Posted on 05/14/2015 5:03:19 AM PDT by lowbridge
YOU might not think a movie about a fellow who lends his rooms to the married executives of his office as a place for their secret love affairs would make a particularly funny or morally presentable show, especially when the young fellow uses the means to get advanced in his job.
But under the clever supervision of Billy Wilder, who helped to write the script, then produced and directed "The Apartment," which opened at the Astor and the Plaza yesterday, the idea is run into a gleeful, tender and even sentimental film. And it is kept on the side of taste and humor by the grand performance of Jack Lemmon in the principal role.
This Mr. Lemmon, whose stock went zooming last year with "Some Like It Hot," takes precedence as our top comedian by virtue of his work in this film. As the innocent and amiable young bachelor who methodically passes around the key of his modest brownstone-front apartment among the sultans of the place where he is employed, he beautifully maintains the appearance of a lamb among ravening wolves. He has the air of a good-natured hermit who calls Grand Central Station his home.
His character does not like what he's doing. He would much prefer to stay in his bed on a rainy night when a sozzled sales executive telephones and demands the key. But he turns out, in line of duty, when the hint of a promotion is flung, and he continued to oblige, confidentially, until the inevitably romantic trouble brews.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
One of the best.
A fantastic movie.
My favorite film. Captures wonderfully the pathos of the individual in corporate society who is desperate for validation.
Fred MacMurray makes an excellently slimy villain.
I had forgotten that Ray Walston, My Favorite Martian, and David White, Larry Tate of Bewitched, were in that movie.
You might like “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. It’s a musical based in the same era.
One of my favorites.
I’ve only heard of The Apartment. Never actually saw it. I need to.
and the others are...?
In my queue at Netflix will be the next one watched
Just saw Nobody’s Fool last night. a 1990s Newman flick. He did a good job.
Have to agree even if only seeing last half of it on turner.
“You might like “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. It’s a musical based in the same era.”
I saw that movie for the very first time in 1986. My relatives and I visited my grandfather at his apartment one saturday. This movie popped up on tv and we sat around to watch it (this was the free broadcast airwaves. Not cable TV)
When there was still a half hour left to go in the movie, it came time to go out to eat. I wanted to stay and watch the rest of the movie, but I had to go out with the rest of them. So I missed how it ended. I thought hopefully it would pop up on tv someday again. But it never did. Over 12 years later I buy a used VHS copy of this movie on eBay and FINALLY got to see the movie in its entirety. It is indeed an excellent movie.
Jack Lemmon was a EXCELLENT actor.
One of the great dark masterpieces of its era.
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