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The Making of Some Like It Hot: My Memories of Marilyn Monroe and the Classic American Movie
A Special Memoir for a Special Moment in Hollywood History . . .
Some Like It Hot occupies a unique place in American culture. This beloved classic showcases five comic geniuses: Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, I. A. L. Diamond, Billy Wilder, and Marilyn Monroe. It has been honored by the American Film Institute as the "Funniest Film of All Time". It has contributed quotes, styles, and stories to film lore. Yet the full story of its making has never been told—until now.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
24 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Tony Curtis
7 books5 followersTony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama. In his later years, Curtis made numerous television appearances.
In October 2008, Curtis's autobiography American Prince: A Memoir, was published. In it, he describes his encounters with other Hollywood legends of the time including Frank Sinatra and James Dean, as well as his hard-knock childhood and path to success. It was followed by the publication of his next book, The Making of Some Like it Hot: My Memories of Marilyn Monroe and the Classic American Movie (2009). Curtis shared his memories of the making of the movie, in particular about Marilyn Monroe.
In October 2008, Curtis's autobiography American Prince: A Memoir, was published. In it, he describes his encounters with other Hollywood legends of the time including Frank Sinatra and James Dean, as well as his hard-knock childhood and path to success. It was followed by the publication of his next book, The Making of Some Like it Hot: My Memories of Marilyn Monroe and the Classic American Movie (2009). Curtis shared his memories of the making of the movie, in particular about Marilyn Monroe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 3, 2013
Perhaps the best book about movies that I've ever read...
Seriously: if you want to know everything about "Some like it hot", from the casting, writing and technical details (like the lightening of a specific scene or the costume design) to backstage gossip and the famous 81 takes of 'Where's that bourbon?' than this is the book you should read. It's not too long, well written, funny and insightful and just very interesting and entertaining for movie fans.
Tony Curtis likes to talk about himself, of course, but he also tells a lot about Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon (he obviously adored both of them) and Marilyn Monroe (actually, his remarks about Marilyn are among the most intelligent I've encountered so far. She drove him nuts during the filming, just like everyone else who had to put up with her behaviour, but he tries to understand and explain her problems).
The book includes many great behind-the-scenes photographs (some in colour).
Seriously: if you want to know everything about "Some like it hot", from the casting, writing and technical details (like the lightening of a specific scene or the costume design) to backstage gossip and the famous 81 takes of 'Where's that bourbon?' than this is the book you should read. It's not too long, well written, funny and insightful and just very interesting and entertaining for movie fans.
Tony Curtis likes to talk about himself, of course, but he also tells a lot about Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon (he obviously adored both of them) and Marilyn Monroe (actually, his remarks about Marilyn are among the most intelligent I've encountered so far. She drove him nuts during the filming, just like everyone else who had to put up with her behaviour, but he tries to understand and explain her problems).
The book includes many great behind-the-scenes photographs (some in colour).
May 26, 2013
I liked the film, but I mostly bought this book to read what he had to say about Marilyn (since I'd previously written a paper about her). So my review is mostly going to reflect that since I skipped over a lot of parts.
If you're interested in hearing what he says about Marilyn, it basically comes down to this. She was addicted to sleeping pills, alcohol, and was drinking vermouth on set. She was chronically late to sets, was practically incapable of performing short takes (though Jack Lemmon says that this was because of her working for Universal earlier in her career where it was necessary for an actor to do long takes, which is what she was good at). She was fat, spoiled, and arrogant. She was surrounded by people who were exploiting her. He (apparently) slept with her and got her pregnant. She was also supposedly the cause of Wilder's stress (his back got thrown out towards the end of production because of the stress Marilyn's tardiness caused).
At the end of the book he mentions the nominations for the academy awards, only failing to mention the Golden Globe Marilyn won for her performance. Whether this is a failure to remember or his resentment over the 81 takes of "Where's that bourbon?" is questionable.
The thing that really got me was that this book was published in 2009. Practically everyone who had anything to do with the production was dead. Miller died sometime in 2004-2005. It just seems a bit sneaky to me because had he published this book when he was alive, Miller would've definitely had something to say about it.
But maybe that's just him worrying about being sued, or taking the high road. I don't know, it just bugs me that there's only a single source for this sort of thing. But then again, it's not as if this account would be any more reliable otherwise. Not that I'm saying there's no truth to it, just that the mentioned parties cannot speak for themselves.
Though I think Lemmon's theory about Marilyn being able to do long takes could've been something that benefited her later on in her career. Weatherby said she wanted to be a Shakespearean actress (as do the lost tape transcripts if you believe them). Miner said she might've been misguided by the Strasburgs when they said she could do it, but in addition to her acting talent, if they thought as Lemmon did, this would've greatly benefited her performing. Especially if she decided to perform live. But I guess we'll never know.
