Storyline:
Two musicians (Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis) become witnesses to a mob shooting and hide out in an all-women’s traveling band.
Why this movie is a classic:
This is one of writer/director Billy Wilder’s greatest works. It has all of the classic Wilder elements: switcheroos, disguises, innuendo, and allusion to taboo subject matter. Throughout this film, musicians Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon) not only masquerade as Josephine and Daphne, respectively, but become increasingly comfortable in dresses and pumps. At one point in the film, Jerry even ecstatic about being engaged to a nutty millionaire Osgood Fielding III-only for getting alimony checks, of course. The last line of the film, delivered by Osgood, further plays up the innuendo of gay relationships.
Also, Marylin Monroe is perfectly cast in the film as Sugar Kane Kowalczyk, the band’s busty, breathy, ukulele player. Joe falls in love with and, in order to win her heart, pretends to be a Cary Grant-esque millionaire man nicknamed “Junior”, however, he delivers a kiss to her as Josephine in front of a full audience, once again playing on innuendo. However, through all of the mix-ups, you still feel for Sugar, hoping she finds true love and the happiness she longs for. Monroe’s singing further ratchets up the audience’s emotions for Sugar, especially when she’s singing after thinking she’s lost Junior forever.
The writing, like all of Wilder’s scripts, are tightly written, intriguing, and funny. This film is one to watch, especially if you’re a Wilder fan. If you’re not, then you’ll become one after this film .
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