The next edition of my long and meandering Sight & Sound Top 50 Films of All Time project is scheduled for next week, but the arrival on Prime Video of Some Like It Hot has prompted me to go back and revive an earlier entry from the time these were appearing on the RNZ website.
Some Like It Hot is listed at 38 (equal) on the 2022 list and, as I mention in the review, is arguably the only “pure” comedy in the top 50:
Not only is it the funniest film on the list, it’s also one of the most famous – a shining example of how wonderful movies could be in Hollywood’s golden age.
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The first third of the film was pretty familiar – largely because clips from that early part are staples in documentaries about movie history. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are musicians in Prohibition-era Chicago. When they witness a gangland execution, they are forced to escape to Florida with an all-girl band. Of course, the only way they can do this is in drag but – being red-blooded young American males –being trapped on a train with a bunch of attractive single young women means temptation that might get them killed. Especially when one of the young women is a blonde lush of a singer played with aplomb by Marilyn Monroe.
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Some Like It Hot is two hours long but never skips a beat. Wilder’s script – inspired by a French film called Fanfare of Love – is the perfect combination of plot and character and you can’t imagine Mr. Wilder putting up with the endless improvisation that seems make up most modern comedies.
You can read the whole thing at the RNZ website.
Editor’s note
I’m coming in off the bench for one more RNZ At the Movies tomorrow so there’ll be no update here and the summary of new releases will arrive in your inboxes on Thursday. Unless Simon Morris becomes unwell again, this will be my last ATM for the year and, because the show itself is being put out to pasture in December, it will end up being my last one ever.
It’s a much bigger sadness for Simon, who has made over one thousand episodes, but I loved making it when he couldn’t.
Where to watch Some Like It Hot
Aotearoa, Canada, Ireland, India & UK: Streaming on Prime Video
Australia: Streaming on Prime Video or Stan
USA: Streaming on Prime Video, YouTube TV, Kanopy (free from participating libraries) or Fawesome (Free with ads)
Still an all time fave film, and I shall miss At The Movies very much.
Yet another confusing decision at a confusing time.
In a better world, we'd have an 'At The Movies' where your appearances weren't because the lovely Simon Morris wasn't unwell (I've been a fan of his since 1970 and and have the cherished vinyl to prove it) and instead you and Simon could both be on it and argue about the movies a là Siskel and Ebert!