The Best Picture of 1960 is…..”The Apartment.” The story tells of an insurance company clerk who, in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder, allows his superiors to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. The plot thickens when the head of the company gets in on the action. (In today’s world, this situation would be considered sexual harassment, and spark all sorts of lawsuits, but the story is set in the 1950’s!) Director Billy Wilder (“The Lost Weekend” 1945) employed good production values, and co-wrote the screenplay with I. A. L. Diamond. The movie is filled with Wilder’s patented humor and wit.
The star of the show is Jack Lemmon as the lowly clerk being taken advantage of. This was a typical role for him back then. Co-stars include Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walson, Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, David Lewis, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson, Hal Smith, Willard Waterman, and David White, soon to become famous as Larry Tate on the ABC sitcom “Bewitched” (1964-1972).
“The Apartment” was successful in theatrical release for producer Billy Wilder, The Mirisch Company, and United Artist. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Art Direction/Black and White. In 1968, a musical adaptation was created by Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Neil Simon called “Promises, Promises.” It ran on Broadway for four years.
The Apartment (1960)
cinema
My Review
The Best Picture of 1960 is…..”The Apartment.” The story tells of an insurance company clerk who, in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder, allows his superiors to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. The plot thickens when the head of the company gets in on the action. (In today’s world, this situation would be considered sexual harassment, and spark all sorts of lawsuits, but the story is set in the 1950’s!) Director Billy Wilder (“The Lost Weekend” 1945) employed good production values, and co-wrote the screenplay with I. A. L. Diamond. The movie is filled with Wilder’s patented humor and wit.
The star of the show is Jack Lemmon as the lowly clerk being taken advantage of. This was a typical role for him back then. Co-stars include Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walson, Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, David Lewis, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson, Hal Smith, Willard Waterman, and David White, soon to become famous as Larry Tate on the ABC sitcom “Bewitched” (1964-1972).
“The Apartment” was successful in theatrical release for producer Billy Wilder, The Mirisch Company, and United Artist. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Art Direction/Black and White. In 1968, a musical adaptation was created by Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Neil Simon called “Promises, Promises.” It ran on Broadway for four years.