THE APARTMENT (1960) is a classic comedy drama starring Jack Lemmon and
Shirley MacLaine. With a great supporting cast of Fred MacMurray, Ray
Walston and Jack Kruschen. And directed by Billy Wilder, it's certainly
a classic!
Jack Lemmon plays C. C. Baxter, a young employee for an insurance
company in New York City. Four different company managers take turns in
using his apartment for their various extramarital liaisons. Unhappy
with the situation, but unwilling to challenge them directly, he
juggles their conflicting demands while hoping to catch the eye of the
beautiful elevator operator, Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine).
Meanwhile the neighbours, a medical doctor and his wife, assume Baxter
is a "good time Charlie" who gets a different woman drunk every night.
Baxter accepts their criticism rather than reveal the truth.
The four managers write glowing reports about Baxter. The reports are a
little too glowing. Personnel director Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray)
suspects something illicit behind the praise. Mr. Sheldrake lets
Baxter's promotion go unchallenged on condition that Baxter's apartment
accept a fifth regular customer. Still delighted about the promotion,
Baxter asks Miss Kubelik to a Broadway show. She agrees, then stands
him up. On Christmas Eve Baxter is astounded to come home and find her
in his bed, fully clothed, and overdosed on sleeping pills. Mr.
Sheldrake had borrowed the apartment for the evening.
Baxter and his neighbour the doctor keep her alive and safe without
notifying the authorities. She explains that she had an affair with Mr.
Sheldrake the previous summer, ended it when his wife returned from
vacation, and caved in to his appeals and promises later in the fall.
When Sheldrake offered her money instead of a Christmas present she
realised the ugliness of the situation and tried to commit suicide. The
act shows a startling side of her usually sunny personality. Baxter
tries to comfort her with assurances of Sheldrake's concern even though
Sheldrake refuses to speak to her on the telephone.
Kubelik recuperates in Baxter's apartment for two days, long enough for
her taxi driver brother-in-law to assume the worst of Baxter and come
to blows. Sheldrake's catty secretary, one of his former mistresses,
"educates" Mrs. Sheldrake. Faced with divorce, Sheldrake moves into a
room at his athletic club and continues to string Fran along while he
enjoys his newfound bachelorhood. Baxter finally takes a stand when
Sheldrake demands the apartment for New Year's Eve, which results in
Baxter quitting the firm.
Kubelik realises that Baxter is the man who truly loves her and leaves
Sheldrake on New Year's Eve to be with him that evening and runs to
him. They end as two misfits, both out of a job, playing a game of gin
rummy. When Baxter declares his love for Fran, her reply is the
now-famous final line of the movie: "Shut Up and Deal."
This comedy classic has remained a legendary classic since it's 1960
release. At the Academy Awards, the film won Best Picture, Best
Director (Billy Wilder), Best Art Direction, amongst others. Meanwhile
Jack Lemmon was nominated for Best Actor and Shirley MacLaine was also
nominated for Best Actress.
It's a must-see for all fans of Jack Lemmon. The film definitely
belongs to him. He steals every scene and gave a brilliant performance.
Along with SOME LIKE IT HOT, it was one of the greatest performances of
Jack Lemmon's legendary career.
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