Some Like It Hot success of "Some Like It Hot" is considered one of the final nails in the coffin for the Hays Code. It is February 1929 in the city of Chicago, during the era of Prohibition. Joe (Tony Curtis) is a jazz saxophone player, and an irresponsible gambler and ladies' man; his sensible friend Jerry (Jack Lemmon) is a jazz double bass player. They work in a speakeasy (disguised as a funeral home) owned by gangster "Spats" Colombo (George Raft). Tipped off by informant "Toothpick" Charlie (George E. Stone), the police raid the joint. Joe and Jerry flee—only to accidentally witness Spats
Some Like It Hot Curtis on gender illusion for the film. Marilyn Monroe worked for 10% of the gross in excess of $4 million, Tony Curtis for 5% of the gross over $2 million and Billy Wilder 17.5% of the first million after break-even and 20% thereafter. Tony Curtis was spotted by Billy Wilder while he was making the film "Houdini" (1953), as he thought Curtis would be perfect for the role of Joe. "I was sure Tony was right for it," explained Wilder, "because he was quite handsome, and when he tells Marilyn that he is one of the Shell Oil family, she