If you're interested in hearing what he says about Marilyn, it basically comes down to this. She was addicted to sleeping pills, alcohol, and was drinking vermouth on set. She was chronically late to sets, was practically incapable of performing short takes (though Jack Lemmon says that this was because of her working for Universal earlier in her career where it was necessary for an actor to do long takes, which is what she was good at). She was fat, spoiled, and arrogant. She was surrounded by people who were exploiting her. He (apparently) slept with her and got her pregnant. She was also supposedly the cause of Wilder's stress (his back got thrown out towards the end of production because of the stress Marilyn's tardiness caused).
At the end of the book he mentions the nominations for the academy awards, only failing to mention the Golden Globe Marilyn won for her performance. Whether this is a failure to remember or his resentment over the 81 takes of "Where's that bourbon?" is questionable.
The thing that really got me was that this book was published in 2009. Practically everyone who had anything to do with the production was dead. Miller died sometime in 2004-2005. It just seems a bit sneaky to me because had he published this book when he was alive, Miller would've definitely had something to say about it.
But maybe that's just him worrying about being sued, or taking the high road. I don't know, it just bugs me that there's only a single source for this sort of thing. But then again, it's not as if this account would be any more reliable otherwise. Not that I'm saying there's no truth to it, just that the mentioned parties cannot speak for themselves.
Though I think Lemmon's theory about Marilyn being able to do long takes could've been something that benefited her later on in her career. Weatherby said she wanted to be a Shakespearean actress (as do the lost tape transcripts if you believe them). Miner said she might've been misguided by the Strasburgs when they said she could do it, but in addition to her acting talent, if they thought as Lemmon did, this would've greatly benefited her performing. Especially if she decided to perform live. But I guess we'll never know.
July 18, 2012
Tony Curtis was one of the last surviving members from the cast of Some Like it Hot. Hardly the most famous member, Curtis is not the first place one might go looking for information about the famous comedy, but he turns out to be quite an interesting source in this book.
Curtis talks a bit about his personal life, his upbringing as the son of a Jewish tailor, his marriage to a bigger star (Janet Leigh), and his transition to stardom. Mostly, though, he talks about Some Like it Hot, the people involved, personal anecdotes, and the production. It is thorough and amusing.
Do not expect scholarly work here. Curtis does not hesitate to throw in a few four letter words and his style of writing is conversational. It is an interesting, entertaining read for sure, a treat for fans of Some Like it Hot, Marilyn Monroe, and the classic movie world of the 1950s.
Curtis talks a bit about his personal life, his upbringing as the son of a Jewish tailor, his marriage to a bigger star (Janet Leigh), and his transition to stardom. Mostly, though, he talks about Some Like it Hot, the people involved, personal anecdotes, and the production. It is thorough and amusing.
Do not expect scholarly work here. Curtis does not hesitate to throw in a few four letter words and his style of writing is conversational. It is an interesting, entertaining read for sure, a treat for fans of Some Like it Hot, Marilyn Monroe, and the classic movie world of the 1950s.
November 9, 2009
Half a century after "Some Like It Hot" premiered on the big screen, it's still beloved by fans and is consistently rated one of the funniest, if not the funniest, film comedy ever made. Sadly, most of the key players responsible for it are gone--the director and co-writer Billy Wilder; and stars Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. Fortunately, the other leading player in this classic, Tony Curtis, is still with us, and that's especially fortunate for fans of "Some Like It Hot," because he's provided a first-rate memoir of the making of the film.
Although the result of their collaboration was a masterpiece, the making of "Hot" was anything but easy for the creative team. Wilder and his cowriter, I.A.L. Diamond, were literally making it up as they went along (it was their practice to start shooting without a finished script, something that worked for them artistically but added to the tension). Curtis and Lemmon had to deal with the challenges and indignities of playing a good portion of the film in drag. And then there was Marilyn Monroe, already on a path that would lead to her sad self-destruction just a few years later. Monroe's chronic inability to meet her professional obligations (starting with her failure to show up on time, or even at all) caused significant cost overruns and production delays, but Wilder said the pain was worth it for the magic she brought to the screen.
Curtis provides enough of a backstory about his own life and the Hollywood studio world of the 1950s to provide the reader with context for what is to follow, but the focus here is clearly on the making of this one-of-a-kind film.
