Skip to content

  • Marilyn Remembered Celebrates 40 Years!
  • Archives
  • About Marilyn Remembered
  • Annual Memorial Service
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Events and Activities
  • Follow
  • Join the Club!
  • Keeping Marilyn Monroe Real
  • Links
  • Marilyn in the News
  • Home

Preserving the Memory of Marilyn Monroe with Dignity and Grace

Posts Tagged with 1959

NOBODY’S PERFECT – NOT SUCH A THROWAWAY LINE
Published January 25, 2022

NOBODY’S PERFECT – NOT SUCH A THROWAWAY LINE

Barbara Diamond, the wife of I.A.L Diamond (Billy Wilder’s writing partner for ‘Some Like It Hot’ and other Hollywood classics) said this about THAT famous last line in the iconic 1950’s comedy:

“One of the results of the way they worked is that it was impossible for them to seperate one person’s work from the other. They honestly didn’t know who had written particular scenes or individual lines, and truthfully, they didn’t much care.
The one line that they did know about turned out to be the one that everyone asks about, “Nobody’s perfect.” When asked, Billy always said that it was a throwaway line of Mr Diamond’s and they had hoped overnight they would think of something better, and Iz never contradicted him. However, I have a different version of it. I wrote the scene the day before it was shot and left a copy here with me while he took it over to Billy. When he came back and asked me what I thought, I told him it was a great scene but the last line was weak. He said, “That’s what Billy thinks and you’re both wrong,’ and proceeded to tell me why.

First of all, audiences love being able to anticipate a joke. The dimmest members of the audience know that Jack’s last line is going to be “I’m a man,” and they are bracing themselves for the explosive reaction. Therefore the only way to surprise them is to have no explosion, and the flatter the line the better.
The laugh comes from the structure of the scene, not the particular line. Would ‘never mind’ have gotten as big a laugh as ‘nobody’s perfect?’ quite possibly.

One reason why Billy called it a throwaway line was because it had briefly been in the scene where Tony is explaining to Jack why he can’t marry Osgood and was taken out because it stepped on another joke. I don’t imagine it gets as big a laugh now as it used to, the element of surprise is gone.
Iz loved that scene. When we were all on a European publicity tour for the picture he used to sneak into the theatre to watch the last few minutes, just so that he could hear that roar of sheer delight as Daphne and Osgood sail into the sunset.
I don’t think he ever really thought of it as a throwaway.”

I.A.L (Iz) Diamond and Billy Wilder
MEMORIES OF ‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’ – JACK LEMMON
Published November 24, 2020

MEMORIES OF ‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’ – JACK LEMMON



“Most of the mail I get is letters from all over the world talking about “Some Like It Hot.” I would say overall, it’s probably the biggest hit I’ve ever been in, I’m sure. I’ve had films that have grossed more in the beginning, but they’ve had a shorter life; this just keeps on going and going and going.
I think without any hesitation, no hesitation whatsoever-and forgetting the fact that I was in it, because that’s not what really affected the reusult for me–I think it is the best comedy script I have ever read and probably ever will read.”
I just can’t imagine reading a comedy script that could be better. I think that Billy Wilder was at the height of his powers, I think that it’s the equal of the best thing he’s ever done, comedy or drama. I think it’s one of the best films I’ve ever seen.”
Jack Lemmon on “Some Like It Hot.”

Published March 29, 2019

“SOME LIKE IT HOT” AT 60: THE TV SHOW

“Some Like It Hot” was one of the biggest successes of 1959, audiences adored it and continued to flock to theatres to see Sugar, Joe and Jerry create mishap on screen.

With the ever increasing popularity of Television, it’s no surprise that The Mirish Company would try and turn their most successful film: “Some Like It Hot” into a ongoing television series.

The series would focus on the mishaps and adventures that Joe and Jerry would face in their new identities, trying to recreate the magic that was created on film by bringing it into peoples homes and television sets throughout the year.

The premise of the show was this: Joe and Jerry (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon reprising their roles for the pilot) are still on the run from the mob, so they decide to up their game and go under the knife for a complete facial transformation (enter the two new actors playing Joe and Jerry: Vic Damone and Dick Patterson.)

Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis reprising their roles as Jerry and Joe for the pilot.
An voila! Vic Damone and Dick Patterson assume their roles as Jerry and Joe

With new faces on their fronts, Joe and Jerry assume their problems are behind them. However they are soon enlisted by federal agents to help track down Studs Columbo (Spatz Columbo’s twin brother of course!) Studs Columbo is determined to track down and rub out the two musicians who had his brother killed, Joe and Jerry reluctantly agree to get back into drag and get the goods on “Girl-Crazy” Castro, the gangster who deployed the machine gun that killed Toothpick Charlie in the original film.
There is no mention of Sugar in the pilot, she has been replaced by a character called Candy Collins (Tina Louise). Collins is Studs Columbo’s moll who eventually falls for Joe after he reveals his true identity to her.

Candy Collins replaces the character of Sugar Kane
Joan Shawlee reprises her role as Sweet Sue

The pilot was shot at NBC studios in mid March 1961 and quickly vanished into thin air. Neither NBC not the potential sponsor Proctor and Gamble picked up the show. The precise reason this show was a no-go is still unclear, however one studio memo said: “As this is essentially a joke show, it would be difficult to sustain on a high level.”

By the end of 1961, the pilot was considered dead. Perhaps at the end of the day, “Some Like It Hot” should always be considered a one off, no sequal.. no remake.. no television series.. Just a beautifully perfect one off movie ever to be repeated.

More on this planned TV show can be found here: “Some Like It Hot: The Official 50th Anniversary Companion.” https://www.amazon.co.uk/Some-Like-Hot-Companion/dp/1862058644

Published March 29, 2019

SOME LIKE IT HOT AT 60: THE AWARDS

Marilyn Monroe holding her Golden Globe Award for her preformance in “Some Like It Hot.”

When we think of “Some Like It Hot,” we can’t help but feel how overlooked it was during the 1960 Academy Awards, only winning 1 Oscar out of its 6 nominations in total. However that doesn’t take away from the fact that it was universally praised and awarded with nominations from all around the globe at various entertainment award ceremonies. Not only that, but it was the 4th highest grossing film of 1959 in the United States, grossing nearly $10.2million at the box office after its initial budget of $2.8million.

Awards:

Academy Awards 1960:

Won:
Best Costume Design: (Orry Kelly.)

Nominated:
Best Actor in a leading role: Jack Lemmon
Best Director: Billy Wilder
Best Writing and Screenplay: Billy Wilder and I.A.L Diamond
Best Cinematography: Charles Lang
Best Art Direction and Set Decoration: Ted Hayworth and Edward G. Boyle.


Golden Globes 1960

Won:
Best Motion Picture Comedy
Best Actress In A Musical Or Comedy: Marilyn Monroe
Best Actor In A Musical Or Comedy: Jack Lemmon


BAFTA Awards 1960

Won:
Best Foreign Actor: Jack Lemmon

Nominated:
Best Film From Any Source: Billy Wilder

Bambi Awards 1960

Nominated: Best International Actor: Tony Curtis


Directors Guild Of America 1960

Nominated: Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Motion Pictures: Billy Wilder

Grammy Awards 1959

Nominated: Best Soundtrack Album

Laurel Awards 1960

Nominated:

Top Female Comedy Performance: Marilyn Monroe
Top Male Comedy Performance: Jack Lemmon

National Board Of Review 1959

Won:
NBR Award Top Ten Films


Venice Film Festival 1959

Nominated:
Golden Lion Award: Billy Wilder

Writers Guild Of America 1960

Won:
Best Written American Comedy: Billy Wilder and I.A.L Diamond

Posts navigation

1 2 Next

FOLLOW MARILYN REMEMBERED

    MRFC ON TWITTER

    Tweets by @MMRemembered

    MRFC ON INSTAGRAM

    marilynremembered

    ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️ Maril ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️

Marilyn Monroe enjoyed a good working relationship with her co-stars, in particular with her leading man, Joseph Cotten: 

