Fistik Gibi (1970, Turkey)

A colour remake of the 1964 film, Fistik gibi masallah, closely following its screenplay except for the omission of a lengthy preamble in the earlier film. Sidir Alisik played the role of Josephine in the 1964 film as well as dragging up in another film, Efkarliyim Abiler (1966). Both Fistik Gibi films cover the storyline of Some Like It Hot. This version launches straight into a nightclub scene out of hours, where gangsters burst in and after an altercation with the manager, the gangsters kill him and his assistants. Two third-rate musicians are in the room unnoticed until they knock over a cymbal. The gangsters are obviously going to kill them too, but a police syren sounds and as the gangsters are distracted, our heroes run for it.

But they have got to get out of town. One of them has heard that an all-girl band is recruiting for a season in a luxury hotel; he phones and gets the work, so we see them at the quayside joining the ferry.

They go on board and a man (I will call him "Osgood", played by Avni Dilligil) has taken an amorous interest in them.

Before they can find the bandleader, they are approached by a provocatively dressed girl ("Sugar" played by Feri Cansel) and they find that she is in the band as well.

As she checks in, Sugar is given a warning about her behaviour by the stern-faced bandleader. Our heroes check in as well.

Our heroes gather with the other girl musicians and a lot of girlish fun takes place as they get to know one another. Confident that they are going to enjoy this trip, the two visit the lavatory, where they discover Sugar having an illicit cigarette.

A rehearsal starts in the main saloon of the ship, and Sugar is a solo dancer and singer. Everything is going well until she drops a cigarette packet, against the bandleader's strict instructions.

Eventually it is bed time, and the two have a cabin to themselves; but as they settle down Sugar comes to their cabin. A long conversation takes place between Sugar and "Daphne" (Yusuf Sezgin) and they smoke, and it is only broken up when the bandleader comes and demands to know what is going on -- Sugar has to snuggle down in the bunk behind Daphne to hide.

When the bandleader goes, it seems only natural for all the other girls to be invited in for some girly fun, and Josephine wakes up and joins in too. In fact "Josephine" (Sidir Alisik) and Sugar separate off and have a heart-to-heart chat in which Sugar reveals her yearning to meet a handsome millionaire and settle down. However once again the bandleader is alerted to what is going on, but they hear her coming and everyone gets back to their own cabins just in time.

The ship arrives the next morning, and Josephine and Sugar seem to have paired off, and Osgood is there too, chasing Daphne and making a nuisance of himself as they get a coach to the luxury hotel. They all settle in, at first at the pool side where there are plenty of girly fun and games.

But Josephine has dressed in male clothes and arranges to get the chance to talk to Sugar, passing himself off as a billionaire. Daphne comes up too and is angered by Josephine's pretence. Back in the room, Josephine arranges with Osgood by telephone for him to meet up with Daphne later. Evidently Osgood has a luxury house near the hotel.

Knowing that Osgood would be at the hotel, Joe takes Sugar to Osgood's house and pretends that he owns it. When she asks for the radio to be switched on, Joe can't find it at first. But nature takes its course and they spend an amorous evening together.

Meanwhile at the hotel Osgood and Daphne have met up and are enjoying an evening of dancing and drinking champagne.

But all good things must come to an end and our heroes once again are back in their bedroom; Daphne is still on a high from her fantastic evening and plans a lasting relationship with Osgood.

The next evening our heroes are getting their instruments ready when they suddenly realise that the murderous gangsters are in the audience. They turn their backs so as not to be recognised, but the men find them strangely attractive and want to strike up a conversation. Our heroes retreat to their rooms and hastily pack. Jo(sephine) phones Sugar and in a lengthy conversation, reveals his true identity to her. When they go downstairs the gangsters are still there looking for them as they have been recognised now, and a slapstick chase round the swimming pool follows, in which various people get pushed in to the water.

The chase ends up on the dance floor, but the gangsters are still making trouble and security is called. Eventually Daphne, Jo(sephine) Sugar and Osgood make it to the car park and they drive off in Osgood's car, and they all live happily ever after.

HF November 2009