Curtis' collaborator, Mark A.Viera, has provided the research to verify dates, names and places that may have become a bit fuzzy fifty years later. But Curtis is a natural storyteller, and his personality, warmth and wit shine through these pages. As I read, I kept hearing Curtis' voice in my head, as if he was spinning these wonderful tales just for me. (Or maybe it was the voice of Curtis as one of his alter-egos in the film, Mr. Shell Oil Jr., who sounded suspiciously like Cary Grant.) Whichever voice it was, it was a wonderful one. I enjoyed this immensely, and if you're a fan of Curtis and this classic film, I am sure you will too
Although the result of their collaboration was a masterpiece, the making of "Hot" was anything but easy for the creative team. Wilder and his cowriter, I.A.L. Diamond, were literally making it up as they went along (it was their practice to start shooting without a finished script, something that worked for them artistically but added to the tension). Curtis and Lemmon had to deal with the challenges and indignities of playing a good portion of the film in drag. And then there was Marilyn Monroe, already on a path that would lead to her sad self-destruction just a few years later. Monroe's chronic inability to meet her professional obligations (starting with her failure to show up on time, or even at all) caused significant cost overruns and production delays, but Wilder said the pain was worth it for the magic she brought to the screen.
Curtis provides enough of a backstory about his own life and the Hollywood studio world of the 1950s to provide the reader with context for what is to follow, but the focus here is clearly on the making of this one-of-a-kind film.
Curtis' collaborator, Mark A.Viera, has provided the research to verify dates, names and places that may have become a bit fuzzy fifty years later. But Curtis is a natural storyteller, and his personality, warmth and wit shine through these pages. As I read, I kept hearing Curtis' voice in my head, as if he was spinning these wonderful tales just for me. (Or maybe it was the voice of Curtis as one of his alter-egos in the film, Mr. Shell Oil Jr., who sounded suspiciously like Cary Grant.) Whichever voice it was, it was a wonderful one. I enjoyed this immensely, and if you're a fan of Curtis and this classic film, I am sure you will too
September 19, 2012
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While Curtis is always an entertaining read, his never-ending ego does grow tiresome after a while. He tries to sound humble, but can't help pondering that he was possibly "the handsomest" actor in Hollywood: "Some Like it Hot did a lot for my development as an actor. It was enough for me to be a handsome actor, maybe the handsomest in town. It wasn't enough to learn the lines and show up. Being around artists like Jack and Billy and Marilyn affected me. I wanted to know more. I wanted to get closer to the source of the art. I wanted to know how to create that magic, like stars did in the pictures I'd seen when I was a kid."
While Curtis is always an entertaining read, his never-ending ego does grow tiresome after a while. He tries to sound humble, but can't help pondering that he was possibly "the handsomest" actor in Hollywood: "Some Like it Hot did a lot for my development as an actor. It was enough for me to be a handsome actor, maybe the handsomest in town. It wasn't enough to learn the lines and show up. Being around artists like Jack and Billy and Marilyn affected me. I wanted to know more. I wanted to get closer to the source of the art. I wanted to know how to create that magic, like stars did in the pictures I'd seen when I was a kid."
June 13, 2011
Having read Tony Curtis' memoir, Some Like It Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie on the making of Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot, it's hard to believe that the final film product is such a sparkling example of film comedy. It's amazing that the film was even completed, that such a well realized and much loved piece of film history emerged from so much chaos and personal dramas.
At times it is uncertain what parts of Some Like It Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie are anecdotally taken from Curtis' memories and what stems from the co-author's extensive research into the making of the film. Nonetheless, the book has a light-hearted, casual and engaging voice the not only covers the process of producing a film, but offers insight into the industry that created it and how, in the late 1950s, the Hollywood studio system was undergoing restructure. It does seem willing to indulge in Marilyn Monroe gossip over other, equally fascinating, aspects of the production and participants, showing the frustration she caused on set while recognizing the personal tragedy she was experiencing in her life at the time.
Featuring great on-set photos, Some Like It Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie offers a unique insider perspective on the 1950s Hollywood film industry and the work, and plain old good luck, that goes into creating a film of such calibre. An entertaining companion piece to the film.
At times it is uncertain what parts of Some Like It Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie are anecdotally taken from Curtis' memories and what stems from the co-author's extensive research into the making of the film. Nonetheless, the book has a light-hearted, casual and engaging voice the not only covers the process of producing a film, but offers insight into the industry that created it and how, in the late 1950s, the Hollywood studio system was undergoing restructure. It does seem willing to indulge in Marilyn Monroe gossip over other, equally fascinating, aspects of the production and participants, showing the frustration she caused on set while recognizing the personal tragedy she was experiencing in her life at the time.
