Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- To celebrate Billy Wilder's 95th birthday, Taschen publishers has created a splendid homage to "Some Like it Hot," the movie voted Best Comedy of the Century by the American Film Institute. The film, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, depicts a daring tale of cross-dressing at a time when the subject was all but taboo. Advertisement Released in 1959, the film tells the story of two Prohibition-era jazz musicians who are forced to go undercover in an all-girl band to escape from the mob. Absolutely scandalous in its day, "Some Like it Hot" paved the way for other contemporary comedies such as "Tootsie," "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," "Victor/Victoria and "La Cage aux Folles." The film was directed by Billy Wilder. "Ninotchka," "Oceans Eleven" (the original) and "Irma la Douce," are among some of the wonderful films to his credit. "Billy Wilder's Some Like it Hot," (Tuschen, 384 pages, including 843 illustrations, $150) was written by Dan Auiler, a recognized authority on American film. It is divided into three sections: a rare first draft and entire final script with hundreds of photos from the film; interviews conducted exclusively for the book with Billy Wilder, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon (his his last major interview before his death); and a scrapbook section of ephemera from the film, including advertising, posters from 13 different countries, news items, cast bios, crew lists, Wilder's filmography and more. Advertisement The back of the book includes a replica of Marilyn Monroe's script set into the back cover of the book; a perfect copy of the original which sold at Christie's auction house recently for $60,000. It comes complete with Marilyn's own colored ink prompt notations and the director's notes. The oversized coffee table book is padded with a yellow, ultra suede cover embossed with the film's original title design. A perfect holiday gift.
