Some Like it Hot by Tony Curtis
There’s a copy of Tony Curtis’ 1994 autobiography that’s been gathering dust on my bookshelf for years. But as soon as I got my hands on his latest memoir, Some Like it Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie , published last October, I devoured it almost immediately!
Co-writer Mark A. Vieira perfectly captures Curtis’ Bronx drawl in this slim volume, which offers a funny and charismatic look behind the scenes of Billy Wilder’s classic comedy. A compelling read from page one, it delivers a winning combination of nerdy, well-researched film trivia and juicy anecdotes. Of course, the most salacious involve Monroe, who, at this time, was married to Arthur Miller and battling with her confidence, weight and substance abuse.
Of all the books I’ve read about Marilyn (and believe me, there’s been a lot!), I think this best conveys her notoriously complex character. Both critical and complimentary, Curtis recalls how Monroe held up days of production by fluffing takes or refusing to turn up altogether. However, he also praises her extraordinary screen presence, intelligence and raw sensuality. In fact, he reveals examples of the latter that are so exciting; I really don’t want to spoil them for you here!
But this isn’t just a book about Monroe. Curtis also talks about his marital problems with Janet Leigh, his battle to be taken seriously as an actor and his experiences of working with Wilder and Lemmon. True, at times he’s a little egotistical, particularly when he seems to continually crow, “I was the best looking kid in Hollywood!” But, really, what else would you expect from Tony Curtis?
As the only major cast member still alive, few can challenge Curtis’s recollections of filming, even though many of the anecdotes here seem rather exaggerated. And, let’s face it, with such glorious chunks of trivia and tittle-tattle on offer, who would want to?
Some Like it Hot: Me, Marilyn and the Movie is available from Amazon for £9.74.
Post by Victoria Conway
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