Some Like It Hot (1959)

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Robert Thoeren (story) and
Michael Logan (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 March 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

The movie too HOT for words!

Plot:

When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.

Plot Keywords:

Bryn Mawr College | Ice | Ulcer | Urban | Role Reversal

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 13

4:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Marilyn Monroe	...	Sugar Kane Kowalczyk
Tony Curtis	...	Joe - 'Josephine' / 'Junior'
Jack Lemmon	...	Jerry - 'Daphne'
George Raft	...	Spats Colombo
Pat O'Brien	...	Det. Mulligan
Joe E. Brown	...	Osgood Fielding III
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Little Bonaparte
Joan Shawlee	...	Sweet Sue
Billy Gray	...	Sig Poliakoff
George E. Stone	...	Toothpick Charlie
Dave Barry	...	Beinstock
Mike Mazurki	...	Spats' henchman
Harry Wilson	...	Spats' henchman
Beverly Wills	...	Dolores
Barbara Drew	...	Nellie
Edward G. Robinson Jr.	...	Johnny Paradise
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Al Breneman	...	Bellhop (uncredited)
Marian Collier	...	Olga (clarinet player) (uncredited)
Pat Comiskey	...	Spats' henchman (uncredited)
Joan Fields	...	Band member (uncredited)
Mary Foley	...	Band member (uncredited)
Paul Frees	...	Funeral director / Josephine (voice) (uncredited)
Joe Gray	...	Mobster at banquet (uncredited)
Harold 'Tommy' Hart	...	Official #2 (uncredited)
Ted Hook	...	Official #1 (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tom Kennedy	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Jack McClure	...	Spats' henchman / driver (uncredited)
Penny McGuiggan	...	Band member (uncredited)
Laurie Mitchell	...	Mary Lou (trumpet player) (uncredited)
Colleen O'Sullivan	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Helen Perry	...	Rosella (uncredited)
Fred Sherman	...	Drunk (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Tito Vuolo	...	Mozzarella (uncredited)
Sandra Warner	...	Emily (band member) (uncredited)
Grace Lee Whitney	...	Band member (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Wilder

Writing credits
Robert Thoeren		(story) (as R. Thoeren) and
Michael Logan		(story) (as M. Logan)
Billy Wilder		(screenplay) and
I.A.L. Diamond		(screenplay)

Produced by
I.A.L. Diamond	....	associate producer
Doane Harrison	....	associate producer
Billy Wilder	....	producer

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
Charles Lang		(as Charles Lang Jr.)

Film Editing by
Arthur P. Schmidt

Art Direction by
Ted Haworth

Set Decoration by
Edward G. Boyle

Makeup Department
Agnes Flanagan	....	hair stylist
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup artist
Alice Monte	....	hair stylist
Allan Snyder	....	makeup artist: Miss Monroe (uncredited)

Production Management
Allen K. Wood	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Nelson	....	assistant director

Art Department
Tom Plews	....	property master

Sound Department
Fred Lau	....	sound

Special Effects by
Milt Rice	....	special effects
Daniel Hays	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Polly Burson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Gray	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Floyd McCarty	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Don Stott	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bert Henrikson	....	wardrober
Orry-Kelly	....	gowns: Marilyn Monroe

Music Department
Matty Malneck	....	song supervisor
Eve Newman	....	music editor

Other crew
John Franco	....	continuity
Jack Cole	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Alpha Steinman	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Paula Strasberg	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
John Veitch	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Ashton Productions
• Mirisch Corporation, The

Distributors

• United Artists (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1959) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1964) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Criterion Collection, The (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Italy) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Alamode Film (2002) (Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Cinemien (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinema Mondo (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (special edition)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1985) (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• TV3 (1988) (1992) (Finland) (TV)
• United Artists Films (1959) (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (1998) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Hotel del Coronado  accomodations

Also Known As:

Not Tonight, Josephine! (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19281) | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | USA:PG-13 (DVD version) | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (1959) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Mexico:A | Finland:S (1987) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | France:-12 (original rating) | France:U (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 (re-release) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1989) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Coronado Beach, Coronado, California, USA

Company:

Ashton Productions

Trivia:

Marilyn Monroe recorded a vocal version for the theme to the film. It was to be played over the opening credits, but an instrumental overture took its place in the final version. The title track later appeared on an LP in the mid-'70s, with Marilyn's three other songs from the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the speakeasy, Joe and Jerry continue to talk instead of resuming play with the rest of the band after the piano solo ends.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mulligan: All right, Charlie; that the joint?
Toothpick Charlie: Yes, sir.
Mulligan: Who runs it?
Toothpick Charlie: I already told you.
Mulligan: Refresh my memory.
Toothpick Charlie: Spats Columbo.
Mulligan: That's very refreshing; what's the password?
Toothpick Charlie: "I've come to Grandma's funeral." Here's your admission card.
[he gives Mulligan a mourning armband]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Portrait d'un homme 'à 60% parfait': Billy Wilder (1980)

Soundtrack:

Runnin' Wild

Stands the test of time

I just saw this movie for the first time and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long!! It's a rare film that makes me laugh out loud, but I definitely made some noise watching this one! Jack Lemmon gave one of the most hysterical performances I've ever seen; add Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, and one hell of a script and you have the classic comedy that all others must try to live up to. I'd give this move a 15 if they'd let me.