Some Like It Hot: 8 Surprising Facts About the Classic Movie

Some Like It Hot, the Hollywood classic starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, has a fascinating behind-the-scenes story. Here are eight lesser-known facts about the making of the film:

1. Marilyn Monroe struggled with a line: During filming, Monroe needed over 80 takes to deliver the line “Where’s that bourbon?” Director Billy Wilder became exasperated and taped the line to each drawer she was supposed to open in the scene.

2. The film is shot in black and white: The decision to shoot Some Like It Hot in black and white was made because the make-up used on Curtis and Lemmon’s characters appeared green in color on camera.

3. Tony Curtis based his character’s accent on Cary Grant: In the film, Curtis plays a character named Junior who speaks with an exaggerated accent. When Cary Grant saw the film, he commented that he didn’t talk like that. However, many fans have come to associate that accent with Curtis’s iconic performance.

4. Director Billy Wilder added maraca-shaking moments: In a scene where Daphne (played by Jack Lemmon) announces her engagement to Osgood (notorious for his musical maracas), their dialogue is interspersed with bursts of maraca-shaking. This creative choice was made by Wilder to prevent anticipated laughs from covering up important dialogue exchanges.

5. The famous last line was written on the spot: The memorable final line of the film, “Well, nobody’s perfect,” was actually written by screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond on the night before shooting finished.

6. Tony Curtis compared kissing Monroe to Hitler: In a controversial comment, Tony Curtis once compared kissing Marilyn Monroe to kissing Hitler. However, he later retracted this statement.

7. Other actors considered for leading roles: Before casting Monroe, Curtis, and Lemmon in Some Like It Hot, other actors were initially considered for the leading roles. Mitzi Gaynor, Danny Kaye, and Bob Hope were among those considered.

8. References to gangster films: Actor George Raft, who played Spats Colombo in the film, makes two references to famous gangster films. He questions a hood about his “cheap” coin-flicking trick, which is reminiscent of Raft’s own iconic scene in Scarface. Additionally, he pushes a grapefruit into one of his henchmen’s faces as a nod to James Cagney’s similar act in Public Enemy.

These fascinating behind-the-scenes details offer insight into the making of Some Like It Hot and add another layer of appreciation for this Hollywood classic.