The Film
Director/screenwriter Billy Wilder passed away in 2002 (at the age of 95), and when he died there was a giant sucking sound that took whatever creativity was left in Hollywood with him. Wilder wasn't just some Oscar-winning director/screenwriter who got lucky with a few pictures; he pretty much owned Hollywood from 1944 through 1960 with ten outstanding films that could arguably be described as the best body of work from an American director/screenwriter in motion picture history.
Between Double Indemnity and Stalag 17 (my two favorite films of all-time), Wilder arguably created two films more significant than the entire body of work from Hollywood in the past ten years. Toss The Lost Weekend, Sunset Boulevard, and The Apartment into the mix and you have a lifetime of cinematic brilliance. Near the very end of that sixteen year run, Wilder went a tad meshugah and trampled what was considered appropriate with Some Like It Hot.
The film's funny risqué dialogue, which included a lot of cleverly written sexual innuendo, just seems so high-brow in 2011 compared to the intellectually dead writing that passes as comedy today. Censors may not have liked the language (the film led to the death of the Hays code), but Wilder knew exactly how to get his point across and it was impossible to go wrong with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe. Lemmon, who made seven films with Wilder (the director called Lemmon the "hardest working actor he'd ever met") was incredibly unattractive as a man dressed as a woman, but he brought the house down with each line.
Part of Wilder's genius was that he was able to coax such magnificent performances out of his actors; William Holden in Stalag 17, Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend, and Jack Lemmon in The Apartment.
Marilyn Monroe was not considered by many to be a great actress, but Wilder coaxed a performance out of her that would earn the world's most beloved sex symbol a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy. Not only did Monroe sell "Sugar Kane" Kowalczyk and hold her own against two of the best leading men of the day, but she proved that she could sing and do comedy.
Some Like It Hot earned a staggering $25 million at the box office and while the story of two men forced to dress like women in order to hide from the mob might not raise an eyebrow today, it was truly revolutionary in 1959 and paved the way for every over-the-top comedy since. What makes the film so unique is that, some five decades later, comedy writers have still not figured out how to replicate its comedic genius and integrity.
The Picture
The film was shot in 1.66:1, but the theatrical release had a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. MGM stuck with the original aspect ratio for the Blu-ray release and it just looks great from start to finish. It is certainly one of MGM's best looking Blu-ray transfers that I've seen so far this year.
The Sound
I always shudder when studios try to get cute, converting mono soundtracks into multi-channel extravaganzas and Some Like It Hot worried me more than most films because I envisioned some studio executive asking the engineers to make Marilyn Monroe's musical numbers sound like some ethereal Enya track from The Lord of the Rings.
Fortunately, the folks at MGM have delivered a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that is focused on the sharp dialogue and not on surround gimmicks. There is the occasional use of the surround channels; mostly car sounds, gunshots, and some enhancement of Adolph Deutsch's musical score, but it doesn't detract from the center channel which gets a solid workout. The midrange is warm and punchy; which is how I felt every time Marilyn Monroe opened her mouth. Can you tell I have a crush? Curtis and Lemon sound clear and strong throughout and it is a very balanced sounding mix. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
The Extras
The bonus material on the Blu-ray transfer is the same content found on the DVD and while it is interesting, MGM should have given this important film the royal treatment and dug up some additional material. Unfortunately, Billy Wilder passed away in 2002, making it impossible for the studio to record a new commentary with the director, but surely they could have dug up some more. There is an interview with Wilder included in the documentary about the making of the film, but it's not remotely enough to satisfy someone like me who is (admittedly) just wild about Wilder.
The featurettes which include interviews with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Leonard Maltin, and screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond are fascinating but should have received the HD treatment. The SD content runs more than 90 minutes so fans of the film should find something of interest to chew on. Not a bad collection of bonus content, but something new would have been nice.
Final Thoughts
Billy Wilder made a lot of great pictures during his storied career, but Some Like It Hot holds a special place in the ranks of American cinema. Beautifully written and strung together, it is the ultimate example of high-brow comedy that hasn't lost one bit of relevance some 52 years after it was released. MGM's Blu-ray transfer just shines from all angles and it's impossible not to love Marilyn who was never better. Highly recommended and worth watching over and over again.
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