Featuring great on-set photos, Some Like It Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie offers a unique insider perspective on the 1950s Hollywood film industry and the work, and plain old good luck, that goes into creating a film of such calibre. An entertaining companion piece to the film.
August 12, 2011
I was very happy when I found this in a bargain bin, because "Some Like It Hot" is one of my favourite movies. And it was really a good read! It is written in a quite special, very candid style (probably the way Tony Curtis speaks ...or rather: spoke) and offers an inside view of film making in 1958. Some stories are very revealing, most of all everything Curtis has to say about Marilyn Monroe. Having had an affair with her years before (I didn't know that), he now watches with alarm how she may be brilliant, but is still very insecure and is becoming more and more problematic to work with - always late, always surrounded by advisors ... She also fell pregnant during the filming, but lost the child. Also interesting that Tony Curtis sometimes felt like a "piggy in the middle" because Billy Wilder's attention was always more directed towards Monroe and Jack Lemmon.
May 26, 2017
Some interesting insights into the making of this famous movie. Monroe comes across pretty badly. Even given that she was talented, her unprofessional behaviour almost throughout the production doesn't endear her to the reader.
Curtis is a bit full of himself too, but at least he's willing to point out his failings and the knockbacks he received from others in the business. His curious one-night stand with Monroe is odd, but it was a mutual affair.
Apart from this it's intriguing to see how Billy Wilder coped, the times he was prepared to indulge Monroe and the times he wasn't. Looking at the movie today you wonder how such a wondrous piece of froth came from such a fraught experience.
Curtis is a bit full of himself too, but at least he's willing to point out his failings and the knockbacks he received from others in the business. His curious one-night stand with Monroe is odd, but it was a mutual affair.
Apart from this it's intriguing to see how Billy Wilder coped, the times he was prepared to indulge Monroe and the times he wasn't. Looking at the movie today you wonder how such a wondrous piece of froth came from such a fraught experience.
August 13, 2009
I was the production editor for this book, and I can only say that it is a fantastic read. Curtis tells with candor the details of his time filming the classic comedy and doesn't hold back. I won't give anything away; you'll just have to read it. You'll never watch the movie the same way again.
January 4, 2016
Fascinating, Funny, Heartfelt & Riveting! I Loved It!
June 19, 2019
I’m a huge fan of Some Like It Hot! It’s just a great comedy with a lot of laughs and characters who have hearts of gold. I was extremely excited to start this book and it definitely had a lot of tea. As a narrator, Tony Curtis shines throughout all of these pages. I could almost hear his New York accent while reading. He is definitely a flawed narrator though. There were a few times I questioned his judgment (like having an affair with Marilyn while Janet Leigh was pregnant), but I also appreciated that because it made everything he said seem honest, like he wasn’t lying about a thing, except maybe a few embellishments here and there to stroke his ego. I kept wondering what the book would be like if it were written through Marilyn, Jack or Billy’s perspective. I know that’s quite pointless, but for some reason, Tony’s focus on these 3 main players really made them come alive and shows that they each were effected in their own ways by the making of the film. Marilyn obviously had a lot of inner demons that came out to attack everyone on the set. Tony never diminishes her talent as an actor, but he points out that she was always in her own way, which I believe is very true. Poor Billy, the true hero of this book who wrangled everyone together and wrote the script while filming. They didn’t even know what the famous last words were going to be until the night before the scene was shot. It’s crazy that his comic genius could work on the fly like that. And the respect for Jack is quite clear. It was very nice to hear Tony say that he was never jealous of Jack, just in awe at his natural ability to act and adapt to different things. Overall this was a great book. It gave me more insight on a movie I’ve always loved and it makes me love it even more. So the shooting took longer than scheduled, Billy had to hire a therapist to get him through filming, Tony’s female accent wasn’t feminine enough and had to be completely redubbed, Jack drank often after work to blow off steam, and Marilyn was a complete diva the entire time, but hey, nobody’s perfect. The important thing is that this movie is and so is this book filled with memories.
October 14, 2012
Tony Curtis, being a famous movie star, who has come from New York City, his Father being a tailor, coming from a dysfunctional family, the book is entitled "Some Like it Hot". Me Marilyn and the movie with author Mark A Vierra, being a "famous movie star" seems to entitle person to embellish stories, as though people out there really care, well since I love the movie I thought it would be interesting to read about the goings on while being filmed. Jack Lemmon seems to come out as a professional actor, who plays the role as required by Billy Wilder, it would seem that Tony Curtis needs to be a great actor rather then a "pretty boy" something he has been labeled with all his life, it seems he had to fight off males and females who hat alternative motives on his abilities.
It seems he had met and slept with Marilyn way before they got involved with this movie.
