SOME LIKE IT HOT 1959 (Available for streaming on Hulu)  Directed, produced and co-written by Billy Wilder who is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic Hollywood cinema. The film stars Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. It opened to critical and commercial success and is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. Some Like It Hot was made on a budget of $2.88 million and had box office earnings of $209 million. The plot is classic screwball comedy. Curtis and Lemmon play Chicago musicians who disguise themselves as women to avoid being rubbed out after they witness the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. They were desperate to get a gig out of town but the only job they knew of was in an all-girl band heading to Florida. The question is often asked, “Why was Some Like It Hot so controversial? Simply put, the film was seen as inappropriate for its time. It had cross-dressing, hefty sexual punch-lines, barely-there wardrobe, and even a hint of homosexuality, none of which would have been possible had Wilder gone according to The Motion Picture Production Code. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in drag show up at the train station as Josephine and Daphne, replacement saxophone and bass players. They certainly enjoyed being around the girls, especially the beautiful singer, Sugar, who was played by the legendary star Marilyn Monroe, who was at the height of her stardom. In retrospect, it’s a miracle that Monroe was able to complete her work, let alone be brilliant. She was pregnant and miscarried during filming. Her health issues, psychological problems and stage fright were so acute that she would keep cast and crew waiting for hours before arriving on the set, or would frequently miss shooting days, causing the production to run over schedule. If you choose to view Some Like It Hot, watch for the closing line delivered by supporting actor Joe E. Brown. It is ranked by many as one of the best closing lines in Hollywood history. Barbara and I loved this film in 1959 when we were in our mid 20s and still enjoyed it in our early 90s. GRADE A