Some Like It Hot (1959)
Billy Wilder's timeless screwball masterpiece, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon in one of Hollywood's most beloved comedies.
Some Like It Hot - Movie Information
- Original Title: Some Like It Hot
- Release Year: 1959
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Crime
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 2h 3m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 19, 1959 (United States - NR), May 14, 1959 (Canada - 14A), February 6, 2007 (United Kingdom - U), September 17, 1959 (Germany - 16), January 1, 1964 (France), October 15, 1959 (Australia), May 4, 1959 (Brazil - L), October 8, 1959 (Mexico), September 17, 1959 (Italy)
- Alternative Titles: O atsui no ga o suki (JP), Някои го предпочитат горещо (BG), В джа́зе то́лько де́вушки (RU), Хтосьці любіць гарачае (BY), Hett om öronen (FI), 뜨거운것이 좋아 (KR), Hamim V'Taeem (IL), У джазі тільки дівчата (UA)
- Production Companies: The Mirisch Company
- Production Countries: United States of America
Some Like It Hot - Plot
In Prohibition-era Chicago, musicians Joe and Jerry witness a mob hit, and flee the state in an all-female band disguised as Josephine and Daphne, but further complications set in.
Some Like It Hot - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the chaos unfold:
The movie too HOT for words!
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Some Like It Hot - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Billy Wilder
Main Cast
- Tony Curtis
- Jack Lemmon
- Marilyn Monroe
- George Raft
- Pat O'Brien
- Joe E. Brown
- Nehemiah Persoff
- Joan Shawlee
- Billy Gray
- George E. Stone
Writers
- Billy Wilder
- Robert Thoeren
- Michael Logan
- I. A. L. Diamond
Producers
- Billy Wilder
Some Like It Hot - FAQs
What is Some Like It Hot about?
Some Like It Hot follows two broke Chicago musicians who accidentally witness a mob massacre and go on the run disguised as women in an all-female jazz band. The film blends slapstick, mistaken identity, and sharp wit, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made.
What does the famous last line mean?
"Nobody's perfect" — delivered by Joe E. Brown after Jack Lemmon's character reveals he's a man — is one of cinema's most celebrated closing lines. It works as a punchline, a philosophical shrug, and a surprisingly warm acceptance of difference, landing the film's gender-bending comedy on a note of pure joy.
Where can you stream Some Like It Hot?
You can catch Some Like It Hot on TCM, or watch it for free with ads on YouTube Free and Tubi TV. It's also available at no cost on Kanopy and Hoopla. If you prefer to own or rent, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home all have it.
Is Some Like It Hot based on a true story?
The film isn't based on a true story, but it draws loose inspiration from a 1935 French film called Fanfare of Love and a German remake. Billy Wilder and co-writer I. A. L. Diamond transplanted the cross-dressing premise to Prohibition-era Chicago, adding the St. Valentine's Day Massacre as a darkly comic backdrop.
Who are the main actors in Some Like It Hot?
The film stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as the two musicians-in-disguise, with Marilyn Monroe lighting up the screen as Sugar Kane, the band's ukulele-playing singer. George Raft, Pat O'Brien, and Joe E. Brown round out a terrific supporting cast.
Was Some Like It Hot controversial when it was released?
Absolutely. The film's cross-dressing humor and the suggestive final line raised eyebrows with censors, and it was released without a seal of approval from the Motion Picture Production Code. That controversy didn't hurt it — audiences loved it, and it became one of the biggest box office hits of 1959.
Did Some Like It Hot win any major awards?
The film earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Director for Billy Wilder and Best Actor for Jack Lemmon. It won one Oscar, for Orry-Kelly's costume design. Over the decades it has topped countless all-time lists, and the American Film Institute ranks it as the greatest American comedy ever made.
Why was Some Like It Hot filmed in black and white?
Billy Wilder chose black and white partly for practical reasons — the heavy makeup worn by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon looked unconvincing in color tests. The choice also gave the film a noir-ish, period-appropriate atmosphere that perfectly suits its Prohibition-era Chicago setting and gangster subplot.
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