Marilyn Monroe’s Brilliance in Some Like It Hot Still Sizzles—65 Years Later

When Some Like It Hot premiered in 1959, few could have predicted it would become one of the most beloved comedies in cinematic history. At its heart was Marilyn Monroe, playing Sugar Kane, a ukulele-strumming, heartbreak-prone singer whose performance remains one of her most iconic—and most accomplished.

Directed by Billy Wilder, the film follows two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who witness a mob murder and go into hiding by disguising themselves as women in an all-female band. It’s there they meet Sugar Kane, Monroe’s character, who delivers a cocktail of comedy, sensuality, and melancholy that has become etched in Hollywood legend.

Critics and audiences alike hailed the film as a triumph. It was a box office hit, grossing nearly $3 million, and earned six Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Costume Design. Monroe’s own performance garnered her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, further solidifying her reputation as more than just a screen siren.

Yet behind the scenes, the production was anything but smooth. Monroe, plagued by health issues and personal struggles, famously needed dozens of takes to land some of her lines—one scene reportedly required 83 takes. But on screen, none of that chaos shows. Instead, Monroe brought a magnetic vulnerability to Sugar Kane that perfectly balanced the film’s farcical gender-bending plot. Her comedic timing, paired with a soft melancholy, turned what could have been a one-dimensional role into a deeply human character.

The film’s cultural resonance continues to grow. In 1989, it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry, and today it ranks high on lists of the greatest comedies ever made. Monroe’s performance is often cited by critics and retrospectives, including the Criterion Collection, as a defining moment in her career—proof of her depth as an actress and her unmatched screen presence.

More than six decades later, Some Like It Hot remains a masterclass in comedic storytelling, and Monroe’s Sugar Kane is still stealing hearts. Amid the laughter and disguises, her performance lingers—charming, complicated, and unforgettable.