One cannot imagine the goings on on a set, Marilyn would constantly be late or not show up at all, she was mentored by the Strasbergs, Paula was on the set at all times, until Wilder told her to keep away from being on the set, Wilder believed that having Marilyn as a major star was crucial to the movie, that the shots he did get with her in it were so worthwhile, as she had this sexy magnetism on screen, he was so frustrated with her, that he claimed she caused him a nervous breakdown.
It took 73 days to complete the movies, being way over budget.
There is a claim that Curtis slept with Marilyn while on the set, during which she had a miscarriage, he was confront by the then husband Arthur Miller about him sleeping with his wife, who claimed it was Curtis's baby, mind you he was still married to Janet Leigh, with a 2 year old daughter and one on the way.
In the love scene aboard the "yacht" he claims an enormous erection, and since Marilyn was lying on top she was fully aware of,
Interesting fodder, not sure if i will look at the movie differently when I see it next time.
It seems he had met and slept with Marilyn way before they got involved with this movie.
One cannot imagine the goings on on a set, Marilyn would constantly be late or not show up at all, she was mentored by the Strasbergs, Paula was on the set at all times, until Wilder told her to keep away from being on the set, Wilder believed that having Marilyn as a major star was crucial to the movie, that the shots he did get with her in it were so worthwhile, as she had this sexy magnetism on screen, he was so frustrated with her, that he claimed she caused him a nervous breakdown.
It took 73 days to complete the movies, being way over budget.
There is a claim that Curtis slept with Marilyn while on the set, during which she had a miscarriage, he was confront by the then husband Arthur Miller about him sleeping with his wife, who claimed it was Curtis's baby, mind you he was still married to Janet Leigh, with a 2 year old daughter and one on the way.
In the love scene aboard the "yacht" he claims an enormous erection, and since Marilyn was lying on top she was fully aware of,
Interesting fodder, not sure if i will look at the movie differently when I see it next time.
September 22, 2019
Even though it took me just over a day to read it, this book was very interesting. I’ve loved the movie “Some Like it Hot” since I first saw it, and find something new to like in it in each successive viewing.
Reading Tony Curtis’s accounts of the filming of such a great movie was fascinating. I learned a great deal about what went on behind the scenes (I will never be able to watch the scene where Marilyn Monroe says, “Where’s the bourbon?” in the same way again), why it was filmed in black and white, and about the enigma that was Marilyn Monroe.
The choppy, short sentence writing style took me a while to get used to (and never REALLY did), but it is like having Tony Curtis speak right to you, and doesn’t detract too much from the flow of the book. And at times, his words match up better with his sentiments.
“…Some like it Hot is truly our movie. It was tailored to our individual talents and to our collective talents. Brilliantly conceived and brilliantly tailored. I should know. My father was a tailor.”
I simply adore this movie and can’t wait to watch it again, knowing what I do now. Such incredible talents – Curtis, Billy Wilder, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe – created something magic that can be enjoyed over a half century later.
Reading Tony Curtis’s accounts of the filming of such a great movie was fascinating. I learned a great deal about what went on behind the scenes (I will never be able to watch the scene where Marilyn Monroe says, “Where’s the bourbon?” in the same way again), why it was filmed in black and white, and about the enigma that was Marilyn Monroe.
The choppy, short sentence writing style took me a while to get used to (and never REALLY did), but it is like having Tony Curtis speak right to you, and doesn’t detract too much from the flow of the book. And at times, his words match up better with his sentiments.
“…Some like it Hot is truly our movie. It was tailored to our individual talents and to our collective talents. Brilliantly conceived and brilliantly tailored. I should know. My father was a tailor.”
I simply adore this movie and can’t wait to watch it again, knowing what I do now. Such incredible talents – Curtis, Billy Wilder, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe – created something magic that can be enjoyed over a half century later.
May 17, 2016
Having written a whole chapter on "Some Like It Hot" in my book on romantic comedies I'll Have What She's Having: Behind the Scenes of the Great Romantic Comedies I was hoping to get new information about the making of this classic film. This is a memoir from Tony Curtis that was carefully researched by his collaborator... using a lot of the same sources I did. So there is some fresh material here, mostly about Curtis's relationship with Marilyn Monroe, a lot of it is readily available elsewhere. If you've read books on Billy Wilder you'll have heard many of these stories already. On the plus side there are lots of photos including a few pages in color (!) and there is Curtis's fresh spin on perhaps the most notorious quote about doing a love scene with Monroe which comes out much different in his telling. So it's something you'll want to check out if you're a fan of this legendary American comedy but it doesn't break as much ground as you might have hoped.
