Review: Some Like It Hot – The 50th Anniversary Companion (and Win a Copy)

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Some Like It Hot: 50th Anniversary Companion (by Laurence Maslon, published by Pavillion Books)

As we’ve already discussed on Culture Vulture, this next couple of months is a big one for movies. We’ve got the Bradford International Film Festival coming up over the coming weeks as well as the Leeds Young People’s Film Festival. There are also plenty of exciting films and special screenings that will occur across our fair region, meaning that cinema fans are going to be more than occupied. But, if the running from film to film starts to make you tired, why not take the time to relax with some reminiscences of one of the greatest cinematic comedies ever made with the Some Like It Hot: 50th Anniversary Companion (by Laurence Maslon, published by Pavillion Books).

Now if you’ve never seen Some Like It Hot – in which Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis dress up in drag to avoid the mob and encounter Marilyn Monroe on the way – I’d suggest you go out and watch it now. Go on. We’ll still be here when you get back. Watched it now? Good wasn’t it! Now you’ll want to find out more about how they made the film.

It’s rare that ‘Making of’ books are truly interesting. They’re either shameless and authorised cash-ins or accounts of a film going horribly wrong (such as the truly brilliant The Devil’s Candy) that are undeniably fascinating but not exactly celebratory when it come to the cinema. Maslon’s book manages to be both informative and a paean to the Billy Wilder classic. It’s even more remarkable when you consider that almost everyone involved with the film – apart from the seemingly immortal Tony Curtis – has gone on to star in that great comedy film in the sky. After a touching introduction from Walter Mirisch, the film’s producer, Maslon breaks down the production of the film in painstaking details. It’s thorough but never dull, as Maslon repeats and unearths many fun anecdotes about the creation of the film. Lemmon and Curtis come across as thoroughly decent people whilst Monroe is portrayed as sweet but often difficult, thanks to her torrid personal life. It’s all fun and well put together, and Maslon has a light touch. It’s also particularly fun to read the chapter on the legacy of the film, as an abortive attempt to make a TV show based on the show (which included a cameo from Lemmon and Curtis).

As a film academic, Maslon knows his stuff and has done an amazing amount of research and it’s to his credit that the text is accessible to a wide audience. However, this also works as an excellent coffee table book with some absolutely wonderful stills from behind the scenes and much more.  Lovely to skim through, the book is a worthy companion to what some consider the greatest comedy ever made.

And there’s even a chance to win one as, thanks to Pavilion Books, Culture Vulture has four copies to give away. To be in with the chance of winning one, please head on down to the comments box and tell us more about your favourite comedy films and why.

NB: Please be sure to read our terms and conditions which you are deemed to have accepted by entering! Winners will be picked by random so why not give it a go! Closing date: 1st April 2010 (well, it’s a comedy: perfect time to close!)

54 comments

  1. Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday.. Jacques Tati was a comedy genius! His sense of timing and dead pan face was just so brilliant!

  2. I love True Lies with Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some of the scenes are just hilarious. Another favourite is A Touch of Class because Glenda Jackson and George Segal are so funny together.

  3. For me it has to be The Blues Brothers. I just love that film so much! The epic car chase cracks me up every time. I’m going to have to go dig it out now and watch it!!!

  5. I love Four Weddings and a Funeral, although the funeral did make me cry, this is one of the few films with choice language that actually had me laughing out loud!

  6. Oh BROTHER WHERE ART THOU — THE PLOT GOES FROM ONE INCIDENT TO ANOTHER WITH SUPERB ACTING AND MUSIC

  7. I love the old ones and one of my favourites is Arsenic and Old Lace or Kind Hearts and Coronets.

  8. My favourite comedy is Harvey, a wonderful story of the friendship between a man and a giant rabbit that nobody else can see. Very funny, but also incredibly touching, with James Stewart giving a characteristically brilliant performance as the fragile eccentric Elwood P. Dowd. Definitely worth tracking down if you’ve never seen it.

  9. Top Secret is one of my all time greatest spoof films. The germans with their painted on helmet straps and the walk away train platform. The precursor to a lot of spoof movies by a long way!

  10. I love The Odd Couple, can’t beat Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau when they are together.

  12. Some Like It Hot is actually my favourite movie! Classic! Love Tony Curtis on the beach – hilarious! Makes me want to see it all over again! x

  13. My favourite comedy is Liar Liar, a fantastic family film and a performance from Jim Carrey that only he could carry out.

  17. I’ve got two favourite comedy films. One is the subject of this competition ‘Some Like it Hot’. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen it and when I came across it while flicking around the TV channels recently I just had to watch it again. Tony Curtis taking the micky out of Cary Grant’s accent is priceless and as for Jack Lemmon dancing the tango with his ‘boyfriend’, it has me in stitches every time. My other favourite is ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. I love the music but also Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont is hysterical.

  18. My fave comedy must be Pretty Women. I love that commenr Julia Roberts make to the shop assistants!

    Shop assistant: Hello, can I help you?
    Vivian: I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me.
    Shop assistant: Oh.
    Vivian: You people work on commission, right?
    Shop assistant: Yeah.
    Vivian: Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.

  19. Shallow Hal is one of those films that you know you shouldn’t laugh at, but you just can’t help it.

  20. some like it hot, funnily enough. the most recent ‘the producers’. and, of course, ‘life of brian’

  21. The Out Of Towners I think is hysterical – even without saying anything, Jack Lemmon’s exasperated expression always makes me howl laughing!

  22. I love the silly spoofs – like airplane with Leslie Nielsen, just really silly films 🙂

  24. Shawn of the Dead – it’s very funny and I can watch it again and again.

  25. The life of Brian is one of my favourite funny films. Totally non pc and funny as hell

  29. Golden child – never tire of the scene where Eddie murphy is angry in the boat saying he is going to row the little man’s butt

  31. It just has to be Freddy got fingered!! Sure the humour is a little off but its so bloody hilarious!!

  32. It just has to be Freddy got fingered!! Sure the humour is a little off but its so bloody hilarious!!

    Can diving for treasures or the words soap on a rope be any more funny than it is in this film!!

  34. Disney ‘UP’- when the old man pushes Russell off his house-in-the-sky and he falls to earth then we realise it was only a wish lol

  35. Shallow Hal beacuse it is true how superficial most of us are and how we just go on people’s looks.

  36. I thought my favourite film comedy was Brewsters Millions having seen it as a kid, but years later when I bought it on DVD, it turned out to be useless! Therefore I’ll have to go with Planes, Trains and Automobiles, because it’s funny, emotional, Christmassy and has just about something of everything.

  37. I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry. I was surprised by how much I chuckled through this film, as I wasn’t expecting great things from it. Just goes to prove never judge a book by its cover!

  38. Can t beat Airplane with Leslie Nielsen (dont call me Shirley) and Lloyd Bridges (I picked a fine time to…..)and that inflatable co pilot.

  40. My Cousin Vinny – I know most people think it cheesy, but I laughed so hard

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