THE APARTMENT: CLASSIC FILM RE-RELEASED AT THE RIGHT TIME

Director Billy Wilder and screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond were known to write witty dialogue and pertinent films that took a look at what was going on around them. Who could have foreseen that one of their movies would be as timely in today’s world as it was when it was released over 50 years ago?

THE APARTMENT stars Jack Lemmon as C.C. Baxter, an insurance office worker who’s making his way to the top. While he definitely qualifies for his position it’s not his abilities that are helping him step up. Instead it’s the use of his apartment by various heads above him for their non-marital trysts. They take advantage of using the apartment with promises of moving him up in the insurance world.

While this may involve giving up sleep when a sudden need arises Baxter has his eyes set on a top spot. He gets that opportunity when the head of human resources Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) calls him into his office. At first fearful that Sheldrake is going to reprimand him for allowing his apartment to be used, he discovers that Sheldrake has a need to use it himself. He gives him a key and Baxter is suddenly in the office next door.

Baxter has another item he’s interested in as well. An elevator operator by the name of Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) has caught his eye and he wants to take her out on a date. They make plans when Sheldrake gives him 2 tickets to a hit play. Unfortunately Fran can’t make it. Unbeknownst to Baxter she is the woman Sheldrake has been seeing and is planning on taking to his apartment that night.

With promises of leaving his wife Sheldrake keeps Fran on the hook until at the office Christmas party she learns that this is the norm for Sheldrake, leading a woman he’s having an affair with on until he moves on to someone new. That night at Baxter’s apartment he adds insult to injury giving Fran a $100 bill rather than a gift for Christmas and leaving her there.

She takes the rebuff poorly and attempts suicide only to be found by Baxter and saved with the help of the doctor next door. Over the next few days Baxter and Fran talk things out and become close. But what will this mean for him? Is he willing to ignore the actions of Sheldrake in return for office success? Will he toss those dreams aside for a potential romance with Fran? And what about Fran, is she still holding out hope that things will change with Sheldrake?

The movie combines melodrama, office politics, romance and humor in just the right dosages to make it an entertainment where one wouldn’t expect to find it. There are no clear cut heroes or villains in the movie. Nearly everyone involved has some sort of self-interest involved in their motivations. The higher ups at the office appear to be sex starved louts who think nothing of their families and only about their libidos. Of the characters here only Baxter comes across as a decent guy who allows himself to be caught up in something he isn’t fond of.

The movie is a look back at the times, how things were going in the high level offices of the time. AMC’s MAD MEN took a look at the same sort of behavior. What makes it interesting to view now is the social climate we’re in with men like Harvey Weinstein being accused of sexual harassment. The actions of the characters involved in this film would have resulted in major upheavals at the insurance company had they taken place in today’s world. That’s what makes this movie even more interesting to view when put in perspective.

The performances of all involved are near perfect. Lemmon was always the average ordinary guy, an actor that was skilled at playing roles like this. He was the guy that knew the good jokes in the neighborhood, who was friendly with all and well liked. MacLaine comes off as an innocent waif caught up in the idea of romance and love but who fails to consider who she’s offered those emotions to. And MacMurray offers a completely different character to those who grew up with him as the father on MY THREE SONS or the nutty professor in THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR. His slimy side shows here and little sympathy can be felt for his character.

Wilder and Diamond made many films together and this was one that won them the Oscar for best picture. It stands the test of time even though the New York depicted isn’t quite what we think of now. But the story remains solid and that makes it a film worth watching.

Arrow Video is releasing this as part of their Arrow Academy collection. The quality of the picture is amazing to see. Many think that black and white movies aren’t a) worthy of noting and b) can’t tell that a restoration of a b&w film would make a difference. They are and it does. One of the nice extras included here shows the restoration process comparing images of before and after restoration. It makes a nice item to have on hand to explain it to those who don’t understand the process.

But there are more extras as well. Included are a commentary track by film historian Bruce Block, a short entitled “The Key to The Apartment” and a select scene commentary by writer/critic Philip Kemp, a video essay by David Cairns called “The Flawed Couple”, “A Letter to Castro” is an interview with actress Hope Holiday who is in the film, a 23 minute conversation with Wilder done for the Writers Guild Foundation, the 2 minute long presentation on the restoration of the film mentioned earlier, a short entitled “Magic Time: The Art of Jack Lemmon”, a documentary called “Inside The Apartment” and a booklet on the film.

Readers may tire of me saying this but Arrow Video is proving to be a company to be trusted when it comes to the way they handle their releases. One can only hope they are allowed access to more great films like this one.

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