July 22, 2018
I adore the film Some Like it Hot, and have done ever since first watching it as a young teenager, and like a good book, each time I re-watch it I see new angles - for example, its take on gender issues has a whole new resonance now. So, Husband found this book and bought it for me - not my usual fare, but I did really enjoy it. It is co-written by Curtis and at times his voice is just so clear - waspish, arrogant and humble, uncertain, perceptive and vain, dismissive of some and generous to others. And all just so interesting, given who he was, and his role in the film. At times the writing did seem very uneven - trying to meld his thoughts and the necessary background details, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. His thoughts on Marilyn, fame, and the trials and tribulations of a handsome macho movie star playing a "dame" were fascinating.
February 29, 2016
This book provides some insight into the making of Some Like It Hot, but is obviously biased towards Tony Curtis’ own memories and observations rather than a general overview. The initial chapters are purely about Curtis’ early life and film career, although they don’t go on for too long.
I found Curtis came across full of himself which got tiresome: referring to himself as “the hottest guy in town” for example. It wasn’t too long a book so was worthwhile reading, but doesn’t inspire me to read Curtis’ own memoirs. Lots of pictures, including colour ones (the film is black and white), which were interesting to see.
I found Curtis came across full of himself which got tiresome: referring to himself as “the hottest guy in town” for example. It wasn’t too long a book so was worthwhile reading, but doesn’t inspire me to read Curtis’ own memoirs. Lots of pictures, including colour ones (the film is black and white), which were interesting to see.
July 13, 2015
Tony Curtis's memories were filled in by research in this memoir of the making of "Some Like It Hot." I found some of the history of 1950s movie production a bit boring, but later enjoyed the memories that gave a feeling of being on set with these famous personalities. I did doubt the veracity of parts of the book, and in regards to his dealings with Marilyn and discussion of her body, the narrator seemed a bit gauche.
Overall it was an interesting read and made me want to watch the movie again to look for these new clues of goings-on behind the scenes; however, this isn't really a must-read in my opinion.
Overall it was an interesting read and made me want to watch the movie again to look for these new clues of goings-on behind the scenes; however, this isn't really a must-read in my opinion.
April 2, 2016
Tony Curtis, in his own words (or as close to them as we might get), tells a fascinating behind-the-screen tale about the making of SOME LIKE IT HOT. His writing is easy to digest and there are some yummy tales to be devoured here. If you're a fan of Marilyn Monroe ... if you're a fan of The Hotel Del Coronado ... if you're a fan of the film ... you'll enjoy this book. Numerous black-and-white and rare color photos are sprinkled throughout the book, making it both interesting from a storytelling standpoint and from a visual scrapbook standpoint.
January 4, 2012
I felt like I was reading a gossip magazine in the 1950's. I'm a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe, but it was mainly about her coming to work late. She was always known for never showing up on time, so it was interesting to know how long it really did take her to get ready to be "Marilyn". It was awesome reading little behind the scene details on this movie I love and then going back to re-watch and notice those details I didn't see before.
October 14, 2012
Perhaps because of how much I love this movie, I found the book absolutely riveting and read it in three nights. Curtis comes across as rather vain but his inside account of the making of this movie is fascinating. especially the poisonous effect of the Strasbergs on Monroe and the incredible friction between Billy Wilder and Marilyn who blamed each other for their health problems. Jack Lemmon comes out of the story best of all as a genuinely nice guy.
March 31, 2019
As someone who's seen "Some Like It Hot" countless times, I thought I knew everything there was to know about this classic film. However, Tony Curtis has proved me wrong. Inside this book are hundreds of secrets (some that would make Daphne and Josephine blush!) and often hilarious observations written as though he was talking directly to me. Thank you,Tony for making this movie and for the laughter you've brought to the silver screen. You are very missed, but will never be forgotten!
April 21, 2014
Such a funny film deserves a closer behind-the-scenes view, so I was delighted to find this at my local library.
While a few things I took with a grain of salt (this is a Tony Curtis memoir after all), I found this a quick and fun read. Reinforced my admiration for Jack Lemmon and Billy Wilder, and sadly reconfirmed the darker side of Marilyn.
If you love the movie, time with this book will be enjoyable.
While a few things I took with a grain of salt (this is a Tony Curtis memoir after all), I found this a quick and fun read. Reinforced my admiration for Jack Lemmon and Billy Wilder, and sadly reconfirmed the darker side of Marilyn.
If you love the movie, time with this book will be enjoyable.
October 9, 2017
I was led to this book after reading a wonderful article about the film "Some Like It Hot": http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/2017...
