Lawrence.com

For Tony Curtis being in director Billy Wilder's comedy classic "Some Like It Hot" really was a drag.

Part of the script called for Curtis and Jack Lemmon to dress in women's clothes.

"Jack and I really had fun with that," Curtis said, laughing during a recent telephone conversation. "When we had breaks, we'd go into the ladies room to see what kind of reaction we'd get. Usually, it was just laughter."

And there was plenty of laughter for 1959 theater audiences who went to see "Some Like it Hot," one of the funniest films ever made. In fact, "Some Like it Hot" was voted No.1 when the American Film Institute compiled its 100 funniest movies list.

The laughs continue in � MGM Home Entertainment's terrific new special DVD version ($24.98) which includes a lot of extras. There's also a standard DVD edition ($14.95).

Curtis and Lemmon play musicians working in Chicago during the roaring 1920s. When they witness a gangland murder, they flee town by dressing in drag and joining an all-girls band headed by rail to Florida. One of the band's singers is Marilyn Monroe, who befriends the band's two newest members, Josephine (Curtis) and Daphne (Lemmon).

"Marilyn was fine to work with," Curtis said. "She was having some personal problems at the time and was very vulnerable. She needed a friend and I tried to be one for her when we were working."

Monroe's sexy yet innocent charm is one of the things that make the movie click. It's difficult to believe that she wasn't the first choice for the part.

"Originally Billy was going to use Frank Sinatra and Mitzi Gaynor," Curtis said. "Frank was supposed to have my part and I was supposed to do Jack's part. Actually, I was happy when Billy decided to go with Jack. Jack is a much funnier guy than I am."

Adding even more fun to the proceedings is the "romance" that develops when an elderly playboy (Joe E. Brown) falls for Daphne.

The DVD special edition includes film critic and historian Leonard Maltin interviewing Curtis, a featurette about the all-girl band, a photo gallery and the original theatrical trailer.