Review of The Apartment (1960) by Sammy B — 15 Aug 2009

I was really impressed by "The Apartment". I apparently misjudged it based on an old trailer that was attached to the DVD of another BIlly Wilder film I had rented. I think it must have been mis-marketed as a straight-up romantic comedy. While there are some relationship elements, there is much more going on and the to me is a little darker and more dramatic than that. But still, I don't think it ever gets boring- it moves along at a good pace. It's perfectly cast with Jack Lemmon as C.C. Baxter, the sympathetic protagonist who is caught in a cycle where he has to lend out his apartment for the trysts of a group of middle managers at his accounting firm. They often take advantage of him by going over the allotted time and leaving messes for Baxter to clean up. Baxter pines for the perky on the outside and sad on the inside elevator operator, played by a young Shirley MacLaine. Once again playing against type (after his role in Wilder's "Double Indemnity") is Fred MacMurray, the company president who catches wind of the passing around of the apartment key, and has a use for it himself. The Apartment is known for pushing the boundaries of Hollywood at the time in the way it took seemingly light fare and included elements of adultury and pre-marital sex among working professionals, as well as a suicide attempt. This in itself isn't necessarily what makes the film great, but it opens the story up to bigger possibilities than it would have had otherwise. It is also refreshing to see dark subject matter in a light movie, thus creating one of the earliest "dramedies.".

Of the the four films of Billy Wilder's that I have seen lately, the others being Some Like It Hot, Double Indemnity, and Sunset Boulevard, The Apartment was the most enjoyable to watch. Not only is it a good story with interesting characters and a few twists and turns, but it is a fascinating look at the particular time and place of 1960 era New York City.