It has the usual ego and armchair psychology of most star bios, but it's still an interesting book. I look forward to watching the film again for the umpteenth time, this time with a bit more insight into the process and personalities involved in the filmmaking process.
It has the usual ego and armchair psychology of most star bios, but it's still an interesting book. I look forward to watching the film again for the umpteenth time, this time with a bit more insight into the process and personalities involved in the filmmaking process.
February 22, 2021
I learned a lot from this book, both about the movie SOME LIKE IT HOT and its cast/crew, as well as Hollywood in general at that time. Curtis' style is very conversational, which makes for an easy read. My only criticism (and it's a minor one) is that at times he tends to focus too much on the minutiae (dates, addresses, etc.). One thing's for certain: I'll never watch SOME LIKE IT HOT the same way again.
March 8, 2017
I'll be seeing this movie in a whole different way from now on.
October 5, 2017
Great behind-the-scenes stories about the making of this great film. It could only have been told in this way by someone as close to it as Tony Curtis.
March 11, 2019
There is no business - that will
shatter your soul, suck you dry or make you immortal - like show business!
shatter your soul, suck you dry or make you immortal - like show business!
March 31, 2019
I read this cover to cover in one sitting last night. Really interesting. I had no idea Jack wasnt the first choice for the role but so glad he got the part. Tony and Jack were a brilliant duo.
March 26, 2025
Tony's Memories of Marilyn and Some Like It Hot
I thought this book was a "fun read" when I stated it. The movie was funny. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were funny in it, playing two men who had seen the St. Valentine's Day gangland shooting and disguised themselves as women musicians to keep under the radar of the Mob. I enjoyed the part where they had to get comfortable wearing women's clothes and makeup and acting convincingly as women but not too much so, since they were of course supposed to act like men acting like women. Marilyn played a seemingly not too bright woman who was running from her own hard knocks.
Tony Curtis knew Marilyn Monroe before "Some Like
It Hot", when they were both starting out in 'the business'. They had gone out a few times and enjoyed an easy friendship. He had liked Marilyn. He had thought people were using her for themselves. Now they were both older and were movie stars. Married to other people. Sex-symbols.
This book tries to convey Tony Curtis's feelings about Marilyn and the movie they made with honesty and candor, and with understanding for Marilyn, at the time the movie was made, and fifty years afterward. It had become a hard slog, sometimes physically, to act like a woman and stand in high heels for hours while Marilyn ruined take after take Even eighty takes one day. Sometimes it added to the pressure of aching calves and sore feet to be sympathetic and understanding of this woman who was putting them through this hell of making them wait for her to come on set and then to make them wait while she never got the line right.
It seemed that even fifty years later, the old feelings came though his later calm and onto the pages.
What surprised me was that Marilyn apparently seduced Tony on the night before the big scene where her character seduced his character. It was as though she sought to be in complete control and make Tony the helpless and responsive pawn. Tony admitted that he was very much aroused and responsive both times.
As I read this memoir, I kept asking Tony Curtis questions about what he had written. That remark about comparing Marilyn's kiss to Hitler's. Was he really in the production room, watching his seduction scene along with members of the press who were treating his and Marilyn's performances with whoops and calls? I mean no wonder he was angry enough to reply to one man's question about what it was like to be kissed by Marilyn with, "What do you think it was like? Being kissed by Hitler?"
I thought this book was a "fun read" when I stated it. The movie was funny. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were funny in it, playing two men who had seen the St. Valentine's Day gangland shooting and disguised themselves as women musicians to keep under the radar of the Mob. I enjoyed the part where they had to get comfortable wearing women's clothes and makeup and acting convincingly as women but not too much so, since they were of course supposed to act like men acting like women. Marilyn played a seemingly not too bright woman who was running from her own hard knocks.
Tony Curtis knew Marilyn Monroe before "Some Like
It Hot", when they were both starting out in 'the business'. They had gone out a few times and enjoyed an easy friendship. He had liked Marilyn. He had thought people were using her for themselves. Now they were both older and were movie stars. Married to other people. Sex-symbols.
This book tries to convey Tony Curtis's feelings about Marilyn and the movie they made with honesty and candor, and with understanding for Marilyn, at the time the movie was made, and fifty years afterward. It had become a hard slog, sometimes physically, to act like a woman and stand in high heels for hours while Marilyn ruined take after take Even eighty takes one day. Sometimes it added to the pressure of aching calves and sore feet to be sympathetic and understanding of this woman who was putting them through this hell of making them wait for her to come on set and then to make them wait while she never got the line right.
It seemed that even fifty years later, the old feelings came though his later calm and onto the pages.
