1001 Movies Club - Apartment, The (1960)

#366. The Apartment (1960)

Why It's In The Book: "...despite its sensitive subject matter, The Apartment won no fewer than five Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay), and is now considered by many to be the last truly 'realist' film made by [Billy Wilder]... Despite its humor, The Apartment is indeed a severe social critique, as well as an examination of contemporary American life and sexual mores. it is also a strong attack on the basic corruption of the capitalist system, in which anyone with a little influence is capable of feeding off someone else... The Apartment skilfully blends various genres... Although Wilder apparently didn't think that MacLaine and Lemmon formed a great couple, viewers can legitimately hold the opposite opinion." -1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Member Ratings

Alyson - 10/10
"Between the wonderful acting, which can range from slapstick comedy to life and death dramatics, and the zany yet calculable plot, The Apartment does not let up or let you down."
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Danny King - 10/10
"At the very least, on the outside, this film is an entertaining two hours. But like I said before, if you look deep enough, you will find something special here."
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Fey - 10/10
"The Apartment is one of the most enjoyable all around movies that I have ever seen. Had it not been shot in black and white, it could sit comfortably among more modern films and be completely undetected."
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Mad Hatter - 10/10
"...Baxter would love to spend night after night at the bar, olives scattered like shell casings as he avoids the problem...but the truth, as the good doctor points out, is that he isn't the pawn he pretends to be."
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Univarn - 10/10
"An amazingly beautiful, poetic, and heartfelt romance, backed by a cast to die for, The Apartment is one of my all time favorite films. One of which I've seen countless times, and could see countless more."
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Adolytsi - 9/10
"What usually turn out to be my favorites going through this list are the ones that seem unassuming at first, but slowly show you just what a fine film it is over the course of the running time. The Apartment is just such a fine film."
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Alfindeol - 9/10
"Everywhere you look, there is something to be admired... Take away, or change, one element of the film, and it collapses..."
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Blake - 9/10
"I was disturbed by the content at first. The issues of the 'good old boys club' sexual harassment, suicide and adultery were treated so lightly in a comedy made in 1960!? It really shocked me."
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Branden - 9/10
"I thought that this movie would be a straight romantic comedy, but the action takes a dangerous curve to places I never thought it could possibly go."
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Movie Guy Steve - 9/10
"The question here is what price a man is worth—his pride, his soul, and everything he stands for. It takes Baxter the entire movie to answer that question."
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Squish - 9/10
"The Apartment is nothing less than a contemporary study of the pain and loneliness that people willingly engage in knowing that their slimmest of hopes will in all likelihood remain unfulfilled."
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Tom Clift - 7/10
"Honestly though, I don't consider The Apartment to be anything that remarkable. It's a very solid film, with strong performances and some excellent dialogue, but it never really captivated me."
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Brian Vs. Movies - 6.5/10
"the tone of The Apartment definitely caught me off guard.  Honestly, with a movie poster like [that], I didn't expect any significant dramatic content at all."
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Overall Rating: 9.0/10