Some Like it Hot

Movie: Some Like It Hot, 1959; 122 min

Director: Billy Wilder

Actors: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon

Summary: Two struggling musicians, Joe and Jerry, witness a mob hit and are forced to flee New York City. Except their ticket out of the city is dressing up as women and joining an all-female band. Further complications occur when the men develop feelings for a beautiful band member, Sugar.

Question 1:  How does the film portray the time period in which it takes place?

Though made in the 1950s, the film takes place during the 1920s, which was a time of prohibition. During the time, there were police raids of illegal speakeasies and arrests of bootleggers who sold alcohol illegally. Even though alcohol was illegal at the time, people enjoyed partying and drinking. This 1920s lifestyle is portrayed throughout the film. For example, Joe and Jerry play at an illegal nightclub (aka speakeasy) in a “funeral home” that is raided by the police. Also, the plot is driven by a gang of bootleggers who kill others competing for their alcohol sales. In addition, the girls in the band sneak alcohol around in their bags and have parties in the middle of the night. These situations were typical to the time period, and by including them in the film, the time period is easily recognizable.

Question 2: What is the irony behind Joe and Jerry’s situation? Talk about specific scenes and why this irony adds comedy and plot to the film.

Joe and Jerry both dress up as women in order to join an all girl band and flee the city, but they find themselves attracted to the beautiful Sugar. Except, the irony behind their situation is that they cannot show their attraction to Sugar if they are dressed up as women otherwise they will blow their covers and be kicked out of the band. Their covers are finally blown when Jerry kisses sugar on stage in front of an entire audience. Normally this scene would be romantic, but it is also comedic because Jerry is still dressed as a woman. Also, Joe and Jerry flee the city in order to get away from a gang of bootleggers after they witness a murder. The plot intensifies when the bootleggers come to Florida where Joe and Jerry are playing as women, but it becomes even more involved when the two witness a second murder. The irony behind them witnessing two murders (the second murder happening to be of the gang members who were looking for Joe and Jerry in the first place) adds more tension to the plot.