Movies
“The Apartment” Unlocks Romantic Comedy Genius
So yes, 64 years later, The Apartment (1960) holds up, and then some.
“A Manhattan insurance clerk tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.”
Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond
Cast: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen
Release Date: June 15, 1960
IMDB
The Apartment (1960), starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, is one of the most iconic romantic comedies ever. Oscar-winning writer/director Billy Wilder made a motion picture that’s more than stood the test of time. The Apartment appears on AFI’s Top 100 Films lists, was selected among NBR’s 10 best from 1960, and took home five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, at the 1961 Oscars.
So yes, 64 years later, The Apartment (1960) holds up, and then some.
C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is a hard-working employee of a bustling insurance company. With his eyes set on a bigger office and a nice promotion, Baxter has a side hustle of lending his apartment to his superiors for their extra-marital activities. Sacrificing sleep and health for the sake of his bosses is something Baxter’s willing to do until he meaningfully interacts with elevator attendant Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine).
Baxter immediately fawns for Fran and does his best to capture her heart early on but is left alone outside a theater. As it turns out, Fran is in an on-and-off relationship with Baxter’s big boss, Jeff D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray). Despite the C.C. and Fran having great chemistry, the two don’t start things off on the right foot. Baxter learns about Fran’s relationship with Jeff. He is hurt, devastatingly so, but the kind-hearted but easily manipulated and misunderstood introvert is forced into action when he comes home after a holiday party to find Fran overdosed on sleeping pills in his bed.
Christmas takes a turn when Baxter’s neighbor Dr. Dreyfuss (Jack Kruschen) nurses Fran back to health and insists she stay bedridden. During this time Baxter takes care of Fran by keeping her sane with his awful sense of humor and beating her in cards. He even cooks some of his world-famous tennis racket pasta.
The Apartment thrives on the fact that Baxter and Fran never have the cliche climatic romantic kiss and “I Love You!” moment. Their relationship is unique, as the characters themselves, with the troubles they are working through. The screenplay for The Apartment speaks softly yet profoundly on the idea that it is not grand gestures that create the basis for a fun relationship.
The Apartment made history with its five Academy Awards. Billy Wilder became the first person to win Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It wasn’t repeated until Woody Allen accomplished the feat in 1977 with Annie Hall. The most recent to take home the three distinct golden busts was Alejandro G. Inarritu for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) (2013).
A special shoutout to my Nanny for inspiring me to watch this movie. Last Christmas she got a trivia question right about this movie, and since then, The Apartment has been in the back of my mind. Now Baxter and Fran are in the front of my mind as one of the most entertaining romantic relationships put on the silver screen.
STANKO RATING: A-
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