Movie – The Apartment

The Apartment (1960) – An insurance accountant hoping to make his way up the ladder of success allows senior managers to use his apartment for their “romantic” meetings.  When he falls for his boss’s latest girl things go sideways very quickly.

Directed by Billy Wilder  Starring – Jack Lemon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston

This started out as a frothy little Jack Lemon classic, then took a sharp turn into some serious territory.  Only to bounce back nicely and finish on a fun note.  This is why Billy Wilder is considered a genius.  The dialogue is crisp, Lemon plays his patented earnest young man on the go, and MacMurray plays the bad guy (that always throws me because in my heart he is always Steve Douglas from the TV series “My Three Sons”.  He was a wonderful actor and played bad guys extremely well).  It’s all set in the business world time and space that would be home to “Mad Men” a couple decades later.  Wilder weaves all of it together flawlessly.

This was his follow up to “Some Like It Hot” (my review) and he carried the success from that one into this film.  Ten Academy Award nominations resulted in five wins, including Best Picture, Director and Original Screenplay.

Why I Liked It – Somewhat to my surprise, it’s Shirley MacLaine.  There are very few roles I’ve seen her in that really grab me.  Here she is wonderful the kind of girl who doesn’t really need a man to take care of her, even as she’d kind of like the right guy to do it.  She and Lemon are wonderful.

Why You Will Like It – It’s romantic comedy at it’s best.  Never over sweet or maudlin.  Lemon and MacLaine.  Fun dialogue.

Trivia!  The actress who plays the elevator supervisor (MacLaine’s supervisor) is the same actress who played the older Dottie Hinson in “A League of Their Own”.  Lynn Cartwright.

Trivia 2!  Wilder had worked with Marilyn Monroe and hated the experience.  He takes a prolonged shot at the blonde bombshell in this movie.

Not Rated – some adult themes (adultery)  Movie finished as one of top 10 movies of the year.

Rating – ***** Highest Recommendation