, whose two main characters were male musicians so desperate to get a job that they disguise themselves as women and play with an all-girl band in gangster-dominated 1929 Chicago. In this version,… More The launching pad for Billy Wilder's comedy classic was a rusty old German farce, Fanfares of Love, whose two main characters were male musicians so desperate to get a job that they disguise themselves as women and play with an all-girl band in gangster-dominated 1929 Chicago. In this version, musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) lose their jobs when a speakeasy owned by mob boss Spats Columbo (George Raft) is raided by prohibition agent Mulligan (Pat O'Brien). Several weeks later, on February 14th, Joe and Jerry get a job perfroming in Urbana and end up witnessing a gangland massacre in a parking garage. Fearing that they will be next on the mobsters' hit lists, Joe devises an ingenious plan for disguising their identities. Soon they are all dolled up and performing as Josephine and Daphne in Sweet Sue's all-girl orchestra. En route to Florida by train with Sweet Sue's band, the boys (girls?) make the acquaintance of Sue's lead singer Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe, in what may be her best performance). Joe and Jerry immediately fall in love, though of course their new feminine identities prevent them from acting on their desires. Still, they are determined to woo her, and they enact an elaborate series of gender-bending ruses complicated by the fact that flirtatious millionaire Osgood Fielding (Joe E. Brown) has fallen in love with "Daphne." The plot gets even thicker when Spats Columbo and his boys show up in Florida. Nominated for several Oscars, Some Like It Hot ended up the biggest moneymaking comedy up to 1959. Full of hilarious set pieces and movie in-jokes, it has not tarnished with time and in fact seems to get better with each passing year, as its cross-dressing humor keeps it only more and more up-to-date. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr.
Directed By: Billy Wilder
Written By: I. A. L. Diamond, Billy Wilder
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 29, 1959 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2001
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Lemmon digs out most of the laughs in the script. As for Marilyn, she's been trimmer, slimmer and sexier in earlier pictures.
Variety Staff, Variety
Pictures like this, with a sense of humor that is as broad as it can be sophisticated, come along only infrequently.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
In many ways, the ultimate Billy Wilder film -- replete with breathless pacing, transvestite humor, and unflinching cynicism.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
Some Like It Hot does cool off considerably now and again, but Mr. Wilder and his carefree clowns keep it crackling and funny most of the time.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Wilder's 1959 comedy is one of the enduring treasures of the movies, a film of inspiration and meticulous craft.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
The preeminent comedy of anima...effervescent and breezily paced, from the car-chase opening to the big finish capped with one of the all-time-great punchlines. [Blu-ray]
Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
MGM does a highly respectable job transferring Billy Wilder's lunatic escapade into a sexual hall of mirrors onto Blu-ray.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
One of the wildest romantic farces ever.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
The film's final line is legendary, though I have a soft spot for Jerry's description of a sashaying Sugar: "Look at that! Look how she moves! That's just like Jell-O on springs!"
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
The Great American Comedy (if you discount the Marx Brothers).
James Jennings, Film4
This is a flawlessly scripted, superbly performed and endlessly witty comedy that deserves its place among the all-time greats.
Will Harris, Bullz-Eye.com
It is, like Ms. Monroe, a beautiful thing.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Contains a marvelous, ertoically explosive Monroe performance.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The movie was once daring, and now it's just brilliantly funny -- and still sexy.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's a smart farce that has a high-energy pace, sparked by stunning performances by the stars.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
The laughs never get old.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

A pair of musicians witness a mob execution and so go into hiding disguised as women in an all girl band in Florida. Billy Wilder made his name making a variety of black hearted satires, but here we find him at his least cynical. It's one of those types of film they just… More
A pair of musicians witness a mob execution and so go into hiding disguised as women in an all girl band in Florida. Billy Wilder made his name making a variety of black hearted satires, but here we find him at his least cynical. It's one of those types of film they just don't make any more as the brilliant double act of womanising cad Curtis and sidekick Lemmon see how the other half live. Their bickering and banter obviously owes a lot to Hope and Crosby and the gender swap is done with real subtlety and sophistication making for a host of hilarious one-liners that come so thick and fast it's easy to miss some of them first time around. Marilyn Monroe was never more appealingly vulnerable, Lemmon shows his mastery of comic timing and Curtis spends much of the film doing a hilarious Cary Grant impersonation as he learns to be a better man without the usual Hollywood schamltz and manipulation. The blend of slapstick and witty dialogue is judged to perfection making Some Like It Hot one of those rare timeless classics that all film fans should see.
Daniel P

As engrossing as provocative as Billy Wilder gets, and a film that features outstanding acting by Tony Curtis - who effectively plays three characters - and Jack Lemmon, who completely loses himself in the role of Daphne. Even Marilyn Monroe looks like she had talent in this one -… More
As engrossing as provocative as Billy Wilder gets, and a film that features outstanding acting by Tony Curtis - who effectively plays three characters - and Jack Lemmon, who completely loses himself in the role of Daphne. Even Marilyn Monroe looks like she had talent in this one - it's that good. Spellbinding, edgy film making that's funny, and sexy, and intriguing all in one, which is no easy task. Every time I watch a Wilder movie, I'm more sure. Best. Director. Ever.
Raymond W

A genius comedy that features a great script, and brilliant acting by Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, Some Like It Hot will have you boiling over with laughter.
Brad W

Some Like It Hot is the greatest comedy ever made. It was genius, no cheap laugh, no bad story, and best of all the actors were fantastic. This is a all time classic, this movie should be watched by everyone, and loved by everyone.
Alexander D

Fantastic
Fernando Rafael Q

Some Like it Hot is just... fun. An incredibly enjoyable, sexy, funny film. The cinematography, especially in the opening scenes is eye-popping. The cast is impressive, with a genius performance by Jack Lemmon.
Candy R

Classic 1920s comedy. Brilliant movie about two men who witness a crime and go on the run by joining an all girl band. Excellent cast.
Spencer S

One of the greatest comedies of our time, the cast is phenomenal! Monroe, sultry as a purring cat, and the teaming of Lemmon and Curtis riles the senses. Even today inspiration from this groundbreaking comedy seeps into the mainstream almost every day. The rest cannot compete though.… More
One of the greatest comedies of our time, the cast is phenomenal! Monroe, sultry as a purring cat, and the teaming of Lemmon and Curtis riles the senses. Even today inspiration from this groundbreaking comedy seeps into the mainstream almost every day. The rest cannot compete though. Some Like it Hot cannot be duplicated in the least,
AJ V

You can't talk about fifties films without mentioning this movie, it's a classic now. This movie is hilarious and has a great cast. I highly recommend this movie.
Saskia D

Josephine and Daphne annoyed the crap out of me, not my cup of tea. I wish Monroe wouldn't play such a twat. Name me one movie where she's not playing one..
Conner R

It's not as good as people make it out to be, it's better. Not only is this a great comedy without cheap laughs, it's also a beautiful love story and commentary on pre-depression society. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis don't play over the top and hammy crossdressers,… More
It's not as good as people make it out to be, it's better. Not only is this a great comedy without cheap laughs, it's also a beautiful love story and commentary on pre-depression society. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis don't play over the top and hammy crossdressers, they're pretty contained and believable for the most part. What I also like is that this is in no way an anti-gay movie of any kind, if anything it promotes unconditional love. There's little touches that also make this so memorable and fun, including Tony Curtis' over the top Cary Grant impression and Jack Lemmon's crazy facial expressions (along with him getting too into character). Marilyn Monroe also puts in an adorable performance like she always did (regardless of how Billy Wilder felt). This is a movie that never loses its touch and never fails to impress. It's a classic in the truest sense.
Alexis N

.this is by far and away my most favorite movie. the humor in it is still relevant today.. probably because it was ahead of its time back then. i promise it's funny!
Cindy I

Probably the dirtiest movie to come out of 1950's Hollywood, and possibly the funniest. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon play a couple of musicians who dress as women and join an all-girl band to hide from gangsters on their tail. Jack Lemmon is a scream, and the last line of the film… More
Probably the dirtiest movie to come out of 1950's Hollywood, and possibly the funniest. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon play a couple of musicians who dress as women and join an all-girl band to hide from gangsters on their tail. Jack Lemmon is a scream, and the last line of the film is a classic.
Veronique K

