At the Movies
You're looking for a place—so much to do, right? Take a break! It's theme night here at RENTNET and what we're going to watch is apropos. You'll see...
In 1961 "The Apartment" took five top Academy Awards. It was voted Best Picture, the last black-and-white film to win an Oscar until "Schindler's List" (1993). Billy Wilder hit the trifecta with "The Apartment"—Best Director, Producer and Writer (with I.A.L. "Izzy" Diamond). Nominated actors included Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Jack Kruschen (none won); Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston and Edie Adams also starred.
The movie begins on November 1, 1959, in Manhattan where C. C. Baxter -"C. for Calvin. C. for Clifford" - tells us (in voiceover) that he's one of 31,259 employees at the Consolidated Life of New York insurance company. In fact, "Bud" Baxter (Lemmon) works "on the 19th floor, Ordinary Policy Department, Premium Accounting Division, Section W, desk number 861."
When the camera closes in on Bud we see him sitting at a desk amid a sea of desks, inputting his "computer". Well, it is 1959…and this computer does exactly that—it computes. An electronic adding machine, okay?
Bud goes on to inform us of his wage ($94.70 a week), where he lives (West 67th Street), his rent ($85/month) and, well, his situation...
But before we get to his situation, let's digress a little and talk about the main reason we're both here: The Apartment. You're looking, he's already got. A nice one-bedroom in a nice brownstone on the Upper West Side in fact.
This is 1959, this is Manhattan, this is a place where - and a time when - apartment communities are in their infancy. So no apartment managers, only landladies or, more typically, supers. And community features? Apartment amenities? Fugeddaboutit—hey, you're lucky you got heat, pal.
Now, "the situation."
It seems that to get ahead - a promotion, that is - at Consolidated, Bud "loans" his apartment out to his higher-ups. So he's often locked out of his apartment while his four "buddy-boys" cavort. One of whom - Mr. Dobisch (Walston) - wants to borrow it right now, forcing Bud out into the cold rainy night. Bud gets a cold.
The next day we meet Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), an elevator operator at Consolidated Life, who commiserates with Bud's sneezes and sniffles...
Well, rent the movie. Enjoy a young Jack Lemmon at his frantic, fumbling best. Shirley MacLaine here is young and particularly lovely. Pay close attention to Fred MacMurray as Mr. Sheldrake, Director of Personnel.
His Mr. Sheldrake promotes Bud solely to get use of Bud's fabled apartment key...and the comedy turns a dark corner.
No, I won't betray the ending save to note that this is a comedy, albeit bittersweet. So the ending is hopeful, if a bit forced. Still, wait for the last line - after Fran has finally realized that Bud loves her - it's truly a classic.
Now, pop the corn, lower the lights, put your feet up. Take a break from the stress of finding an apartment and enjoy "The Apartment".
- Our Writer and Reviewer is David J. Sharp.
