Rent The Apartment (1960)

Comedy Drama (spoiler). - The Apartment review by Steve

Billy Wilder's bleakest comedy is a very modern tale of urban loneliness and corporate bullying, which features a desolate suicide attempt. There is wit, but this is usually pessimistic. There are plot devises with the gloomy fatalism of a Russian novel... The mood is of overwhelming sadness, with a sexual frankness unusual for its time.

Sometimes this only feels like comedy at all because of the extraordinary performances of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, whose charm manages to sugar the bitter themes, and obscure their own characters' deep flaws. Though it looks gorgeous, with the gleaming widescreen b&w photography, and stunning set designs.

Lemmon plays the go-ahead corporate wannabe seeking to jump the executive ladder by permitting his bosses to use his apartment to have sex with their female employees without their wives knowing. He also aspires after the lift operator (MacLaine) who is sexually exploited by the CEO (a rather sinister Fred MacMurray).

 Even the relief from this tragic triangle is heartbreaking; an encounter which the inebriated company yes-man has on Christmas Eve with a lonely, ditzy barfly cruising for a one night stand, sensationally played by Hope Holiday. Ultimately, Lemmon learns how to be a mensch. But without the constant, barely audible note of comedy, this would be too painful to bear.

Classic & Risqué RomCom - The Apartment review by GI

A great, classic Hollywood romcom that was very risqué at the time it was made delving, at times with a quite serious tone, into the nature of marriage and infidelity. Ultimately though it's a delightful love story. Jack Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a somewhat hapless insurance office worker who dreams of promotion but lacks the drive and ability to get it. However he attempts to ingratiate himself with various of the bosses by hiring out his apartment for their adulterous affairs. Managing the demands of his 'customers' is almost a full time job. When the top boss, Mr Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) wants to use the apartment C.C. thinks he'll now be in for that longed for advancement but he's in for a shock when he discovers Sheldrake is having an affair with Fran (Shirley MacLaine), the girl C.C. secretly loves. The film attacks the casual misogyny and attitudes of the men towards women, sex and the their reliance on the power of money and uses some dark turns of the story including attempted suicide, the exploration of vulnerability and emotional blackmail to expose these issues. But actually the film is a delight with Lemmon and MacLaine a sweet couple who, of course, find each other at the end. Fans of films like this will recognise where some aspects have been homaged in later romcoms (e.g. When Harry Met Sally - 1989, Sleepless in Seattle - 1993). This is a much respected film and one that is worth checking out if you've never seen it. The serious themes here are cleverly wrapped in a light comedy film making it quite a surprise when you see what it's trying to say about American society.

Timeless Classis - The Apartment review by CP Customer

Sorry about the cliched Title. It's true though. Jack Lemmons performance is outstanding how about this for a line

"I used to live like Robinson and Crusoe, shipwrecked among 8 million people but one day I saw a footprint in the sand and there you were"

Doesn't get quite the required reaction from Shirley MacLaine's character who seems to be a bit of a dullard hence 4 stars.

Very disappointing - The Apartment review by CH

I suppose it was thought to be sophisticated and witty. It wasn't funny, it was vile. Acting very good, though. If such a film were made now, women would denounce it.

Brilliant photography - The Apartment review by JD

Is it easier to do photography in black and white? It looks so clear and tonal. The plot however is unenchanting (multiple affairs) and the acting is wooden. Too dated for me.

A dated film. - The Apartment review by Maureen

We enjoyed this film when it was first released, but now it feels very dated and boring. We didn't bother to watch it all.

George Roby.