"some like it hot" is no doubt a foundamental classic. letting alone the incredible marilyn monroe, naughty tony curtis and talented jack lemmon, of course genius billy wilder, the gender issue is truly the most interesting part of the movie. it features the most positive… More
"some like it hot" is no doubt a foundamental classic. letting alone the incredible marilyn monroe, naughty tony curtis and talented jack lemmon, of course genius billy wilder, the gender issue is truly the most interesting part of the movie. it features the most positive cinematic comment on homosexuality: NO BODY IS PERFECT.(the last line of the movie) two men are forced to transvestitism by circumstance: one struggles to keep his manhood by his romantic conquest of THE BOMBSHELL; the other gradually gets assimilated into the gender he pretends to be. judith butler brings out the idea of gender performativity: you become what you perform to be, and genders are construed by performances, not your innate nature, for example, in sabrina, humprey bogart pretends he loves audrey hepburn in the beginning to keep her from ruing his million-dollar deal by mixing up with his brother, but gradually bogart becomes what he pretends be: the man in love with audrey. the interpretation of curtis' character could be suppressed lesbianism: he cannot openly pursue marilyn monroe as a man (his own gender), he's trapped by the gender of "josephine," he has to hide and sneak and cheat for the object of his or "her" desire like some closet lesbian. lemmon has to continue telling himself he's a girl during the primary stage of his impersonation as a woman. lemmon does react like a man when the ravishing marilyn monroe crawls over his side (she thinks he's "daphne"), he gets so titilated that he cannot breathe well (so he has a positive straight side, or why so cuckoo over monroe)...later when curtis compels him to accept the pursuit of an elder millionaire, he becomes genuinely involved and swooned by the millionaire, dreaming how nice it is to marry him...and by disgusing as a millionaire, curtis also becomes honorable and committed as a digified millionaire is by giving away "daphne's" diamond bracelet to marilyn monroe. billy wilder is playing you a big joke: you're what you perform to be and everyone could just go GAY all of a sudden, so what, NO BODY'S PERFECT.
Aaron N

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! A very good screwball comedy that balances its gender bending premise with a lot of great one-liners, witty banter, physical comedy, and… More
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! A very good screwball comedy that balances its gender bending premise with a lot of great one-liners, witty banter, physical comedy, and plenty of sex appeal in the form of Marilyn Monroe. Frequently funny and holds up great. Two struggling musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and try to find a way out of the city before they are found and killed by the mob. The only job that will pay their way is an all girl band so the two dress up as women. In addition to hiding, each has his own problems; One falls for another band member (Marilyn Monroe) but can't tell her his gender, and the other has a rich suitor (Joe E. Brown) who will not take "No," for an answer. Joe: But, you're not a girl! You're a guy, and, why would a guy wanna marry a guy? Jerry: Security! All three leads accomplish exactly what they need to. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon make a great team, with both having a lot of fun with their cross dressing acts. Curtis also gets the chance to essentially make fun of Cary Grant for a good chunk of the film, once he stars posing as an English millionaire. Meanwhile, Lemmon has a ball playing his female side as a quick witted snark, with his fun laugh to tag most of his scenes. Then you have Monroe, who may not have been the greatest actress, but certainly knows how to shoot out the one-liners when needed and put on a good song and dance. The presence of Billy Wilder's witty screenplay is certainly here as per usual for his films. The aforementioned one-liners come up frequently, but just the way he has this film play itself out is quite clever. There is an undercurrent of darkness, involving these men being on the run from the mob, which is balanced well with the breezy pace for this film. Basically, the movie is very well made in terms of its story, and keeping up the comedy. A great film through and through. Joe: There's another problem. Jerry: Like what? Joe: Like, what are you gonna do on your honeymoon? Jerry: We've been discussing that. He wants to go to the Riviera but I kinda lean towards Niagara Falls.
Thomas B

The original, and possibly the best, screwball comedy. Full review later.
Tim S

Terribly outdated and not all that funny.
Wahida K

Some Like It Hot is really a guilty Joy to watch.
Anthony L

Classic comedy. Curtis and Lemmon together are brilliant and this is their best. Billy Wilder is also an overlooked and unappreciated comedy director too. Brilliant! One of the best comedies of all time!
Jennifer D

First Marilyn Monroe flick I have ever seen. Jack Lemmon was absolutely hysterical and a very good sport. Marilyn was ridiculous, but still entertaining. All in all very funny.