The Apartment

The Apartment (1960)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Empire 500 (2008): #12
Empire 301 (2014): #104
Director: Billy Wilder
Screenwriters; Billy Wilder, I.A.L Diamond

It is rare to find perfection in a film, but The Apartment is as close to perfect as you will ever find. From the opening monologue to the final line, scarcely a shot feels wasted or unnecessary which in a 2 hour film is quite a feat. The screenplay is so masterfully constructed with so many perfectly designed setups and payoffs that it is little wonder that this film is still regarded as one of the finest comedies ever. To call it a comedy though would be simplifying it. It is a number of things, a romance, a drama and a tragedy with subject matter that would not be touched in mainstream cinema today. We follow C.C.Baxter (Jack Lemmon), one of 31,259 employees of an insurance company and looking to move as far up the ladder as he can in the corporate world. To do this however, he must give the use of his apartment to several of his bosses for their affairs. The concept is very solid and makes for an entertaining opening, as Baxter is woken up late at night and forced to wait outside for his boss. Soon however, a lift girl Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) catches his attention but their relationship is scuppered, as Baxter's boss is having an affair with her.

At the heart of it all, Jack Lemmon puts in an incredible performance, bursting with a manic energy that never lets up throughout the film to create a hugely sympathetic character, whether straining spaghetti through a tennis racket or shuffling and dealing cards. It is a magnificently physical performance. He is also supported by a great cast, with MacLaine and especially Fred MacMurray as Baxter's boss.

This film however, is more than just a comedy, and deals with subject matter such as depression, solitude and a harsh criticism of the American workplace culture. Set very tellingly around Christmas, the time of the year where everybody is happy and with friends and family, only serves to increase Baxter's sense of isolation from the real world, which is also shown in a number of subtle ways. While the ending seems in modern light a bit predictable, as it has been copied many times since, it doesn't really cheapen the journey. This really is a fantastic film.

5/5 Stars