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
“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.”
“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.
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
