“The Apartment” (1960)
I was surprised and delighted again when I watched Billy Wilder’s The Apartment for a second time at a revival with a friend. The Dairy Queen chocolate/caramel sundae didn’t hurt, either. Jack Lemmon is a mid-level schmoe at a gigantic insurance company. He distinguishes himself by lending out the key to his cozy, nearby apartment to executives for extramarital affairs. His neighbors think he’s a lush and lothario, but really he’s just that guy, you know the sweet, kinda funny, kinda sad one. He has a crush on Miss Kubilick, played by an impossibly young looking Shirley Maclaine who sports an adorable pixie cut and sweet smile. When personnel, in the form of Fred MacMurray, figures out what’s going on, it looks like Lemmon’s in trouble. He is, but not in the way he thought. If you’re a fan of the show Mad Men, with its pitiless eye on the sexual power politics of the time, this is another window on that world. The Apartment the last black-and-white movie to win the Best Picture Oscar, is a sweet little gem, and if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. Also, the group of executives is a cornucopia of “hey, it’s that guy” guys that those of us who watched TV and movies in the 70’s and 80’s will recognize.
August 7th, 2011 at 7:30 am
it’s one of my favorite movies! makes a nice pairing with Some Like It Hot!
August 7th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Carolyn, can you come back and visit the Twin Cities soon? You can stay with us. 7 Year Itch is tonight, Double Indemnity is 8/14, Some like it Hot is 8/21, and Sunset Blvd is the 28th. And there are other wilders too this month!
http://www.take-up.org/series/44/