Category: Cinemaandi

Some Like it Hot (1959)

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This movie was a debut for me in many aspects. The first and foremost attraction was Marilyn Monroe. All I heard previously were beautiful, died young, and tussle with  John F Kennedy. Of course, she was married to baseball player Joe Di Maggio briefly.

I wanted to watch this movie mainly to see Monroe. One isn’t disappointed with the introductory scene where the steam exhaust kindles her hip as she walks on a railway platform. She plays the role of Sugar Kane Kowalczyk, a lead singer in an all-female band.

If Monroe’s looks were something, check out Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in their comical best. The story starts with a massacre on St. Valentine’s Day, which is witnessed by Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) in Chicago. After these two and to escape from the city, the mob is disguised as Josephine (Tony Curtis) and Daphne (Jack Lemmon). They end up joining the All-Female music band. They head to Miami for a performance.

Joe, dressed like a rich man, impresses Sugar and utilizes the millionaire’s yacht while Daphne is busy with the millionaire. Joe uses Cary Grant’s accent while he seduces Sugar.

Apart from a romantic scene where Joe and Sugar seduce each other, most of the thunder is stolen by Jack Lemmon’s portrayal of Daphne.

The Tango scene picturised on Daphne and millionaire is one of many comical moments to be treasured in one’s memory.

The dialogue delivery and the dialogues are hilarious. Look out for series of comical events when the mob comes to Miami for a convention. They encounter Joe and Jerry, and the rest is fun.

The movie was shot in black and white, against the contract. It stipulated that all Monroe’s films are to be pictured in color at that time. Due to the green tinge prominent on Tony and Jack’s face, the color movie didn’t seem to be the way to go.

This movie was so inspiring that in 1975 Bollywood made a movie called “Rafoo Chakkar” starring Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, and Paintlal. Each frame resembles ‘Some like it hot’ barring songs.

Released in 1959, this movie won an Oscar for best costume design for a black and white film, and Jack Lemmon was nominated for Best Actor in a leading role for his cross-dressing portrayal of Jerry and Daphne.

Directed by Billy Wilder, this movie ends with one of the all-time favorite dialogues when Daphne reveals he is a man and cannot marry the millionaire.

The millionaire coolly replies, “Well, nobody is perfect.”

Roman Holiday (1953)

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Many movies were made in the 1950s; I enjoyed watching the lead actors and mainly actresses of that era essaying the roles with their screen brilliance. One that comes to my mind is “Audrey Hepburn.” I had watched Sabrina and Charade before I could get a grab on “Roman Holiday.”

Her portrayal of Princess Ann was picture perfect. Her boredom of being the princess and not getting a chance to lead the life she wanted made her uncomfortable almost every time. She decides Rome to be the place to escape from the monotonous routine and get a breather.

The princess happens to bump into Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), a press reporter who is in serious need of a story. His discovery of Princess Ann makes him interested all the more than just be captured by beauty. And she was unaware of his motives.

Princess Ann: I could do some of the things I’ve always wanted to.
Joe Bradley: Like what?
Princess Ann: Oh, you can’t imagine. I-I’d do just whatever I liked all day long.
Joe Bradley: Tell you what. Why don’t we do all those things together?
Princess Ann: But don’t you have to work?
Joe Bradley: Work? No. Today’s going to be a holiday.
Princess Ann: But you want to do a lot of silly things?
Joe Bradley: [He takes her hand] … First wish? One sidewalk cafe, coming’ right up. I know just the place—Rocca’s.

She wants to tour Rome. Smokes her first cigarette, Dance, have a haircut, ride a Vespa, swim, and whatnot. She wanted to have a holiday just the way she would have preferred.

Photos were clicked; most of them would have been an embarrassment for the princess but a fortune for Joe and his photographer friend. As the day comes to an end, Romance does creep in. At the same time, she realizes it is just about time to get back; she asks Joe to drop her back. Joe knew, and he didn’t try to stop her. Suddenly the motive of using photographs didn’t seem to be the way to go.

Princess Ann: I have to leave you now. I’m going to that corner there and turn. You must stay in the car and drive away. Promise not to watch me go beyond the corner. Just drive away and leave me as I leave you.
Joe Bradley: All right.
Princess Ann: I don’t know how to say goodbye. I can’t think of any words.
Joe Bradley: Don’t try.
Princess Ann: At midnight, I’ll turn into a pumpkin and drive away in my glass slipper.
Joe Bradley: And that will be the end of the fairy tale.

The last part, when Princess Anne comes to terms with her responsibility, openly faces Rome’s press. She gets to see Joe and his photographer friend.

Reporter: And what, in the opinion of Your Highness, is the outlook for friendship among nations?
Princess Ann: I have every faith in it, as I have faith in relations between people.
Joe Bradley: May I say, speaking for my press service: we believe Your Highness’s faith will not be unjustified.
Princess Ann: I am so glad to hear you say it.
Another reporter: Which of the cities visited did Your Highness enjoy the most?
Princess Ann: Each, in its own way, was unforgettable. It would be difficult to – Rome! By all means, Rome. I will cherish my visit here in memory as long as I live.

This movie’s highlight is a scene’ Mouth of Truth’: Such beautiful improvisation by Gregory Peck towards the end. A lot has been expressed in this scene, And this, to me, is my favorite scene in the movie.


Rather than narrating, it’s worth watching this classic.

Released in 1953, the Roman holiday was the biggest grosser and an all-time classic. Starring: Audrey Hepburn (debut as a leading actress, and eventually won Best Actress Oscar), Gregory Peck, whose expressions and resonant voice is simply breathtaking.

Watch out for the Vespa adventure. And this film was entirely shot in Rome, Italy.