The Apartment
3.5/4
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen
Not Rated (contains Thematic Material)
Some people will do anything to get ahead. Ass kissing is an unwritten rule for those who want to be on the up and up, and sexual affairs certainly occur (ever heard of the casting couch?). For C.C. Baxter (Lemmon), it's all about location, location, location.
Baxter is a kind-hearted Ivy Leaguer working at an insurance company. In exchange for good performance reviews from his bosses, he'll allow them to use his apartment for quickie sexual affairs (his apartment is close to the office). The ploy works, and it isn't long before he's got a new office and is on good terms with the big boss, Jeff Sheldrake (MacMurray). Trouble begins when he gets involved with the lovely elevator operator, Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), who happens be be carrying on an affair with Sheldrake.
Desperate people are the easiest to manipulate because they're more likely to do what you tell them. Baxter wants to rise through the company, but he's compromising his ethics (his neighbors think he's a soulless lothario), while Fran is looking for love. Both are being screwed over, however. Baxter will keep his job as long as he lends them his apartment, and Jeff only wants Fran for sex.
Much of the reason why this movie works is that Baxter, Fran, and to an extent, Sheldrake, are well-developed and multi-dimensional people. Baxter has his own dreams and aspirations, but he's so obsessed with rising through the ranks that he's blinded himself to the fact that he's being used. Fran is a lonely romantic, and is so hung up on Sheldrake that she doesn't see what's right in front of her. Sheldrake is a nasty piece of work, but he's also a family man and he does care about people, even if he is using them for purely personal gain.
The acting is terrific. Although he is famous for his roles along side Walter Matthau (with whom he was good friends with off screen), Lemmon was a capable dramatic actor (he won two Oscars; one for "Mister Roberts" and the other for "Save the Tiger"). Baxter is impossible not to like. He's funny, charming and lovable. Likewise, MacLaine is also very good as the meek Fran (MacLaine would later be known for brassy characters). She's intelligent but also very vulnerable, and she has amazing chemistry with Lemmon. Fred MacMurray was known for appearing in Disney movies and the sitcom "My Three Sons," but he appeared in two of Billy Wilder's movies: this and "Double Indemnity." This is a terrific performance, one that should have earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination (that went to Jack Kruschen, who plays Baxter's neighbor). In lesser hands, Sheldrake could have been a soulless, sadistic manipulator. But MacMurray captures Sheldrake's humanity, and that makes him a much more interesting character (and because he's not a caricature, it makes his inevitable comeuppance all the sweeter).
Billy Wilder is one of the most beloved filmmakers in Hollywood history. He racked up an astonishing 20 Oscar nominations and won six. It's not hard to see why. He's an impeccable filmmaker with a gift for writing (although he was notorious for dishing out abuse to his writing assistants). Unfortunately, he fumbles the turning point in the story. It's a mishmash of tones and misinterpretation of the scene that comes before. It's only the great acting by Lemmon, MacLaine and Kruschen that saves it from complete collapse.
This is a great movie; well acted, well told and emotionally honest. For those of you who think all old movies are bland and dated, this one isn't.
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen
Not Rated (contains Thematic Material)
Some people will do anything to get ahead. Ass kissing is an unwritten rule for those who want to be on the up and up, and sexual affairs certainly occur (ever heard of the casting couch?). For C.C. Baxter (Lemmon), it's all about location, location, location.
Baxter is a kind-hearted Ivy Leaguer working at an insurance company. In exchange for good performance reviews from his bosses, he'll allow them to use his apartment for quickie sexual affairs (his apartment is close to the office). The ploy works, and it isn't long before he's got a new office and is on good terms with the big boss, Jeff Sheldrake (MacMurray). Trouble begins when he gets involved with the lovely elevator operator, Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), who happens be be carrying on an affair with Sheldrake.
Desperate people are the easiest to manipulate because they're more likely to do what you tell them. Baxter wants to rise through the company, but he's compromising his ethics (his neighbors think he's a soulless lothario), while Fran is looking for love. Both are being screwed over, however. Baxter will keep his job as long as he lends them his apartment, and Jeff only wants Fran for sex.
Much of the reason why this movie works is that Baxter, Fran, and to an extent, Sheldrake, are well-developed and multi-dimensional people. Baxter has his own dreams and aspirations, but he's so obsessed with rising through the ranks that he's blinded himself to the fact that he's being used. Fran is a lonely romantic, and is so hung up on Sheldrake that she doesn't see what's right in front of her. Sheldrake is a nasty piece of work, but he's also a family man and he does care about people, even if he is using them for purely personal gain.
The acting is terrific. Although he is famous for his roles along side Walter Matthau (with whom he was good friends with off screen), Lemmon was a capable dramatic actor (he won two Oscars; one for "Mister Roberts" and the other for "Save the Tiger"). Baxter is impossible not to like. He's funny, charming and lovable. Likewise, MacLaine is also very good as the meek Fran (MacLaine would later be known for brassy characters). She's intelligent but also very vulnerable, and she has amazing chemistry with Lemmon. Fred MacMurray was known for appearing in Disney movies and the sitcom "My Three Sons," but he appeared in two of Billy Wilder's movies: this and "Double Indemnity." This is a terrific performance, one that should have earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination (that went to Jack Kruschen, who plays Baxter's neighbor). In lesser hands, Sheldrake could have been a soulless, sadistic manipulator. But MacMurray captures Sheldrake's humanity, and that makes him a much more interesting character (and because he's not a caricature, it makes his inevitable comeuppance all the sweeter).
Billy Wilder is one of the most beloved filmmakers in Hollywood history. He racked up an astonishing 20 Oscar nominations and won six. It's not hard to see why. He's an impeccable filmmaker with a gift for writing (although he was notorious for dishing out abuse to his writing assistants). Unfortunately, he fumbles the turning point in the story. It's a mishmash of tones and misinterpretation of the scene that comes before. It's only the great acting by Lemmon, MacLaine and Kruschen that saves it from complete collapse.
This is a great movie; well acted, well told and emotionally honest. For those of you who think all old movies are bland and dated, this one isn't.
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