“I enjoyed her company. I enjoyed working with her,” Cotten said  about working with Marilyn Monroe in her first starring role. He said  she had an appetite for laughter and was aware of her sense of humor  describing her as a “pretty clown.  Cotten recalls hearing about her  death and receiving a phone call from the Associated Press for a  comment. “At first I was sure it had to be an accident. Such buoyancy  of spirit, such sparkling anticipation, such a happy and comic attitude  would deny support to any theory,” he wrote. “But she had such moments  of fear and insecurity….As to all the other furtive theories-cover-up,  murder, etc. – I have no knowledge or interest in such sordidness. I  knew and acted with Marilyn Monroe. I am proud of having that  privilege.”
#marilyn #josephcotten #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ "Do you walk i ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️

"Do you walk in real life the way you do in 'Niagara?' "

Marilyn: "I never think about the way I walk.  But since I was playing a certain type of girl in the picture who was not myself, and since the way I walked helped emphasize her, I walked as I did.
I'm sure my real-life walk is not exactly the same."
#marilyn #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #realmarilynmonroe
    <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3 These stunnin <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3

These stunning costumes from the movie 'Niagara,' (screen worn and used in publicity photos) have been auctioned in recent years.
#marilyn #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynremonroe #niagara #costumetest #costume #costumedesign
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ Which of these ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️
Which of these screen worn outfits that Marilyn wears in "Niagara" is your favourite?
#marilynmonroe #niagara #filmnoir #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn
    <3 Happy 101st Birthday to legendary Band Leader: <3 Happy 101st Birthday to legendary Band Leader: Ray Anthony! <3

Big Band Leader Ray Anthony recorded a song, "Marilyn" in 1952, written by Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl.  Marilyn attended a party thrown by her studio at Bandleader Anthony's home in late 1952, at which coached by Mickey Rooney, Marilyn played the drums.

Words: The Marilyn Encyclopedia by Adam Victor
#marilyn #rayanthony #realmarilynmonroe #marilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #birthday
    Feeling reflective #marilyn #marilynmonroe #realm Feeling reflective 
#marilyn #marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe #1950s #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #blonde #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodglamour
    Everyone at Marilyn Remembered is very sorry to he Everyone at Marilyn Remembered is very sorry to hear of Lisa Marie Presley’s passing. Marilyn and Elvis are frequently grouped together as icons of the 1950s as well as the pinnacle of celebrity. Lisa Marie was made up to look like Marilyn by the great Kevyn Aucoin book Making Faces 1994.
#marilynmonroe #lisamariepresley #elvispresley #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub
    Creating history. Marilyn Monroe posing for her f Creating history.

Marilyn Monroe posing for her first ever "LIFE Magazine" cover, which was released on April 7th 1952.  The photos were taken at Marilyn's then apartment at the Beverly Carlton Hotel (now named The Avalon.)

She was right on the brink of mega stardom at this point and went on to grace the cover of LIFE Magazine a further 5 times during her own lifetime.
#marilynmonroe #marilyn #lifemagazine #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #realmarilynmonroe
    Rest in peace Vivienne Westwood. This fashion geni Rest in peace Vivienne Westwood. This fashion genius popularized the punk look in the 1970s and went on to great success with her own clothing line. Her collections typically reflect her rebellious personality and combine punk with feminine aesthetics. For our purposes, one of her looks from the 2008 ready to wear line bears a striking resemblance to Marilyn’s Bus Stop costume—a nod to Marilyn’s timeless appeal and Vivienne’s excellent taste. 
#marilynmonroe #viviennewestwood #fashion #punkrock #busstop #britishfashion #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn
    Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Marilyn Remem Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Marilyn Remembered!
#marilyn #thanksgiving #thankful #grateful #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    We’re going classic glam today! Twentieth Centur We’re going classic glam today! Twentieth Century-Fox staff photographer Frank Powolny took this now-iconic photo of Marilyn in 1953. 
#frankpowolny #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe #marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #platinumblonde #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodglamour #oldhollywoodglam #twentiethcenturyfox #losangeles #hollywood #hollywoodstudios
    An early collaboration with Milton Greene, who wou An early collaboration with Milton Greene, who would go on to become Marilyn’s business partner. Los Angeles, 1953
#marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #marilynmonroe #blonde #platinumblonde
    Follow on Instagram
    Copyright © 2023 Your Name. All rights reserved.
    Cleantalk Pixel