What surprised me was that Marilyn apparently seduced Tony on the night before the big scene where her character seduced his character. It was as though she sought to be in complete control and make Tony the helpless and responsive pawn. Tony admitted that he was very much aroused and responsive both times.
As I read this memoir, I kept asking Tony Curtis questions about what he had written. That remark about comparing Marilyn's kiss to Hitler's. Was he really in the production room, watching his seduction scene along with members of the press who were treating his and Marilyn's performances with whoops and calls? I mean no wonder he was angry enough to reply to one man's question about what it was like to be kissed by Marilyn with, "What do you think it was like? Being kissed by Hitler?"
December 3, 2022
Chapter 1
Billy [Wilder] had just finished Stalag 17, a film about a World War II prison camp. Its dialogue was being dubbed for release in Germany. Billy had no love for that country. He’d left it in 1933 to avoid persecution. His mother and two other relatives had died in the Holocaust. He’d made both A Foreign Affair and Stalag 17 to comment on that. What did Paramount do? To pacify German exhibitors, it changed a German spy in Stalag 17 to a Polish spy. Billy demanded a change and an apology. He got neither. He didn’t even get the courtesy of a reply. He’d been with Paramount since 1937. He’d made something like ten hits for those fools. So he turned his back on them and found a better way to make pictures.
Chapter 34
The premiere happened on a very, very cold night. My father and I waited about two hours for Marilyn to show up. By this time there were more than a thousand people milling around. They were all around the theatre and across Seventh Avenue. There was a major traffic jam. The whole Times Square area was clogged. Part of that was due to the number of celebrities arriving. We saw Celeste Holm, George Raft, Harry Belafonte, and Gloria Swanson.
The minute Marilyn arrived, the crowd went mad. There was total confusion. People were pushing, shoving, screaming. Barricades were knocked down. I saw my father get pushed. He fell. I hesitated for a split second, wondering what to do. Help my father? Or get close to the woman I’d idolized for six years? My father wasn’t hurt. As he was getting up and brushing himself off, Marilyn got out of her limousine.
We’d been pushed close to it, so I got a look I’ll never forget. Marilyn was that “vision in white” you hear about, but real. White fur. Silver white gown. Platinum white hair. Porcelain white skin. All I could do was stare. She seemed more like an apparition than a flesh-and-blood person, but that apparition was burned into my memory. She waved and smiled at everyone. Then they rushed her into the theater before anything could happen to her. Like me, everyone was a little stunned.
And that movie! The laughter was so loud that my ears were still ringing the next morning. After the event, I knew that this movie was going to be Marilyn’s biggest hit, the greatest comedy ever. For a cold night, this was the kind of hot that people wanted.
Billy [Wilder] had just finished Stalag 17, a film about a World War II prison camp. Its dialogue was being dubbed for release in Germany. Billy had no love for that country. He’d left it in 1933 to avoid persecution. His mother and two other relatives had died in the Holocaust. He’d made both A Foreign Affair and Stalag 17 to comment on that. What did Paramount do? To pacify German exhibitors, it changed a German spy in Stalag 17 to a Polish spy. Billy demanded a change and an apology. He got neither. He didn’t even get the courtesy of a reply. He’d been with Paramount since 1937. He’d made something like ten hits for those fools. So he turned his back on them and found a better way to make pictures.
Chapter 34
The premiere happened on a very, very cold night. My father and I waited about two hours for Marilyn to show up. By this time there were more than a thousand people milling around. They were all around the theatre and across Seventh Avenue. There was a major traffic jam. The whole Times Square area was clogged. Part of that was due to the number of celebrities arriving. We saw Celeste Holm, George Raft, Harry Belafonte, and Gloria Swanson.
The minute Marilyn arrived, the crowd went mad. There was total confusion. People were pushing, shoving, screaming. Barricades were knocked down. I saw my father get pushed. He fell. I hesitated for a split second, wondering what to do. Help my father? Or get close to the woman I’d idolized for six years? My father wasn’t hurt. As he was getting up and brushing himself off, Marilyn got out of her limousine.
We’d been pushed close to it, so I got a look I’ll never forget. Marilyn was that “vision in white” you hear about, but real. White fur. Silver white gown. Platinum white hair. Porcelain white skin. All I could do was stare. She seemed more like an apparition than a flesh-and-blood person, but that apparition was burned into my memory. She waved and smiled at everyone. Then they rushed her into the theater before anything could happen to her. Like me, everyone was a little stunned.
And that movie! The laughter was so loud that my ears were still ringing the next morning. After the event, I knew that this movie was going to be Marilyn’s biggest hit, the greatest comedy ever. For a cold night, this was the kind of hot that people wanted.
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