Directed by:
Billy WilderCinematography:
Joseph LaShelleComposer:
Adolph DeutschCast:
Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, David Lewis, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
By providing a perfect hideaway for philandering bosses, the ambitious young employee reaps a series of undeserved promotions. But when Bud lends the key to big boss J.D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), he not only advances his career, but his own love life as well. For Sheldrake's mistress is the lovely Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), elevator girl and angel of Bud's dreams. Convinced that he is the only man for Fran, Bud must make the most important executive decision of his career: lose the girl...or his job. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
Drama / Comedy / Romance - I never expect to have fun when I see this combination of genres. Apparently, life still has some surprises up its sleeve for me. I enjoyed the story of a decent, conscientious office worker/love hotel manager. I didn't laugh so hard I cried, but it was an excellent drama that occasionally made me smile. The story was based on a clichéd (but still relevant) relationship between a young woman and an "unhappily" married man, but C.C. Baxter, played by Jack Lemmon, gave this predictable movie a whole other level. I was thrilled to watch every unintentionally cruel sentence uttered by Fran Kubelik tear the heartbroken lover to pieces. He always managed to collect himself, only to be dying in agonizing pain shortly after. Jack Lemmon was perfect, Shirley MacLaine was wonderful and charming, and the movie had much more to offer than it promised, leaving me in a very peculiar mood. I was delighted, hence the five stars. / "Where'll we go? My place or yours?" "Might as well go to mine. Everybody else does." / Lesson learned: Committing suicide in someone else's apartment is extremely inconsiderate.
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I was beginning to think Baxter wouldn't stand up to his oppressors at the end. It also occurred to me how it would look nowadays, when someone could quietly film them and then blackmail them. Great casting, with Jack Lemmon showcasing his incredible charisma, and Shirley portraying human imperfection and a longing for emotions in all the wrong places. Perfectly executed all the way to the end.
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An endearing, in many ways timeless film about a hard-pressed apartment that deservedly belongs to the hall of fame. The amazing character of Jack Lemmon, trapped in the snares of his job and head over heels in love with his supervisor's girlfriend, is amazing. Also amazing is Wilder's direction steeped in classic romance, witty, original but not too cloying – whether we are talking about the unique depiction of the American civil service as a stereotypical prison, where bigwigs with a name tag on their door bring their girlfriends to their apartments according to schedule, or the ending of the romantic plot, which, by today's standards, will certainly surprise everyone. However, I'm reluctant to give it a fifth star, after all, I have given this rating to many films (even romantic ones) that I simply enjoyed a lot more. When I become a professional nitpicker one day, the star promotion will surely not miss The Apartment :-) 85%
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I think this is one of those films that is perfect in every way. The perfect blend of romance, humor and drama, the perfect interplay of the central couple (even though they are both so different), the perfect Christmas atmosphere, plenty of memorable moments and especially the pleasant unpredictability of whether it will turn out well or not. After the closing credits, I had to see for myself that The Apartment really lasted two hours. I went by so fast.
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I’m not surprised by all the Oscar nominations. Because of its age, this film seems a bit old-school, like something from a bygone era, but it has a kind spirit that entertains effortlessly and doesn’t offend anyone in any way, which we are used to from today‘s comedies. It treats a classic, totally overused topic, but it’s conveyed in a cute, fun way. You can feel a bit of the drug-induced cheer of that era’s Hollywood, but it’s all very good-natured and inoffensive.
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