How did Billy Wilder’s film Some Like It Hot get its title?

The risks involved in the film’s plot and casting were more than worth it. Some like it hot The film grossed more than 15 times its budget at the box office and propelled all the main actors to even greater fame. Monroe never topped her performance as Curtis’s lover Sugar Kane. And despite their illustrious careers in Hollywood, the film is what Wilder and Lemmon are primarily remembered for.

Some like it hot is also responsible for some of the most brilliant one-liners in film history. Not least the final punchline in response to Jack Lemmon’s character Jerry’s confession that he is actually a man. “Nobody’s perfect,” his male admirer replies cheerfully. But what about the film’s title? Although the script is full of witty remarks, it’s hard to see the joke in those four words.

What does “Some Like It Hot” actually mean?

The title, however, comes from a line in the script, from a scene in which Curtis’ character Joe pretends to be a millionaire in order to woo Sugar, who doesn’t recognize him in his male disguise. When Sugar tells him she’s on a trip performing in an all-female band, Joe pretends not to know. “Does that mean you play this very fast music, um… jazz?” he asks.

“Yeah! Really hot!” says Sugar, referring to a common description of jazz at the time, which was associated with emotional, fast dance music. “Well, I guess some like it hot”, replies Joe. “Personally, I prefer classical music.”

The reason Wilder chose this phrase as the title for his film is because it takes on a different meaning when placed in the context of the story as a whole and in the broader context of Hollywood at the time. The word “hot” is not simply a reference to the type of jazz music Sugar’s band plays. It alludes to the lewd actions of Joe and Jerry, who disguised themselves to join their band and get close to her and the other musicians.

In addition, the expression in its entirety appeals to potential viewers of the film as well as more conservative sections of the mass media and the public by alerting them to the daring elements of the plot. In fact, the overwhelming success of Some like it hot Although the film openly boasted of content that was considered transgressive at the time, it was one of the final nails in the coffin of the outdated Motion Picture Production Code.

Although the code remained in force until 1968, it was effectively over by the time Hollywood’s most popular film featured Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in drag. Wilder’s title also implied that the film might not be to everyone’s taste. But 76 years later, it should certainly be the one for anyone who appreciates good comedy and great movies.

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