Some Like It Hot Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Some Like It Hot Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 12, 2018

Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot" (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; archival interviews with Billy Wilder, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon; archival audio commentary by film scholar Howard Suber; and a lot more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by author Sam Wasson, as well as technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The new girls

The recipe behind this delicious classic comedy is pretty simple -- it is one dose top-quality acting presented with an equal dose of top-quality directing. So, it should be easy to replicate, right? Wrong. In a long archival interview conducted for The Dick Cavett Show that is included on this release, Billy Wilder actually explains why entire ranges of similar films became impossible to make many decades ago. The explanation is in the second part of the interview where Wilder brings up the great actor Claude Rains, whom he admired immensely, and then reveals how the unique talent that made these films disappeared. Wilder even addresses the particular kind of supporting actors that were lost and clarifies how after them the big Dream Factory that Hollywood once was began to crumble. The interview is beyond fascinating because it essentially sums up what is now painfully obvious -- Some Like It Hot and all the other true classics of the era were made by genuine stars whose talent and personalities made them special. It really is this simple, and of course having been blessed to work with the best of them, Wilder knew it all along.

The film begins in Chicago, and only a few hours before the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, where band musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) are desperate to secure a new gig. A local agency offers them one in Urbana, but while trying to borrow a car to get there they accidentally witness how mafia boss Spats Colombo (George Raft) and his boys execute a snitch and his accomplices. Realizing that now they absolutely have to get out of Chicago if they are to stay alive, Joe and Jerry join an all-girl troupe heading to Florida. At Union Station, they emerge as Josephine and Daphne and after a warm welcome board the train.

Soon after, the new “girls” engage Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe), a sexy ukulele player, and by the time the train reaches Florida earn her trust and friendship. Under the scorching sun, Joe then proceeds to earn her heart while pretending to be a filthy rich bachelor, and Jerry captivates the mind of a real millionaire with a taste for the exotic. But the impostors’ romantic escapades are put on hold when Spats Colombo and his goons reappear for a high-profile mafia gathering and someone realizes that the two “girls” look awfully familiar.

Initially Wilder apparently wanted to get Frank Sinatra to play Daphne, but when he did not turn up to discuss the project he moved on and it was then that Lemmon was hired. Monroe also wasn’t Wilder’s first choice for the part of Sugar Kane, though it was her “difficult” personality rather than her acting skills that he had considered problematic. (And for a good reason because later on when production of the film started Monroe’s erratic behavior caused a lot of unnecessary drama, just as Wilder had expected). Ironically, now it is absolutely impossible to imagine this film being as brilliant as it is without Lemmon and Monroe because the authentic energy that the former brings and the incomparable sex appeal that the latter adds are essential qualities of its style. It is basically what makes the film so great -- the personalities of its three leads are not suppressed by Wilder, but brilliantly managed and, in the process, encouraged to flourish through the characters they play. This is something that cannot be replicated with other actors, regardless of how brilliant they might be. If you don’t have the “right” personalities, you will end up with a very different film.

Another very important quality of the film’s unique style that is actually frequently neglected is its perfect rhythm. There is a lot happening in it, and often in multiple locations at the same time, but it never looks or feels like things are left on autopilot to evolve. In fact, as the film progresses exactly the opposite becomes clear, because even during long mass sequences everything from the seemingly casual one-liners to the unexpected gesturing and grimacing is done with striking precision so that it serves right its comedic energy.

Some Like It Hot Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new 4K restoration was undertaken by MGM, Park Circus, and the Criterion Collection. A new digital transfer was created on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative. A 35mm duplicate negative and and a 35mm fine-grain positive were used for footage that was missing from the camera negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps were manually removed using MTI Film's DRS, while Digital Phoenix's Vision was used for jitter, flicker, small dirt, grain, and noise management. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic tracks. Clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX.

Restoration supervisor: Grover Crisp.
Restoration producers: Scott Grossman, Lee Kline, Nick Varley.
Colorist: Sheri Eisenberg/Roundabout Entertainment, Santa Monica, CA."

The release is sourced from a wonderful new 4K remaster which was completed by Park Circus in collaboration with MGM and Criterion. The remaster is very strong and offers plenty of meaningful upgrades over the older master that MGM used for the first high-definition release of the film in 2011. For example, on my system a lot of the darker footage boasts superior definition and entire ranges of nuances are now a lot easier to appreciate. Also, all of the noticeable flatness from the older master is eliminated on the new remaster, so on a larger screen you should expect to see significantly improved depth as well. The grading is very good and trained eyes will quickly recognize that the new remaster has superior ranges of whites and grays that also help different nuances. (If you compare screencapture #3 with the corresponding screencapture of our review of the first release, you will get a pretty good idea what type of improvement to expect). As it is typically the case with proper modern 4K remasters, grain is now better exposed and resolved, and as a result the visuals are a lot better balanced even in areas where there are native density fluctuations. There are no traces of sharpening adjustments or other unfortunate digital corrections. Image stability and overall fluidity are excellent. Debris, cuts, damage marks, and all other conventional age-related imperfections have been removed as best as possible. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Some Like It Hot Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

On the first Blu-ray release of Some Like It Hot the default audio option was a 5.1 track, so the inclusion of the original Mono track is most welcome. The orchestral score and the dialog sound great, and even during the mass sequences balance is excellent. There are no background anomalies or other conventional age-related imperfections to report.

Some Like It Hot Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Some Like It Hot. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Billy Wilder and Dick Cavett - in this outstanding archival interview, director Billy Wilder discusses his time in Germany in the beginning of the century and specifically the decadent Berlin that was later on recreated in various classic films, his arrival in America and the evolution of his career, the many stars that he worked with as well as fellow directors that he admired, the production history of Some Like It Hot and some of the challenges that he faced while working with Marilyn Monroe, etc. The legendary director also shares some hilarious stories, including a particularly good one involving Humphrey Bogart and the Shah of Iran. The interview was conducted on January 14 and 15, 1982, for The Dick Cavett Show. In English, not subtitled. (56 min, 1080i).

• Marilyn Monroe - in this rare audio interview, Marilyn Monroe talks about her desire to be remembered as a great actress, and discusses her worldwide image as a sex symbol, the unforgiving nature of the film business, and her love for Brooklyn. The interview was conducted by Dave Garroway on June 12, 1955. Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 1080p).

• Jack Lemmon - presented here is an archival episode of the French television program Cinema cinemas in which Jack Lemmon recalls how he became involved with Some Like It Hot and discusses his work with Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, and director Billy Wilder. The footage was shot on May 15, 1988. In English, with imposed yellow French subtitles. (10 min, 1080i).

• Tony Curtis and Leonard Maltin - presented here is a filmed conversation between Tony Curtis and critic Leonard Maltin which features plenty of great information about the production of Some Like It Hot as well as its success. The conversation was filmed for MGM/UA in 2001. In English, with imposed yellow French subtitles. (32 min, 1080i).

• Costumes by Orry-Kelly - in this new program, costume designer and historian Deborah Nadoolman Landis and costume historian and archivist Larry McQueen discuss the work of Orry-Kelly and his contribution to Some Like It Hot. The program was created exclusively for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080p).

• Behind the Scenes - presented here are three programs that examine the production history and lasting appeal of Some Like It Hot. Included in them are various clips from interviews with director Billy Wilder, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Barbara Diamond, Walter Mirisch, and Curtis Hanson, amongst others. The programs were produced for MGM/UA between 2001 and 2006. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. The Making of Some Like It Hot. (26 min, 1080i).
  2. The Legacy of Some Like it Hot. (21 min, 1080i).
  3. Memories from the Sweet Sues. (13 min, 1080i).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary features film scholar Howard Suber. It was recorded in 1989 and initially appeared on Criterion's LD release of Some Like It Hot.

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by author Sam Wasson, as well as technical credits.

Some Like It Hot Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The term classic has lost its value because in recent years too many people have used it to describe a wide range of good, but not special, films that should have been treated better. I know it is so because I have done it too. Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot is one of those truly special films that the term was actually meant for -- it's got real stars at the top of their game and a master director that was able to make them look even better together. The magic that Hollywood forgot how to produce really is on full display in this film. Criterion's upcoming Blu-ray release of Some Like It Hot is sourced from a lovely new 4K remaster and offers a fantastic selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. Do not miss it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.