The Apartment

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DVD Review

In 1960, The Apartment, directed by Billy Wilder, made its debut. Later it was nominated for five Academy Awards, quite a feat for a romantic comedy, and actually took home the Best Film Award. But, was it because of the smashing performances of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLain? Or was Wilder’s writing and directing, or the plot specifics that date it to the period of instant coffee, Ed Sullivan the word Miss and the Glass Ceiling? Whatever it was, it remains a film that has undeniable chemistry both poignant and pointed.

The first hint of chemistry comes between Lemmon, as C. C. Baxter, and MacLain, as Miss. Fran Kubelik, early on in the film. I remember Lemmon, in those ‘60’s years, as being the quintessential “everyman,” but his role here was so specifically fine tuned that Kevin Spacey dedicated his Oscar for American Rose to Jack Lemmon’s performance in The Apartment. At that time MacLain was the up and coming “girl next door,” but with an edge and obviously the ability to generate a lot of heat.

Baxter is a guy on the rise, but unlike the big shot’s at Consolidated Life Insurance that have already made it, Baxter, as his boss, Sheldrake (Fred MacMurry), puts it, is just “an ordinary adjuster.” He’s on the level, works hard, thinks creatively, has a life dedicated to Consolidated and a dream of becoming one of the “top-floor guy’s.” He also has an apartment that’s been made available for the top-floor guys to party with their secret girlfriends. This is his real asset to those who can influence his career. They do, and his dream comes true.

But soon Baxter realizes that his goal is not really the top-floor but a life, the feeling that with success comes all the good things that he’s imagined. Baxter is missing life while he pursues success. A lonely man, he hasn’t taken the time to have a relationship with a woman, or develop real friends. Even his neighbors are just friendly acquaintances who have no idea what really goes on in his apartment.

Like a many of Wilder’s films a woman is the catalyst here and once Baxter’s initial goal is realized his new goal is love. But when he realizes that he’s in a three-way showdown with Fran and Sheldrake, Baxter has to make critical decisions. These are the hard beats of the story and Baxter has to continually jockey between his growing feelings for Miss. Kubelik and his precarious corporate position. I found myself cheering for Baxter when he makes decisions to protect Fran. But, near the end it seems that he is going to go for the job, the security, the money, and Wilder has me believing that Baxter’s just a pathetic loser. Seconds later I found myself cheering for the “everyman” because Wilder makes a deft slight-of- hand and
Baxter is the man I want him to be.

The Apartment was more than a statement about life, it was a statement about lifestyles, and . . . my how things have changed. While this movie holds up, I don’t think it will be one that will ever be remade. It’s not a Sabrina, there are far too many statements about that particular period to bring it forward. Anyway, who could do it better?