Some Like it Hot

Summary of Some Like it Hot

Some Like it Hot starts out with 2 main characters, Joe and Jerry. Joe and Jerry witness a mob killing in a garage in Chicago and flee to Florida to escape the mafia. In order to not be recognized by the mafia, they both dress up as girls and join a girl band. On their way to Florida they meet a girl named Sugar who they both have feelings for. When they get to Florida they both check in with the band at a hotel. Joe then disguises himself as a millionaire in order to win the heart of Sugar and brings her back to Osgood's (A millionaire who hits on Jerry while disguised as Daphne) -yacht and they fall in love. Meanwhile, Jerry goes dancing with Osgood, and at the end of the night he proposes to her. After this, the mob boss Spats and his mobsters check into the hotel and Spats recognizes Joe and Jerry despite their feminine disguises. Spats and his mobsters chase them around the hotel, trying to kill them. Later on, at the hotel, Spats gets taken out by other mobsters for killing Toothpick Charlie in the mob killing at the beginning of the movie. Joe, Jerry, Sugar, and Osgood then all escape the mobsters on Osgood’s boat. Joe and Jerry both reveal their identities and both Osgood and Sugar accept them for who they really are.

Critique of Some Like it Hot

I believe that the film did a great job of expressing its central message which is, as Osgood perfectly said, “Nobody’s perfect.” The film expresses that everybody is worthy of love, warts and all. The film demonstrates this perfectly through the use of its characterization and humor. The movie Some Like it Hot best demonstrates its core theme through its main characters. Joe, who has a gambling problem and is a liar, Jerry, who has a problem of being taken advantage of, and Sugar, who has a drinking problem and falls in love with saxophonists who are no good for her. Each one of these characters has flaws and insecurities that are a part of them and that affect their actions but despite this both pairs in the end ultimately find love. Joe bets all his and Jerry’s money on dogs, which ultimately brings them to witness the mob killing that leads them into the entire crossdressing situation in the first place. Despite these mistakes, he finds love at the end of the film with Sugar. Regardless of the numerous mistakes that the pair have made and the flaws that they both have, they both embrace each other's true selves in the end. I believe that the film's main theme which can be seen as cheesy or cliché by audiences is effectively portrayed through its characterization which is buttered up by its humor. Since the theme is presented humorously, it makes audiences more willing to listen to the meaningful but overall important deeper message.

Wilder, Billy, director. Some Like it Hot. United Artists, 1959.

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