The Apartment (1960)
Adult themes
Winner of five 1960 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, The Apartment is legendary writer/director Billy Wilder at his scathing, satirical best, and one of "the finest comedies Hollywood has turned out" (Newsweek).
C.C. "Bud" Baxter (Jack Lemmon) knows the way to success in business...it's through the door of his apartment! By providing a perfect hideaway for philandering bosses, the ambitious young employee reaps a series of undeserved promotions. But when Bud lends the key to big boss J.D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), he not only advances his career, but his own love life as well. For Sheldrake's mistress is the lovely Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), elevator girl and angel of Bud's dreams. Convinced that he is the only man for Fran, Bud must make the most important executive decision of his career: lose the girl...or his job.
| Status: | Normal |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 120mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: |
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Member Reviews (17)
17 Member
Reviews
Nigel W
says
A lowly officer worker finds he can climb the organisation by letting out his apartment to his superiors for their liaisons. Another entertaining and well scripted offering from Billy Wilder. Fred MacMurray is particularly good as the contemptible boss.
Lindi
says
Brilliant film. It was recommended by Margaret and David as one of their favourite classic films. Five stars!
Lynne Stringer
says
This is an amusing little movie that demonstrates how things can get out of hand if you try to move up the ladder of success by doing something wrong. It's well done and well acted. Very enjoyable.
gerd
says
With due allowances for society and humour having changed somewhat from 40 years ago, this is still a very funny movie with plenty of surprises and keen observations of timeless frailties of the human condition.
Bruce
says
This has stood the test of time. Good acting, good script....all the ingredients you need for an entertaining evening in.
Karen M.
says
Equal parts romantic comedy and biting satire of our business/consumer culture, "The Apartment" is Wilder at his finest. Considering his ouvere, I realise that's a pretty big claim but this is a geniunely touching and funny film with characters so human and believable that they haven't dated in the 40 odd years since the film was released.
Jack K.
says
Dated ’59 fashions, appliances and attitudes aren’t the only humourous elements; Billy Wilder’s clever dialogue is perceptive and the potentially gloomy, dark plot sparkles with humanity. Jack Lemmon as ambitious C.C. Baxter is a weak willed ‘nerd’ long before such a term was invented, and you might wonder if he’ll find his moral ‘backbone’. Hard-done-by elevator operator, Fran Kubelik, played by a 26 year old Shirley McLaine, has our sympathies, while heartless womanising boss J.D. Sheldrake (Fred McMurray) only our antipathy. Wilder’s male dominated corporate world is cynically seen as cold, backstabbing and alienating. (Is that image much different today?) Wonderful acting and photography, this winner was definitely worth revisiting after 48 years! Four and a half stars.
Wendy B.
says
A great old black and white movie. Fabulous actors and great entertainment. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Ed V.
says
realy liked this movie, worth seeing. Ed
Ed V.
says
A good show, well worth watching.Ed
A. E. Scott
says
Not a romantic comedy in the modern sense of the term. I would place it as a drama with romantic overtones and comedic elements.
With that being said it is a very worthy film and the well defined characters still hold up very well.
Luci B.
says
This is a quintissential Rom Com leaves current bubble gum trash in the dust. Lemmon is irresistable as the lovable Baxter, caught in a comical situation that leads him to covet the object of his affections, and sacrifice all for her. Plenty of comedy, drama and the kind of warmth and romance that makes us sigh.
Janice T.
says
Barbara S.
says
filmasart
says
This film is stunning with its long frames and sharp visual shorts. In glorious B/W the era is captured wonderfully. The story shows us that love between humans can come in many character forms, that society can use and abuse if you let it and we all have needs. An intelligent film experience.
tiborg
says
i'm an "oldie",but belive me a flick with Jack Lemon & Shirley Mc Laine can not be bad.Have a punt.
Karel S.
says
One of the best romantic comedies ever made from the hand of genius Billy Wilder. It's sharp, funny, moving and has superb performances by Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine. The Apartment hasn't dated a bit in 45 years (apart from the vinyl album given as a Christmas present!). BTW: if you look carefully at Lemmon's acting, you'll see where Jim Carey got his comedic ticks from. Put it in your queue and be delighted!