The Apartment (1960)
A man low on the corporate totem pole has an apartment. Men higher up on the ladder make an arrangement with him: they’ll “borrow” his apartment for their extra-marital affairs, and he’ll get in good with the big boys. Yes, the premise is enormously dated. Feminists today will not like this movie.
The man with The Apartment has a crush, albeit an awkward, un-suave crush, on the girl who runs the elevator in the company building. Unfortunately for him, the cute elevator girl is involved with one of the “renters” of his apartment. The plot sounds pretty dramatic, and it actually is. This classic romance has gained a reputation over the decades to be a charming romantic comedy, but even though it’s a Billy Wilder movie with Jack Lemmon as the star, it’s not really a laugh-out-loud comedy. That being said, my favorite part of the movie is when Jack Lemmon strains his pasta through a tennis racket and sings the meatball song. It’s not a scene to guffaw over, but it’s charming and heartwarming, just like the rest of the film.
The best parts of this movie are the little touches and subtleties within the script, direction and acting. Jack Lemmon’s voice cracks when he says, “The mirror, it’s broken.” His expressions when he finds out about Shirley MacLaine’s boyfriend is so raw it hurts. Shirley’s depression during her restaurant monologue is palpable. Fred MacMurray’s smugness makes you wonder how he landed a contract with Disney later in the decade. Billy Wilder’s stark visuals in the office contrast with the dark comfort of Jack Lemmon’s apartment. It shows how Shirley can feel both oppressed and also protected from the outside world. If the Ray Walston crowd of comic reliefs were extracted, the movie would prove to be an excellent drama.
This is a classic romance with an iconic ending, so if you’re not a feminist, you’ll definitely want to see this one. And if you’re looking for a modern reboot, be sure to watch Loser with Mena Suvari and Greg Kinnear!
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "candin kadir" for posting!
More Shirley MacLaine movies here!
The man with The Apartment has a crush, albeit an awkward, un-suave crush, on the girl who runs the elevator in the company building. Unfortunately for him, the cute elevator girl is involved with one of the “renters” of his apartment. The plot sounds pretty dramatic, and it actually is. This classic romance has gained a reputation over the decades to be a charming romantic comedy, but even though it’s a Billy Wilder movie with Jack Lemmon as the star, it’s not really a laugh-out-loud comedy. That being said, my favorite part of the movie is when Jack Lemmon strains his pasta through a tennis racket and sings the meatball song. It’s not a scene to guffaw over, but it’s charming and heartwarming, just like the rest of the film.
The best parts of this movie are the little touches and subtleties within the script, direction and acting. Jack Lemmon’s voice cracks when he says, “The mirror, it’s broken.” His expressions when he finds out about Shirley MacLaine’s boyfriend is so raw it hurts. Shirley’s depression during her restaurant monologue is palpable. Fred MacMurray’s smugness makes you wonder how he landed a contract with Disney later in the decade. Billy Wilder’s stark visuals in the office contrast with the dark comfort of Jack Lemmon’s apartment. It shows how Shirley can feel both oppressed and also protected from the outside world. If the Ray Walston crowd of comic reliefs were extracted, the movie would prove to be an excellent drama.
This is a classic romance with an iconic ending, so if you’re not a feminist, you’ll definitely want to see this one. And if you’re looking for a modern reboot, be sure to watch Loser with Mena Suvari and Greg Kinnear!
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "candin kadir" for posting!
More Shirley MacLaine movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Comedic Screenplay of 1960
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actor: Jack Lemmon
Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine