The Apartment Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A guy lends his apartment to his bosses for their affairs and then falls in love with one of their mistresses, because corporate romance is the best romance.

🍿 The Apartment: Detailed Plot Synopsis

C.C. Baxter’s Corporate Climb

C.C. ‘Bud’ Baxter, a lonely office worker at a New York insurance company, allows his superiors to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs in exchange for career advancement. This arrangement leads to frequent disruptions in his personal life, as he’s often locked out of his own home. Despite the inconvenience, Baxter hopes this will lead to a promotion and recognition within the company. His neighbors misunderstand the situation, believing him to be a womanizer due to the frequent comings and goings at his apartment.

The Affair with Mr. Sheldrake

Baxter’s situation becomes more complicated when the company’s personnel director, Mr. Sheldrake, requests to use his apartment. He is granted a promotion with the exclusive use of his apartment. Baxter discovers Sheldrake is having an affair with Fran Kubelik, an elevator operator he has a crush on. This revelation deeply affects Baxter, forcing him to confront the moral implications of his actions and the superficiality of his corporate ambitions.

Christmas Eve Revelation and Attempted Suicide

On Christmas Eve, both Baxter and Kubelik experience shattering revelations. Baxter learns about Kubelik’s affair with Sheldrake, while Kubelik discovers she is merely one in a long line of Sheldrake’s mistresses from Sheldrake’s former mistress. Devastated, Kubelik attempts suicide in Baxter’s apartment by overdosing on sleeping pills. This event forces Baxter to confront his feelings for Kubelik and the consequences of his choices, prompting a turning point in his character.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon): A lonely and ambitious insurance clerk who lends his apartment to his superiors for their extramarital affairs to advance his career.
• Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine): An elevator operator who is having an affair with a married executive and longs for genuine love.
• Jeff D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray): A married and powerful executive who takes advantage of Baxter’s apartment and has an affair with Fran.
• Dr. Dreyfuss (Jack Kruschen): Baxter’s wise and perceptive neighbor who offers moral guidance and support.
• Miss Olsen (Edie Adams): Sheldrake’s former mistress and secretary who reveals his pattern of infidelity.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• C.C. Baxter: “I live like Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked among eight million people.” – Baxter describes his feelings of isolation in New York City before meeting Fran.
• Dr. Dreyfuss: “Be a mensch. A mensch! That’s what you got to be!” – Dr. Dreyfuss tells Baxter to be a good and honorable person after mistakenly believing Baxter mistreated Fran.
• Fran Kubelik: “I have a talent for falling in love with the wrong guy.” – Fran laments her history of poor romantic choices during a conversation with Baxter.
• Jeff D. Sheldrake: “That’s the way it crumbles…cookie-wise.” – Sheldrake brushes off his affair with Fran, revealing his callousness.
• C.C. Baxter: “I absolutely adore you.” – Baxter declares his love for Fran as she arrives at his apartment on New Year’s Eve.
• Fran Kubelik: “Shut up and deal…” – Fran’s iconic response to Baxter’s declaration of love, indicating her acceptance without being overly sentimental.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $18,600,000
• Worldwide Gross: $18,783,481

💥 The Apartment Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I just watched ‘The Apartment’ for the first time, and wow, what a movie! Jack Lemmon is amazing, and Shirley MacLaine just steals every scene she’s in. The Christmas party scene was hilarious, but then things got real, real fast. I loved how the movie tackles serious issues like loneliness and infidelity with humor and heart. That ending line? Perfection! I’m already planning to watch it again soon.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood cinema”
  • “Those who appreciate sharp, witty dialogue”
  • “Viewers interested in films that blend comedy and drama”
  • “Lovers of romantic stories with complex characters”
  • “Anyone seeking thought-provoking social commentary”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes (infidelity, attempted suicide)”
  • “Alcohol use”
  • “Implied sexual content”
  • “Brief violence”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Wilder’s ‘The Apartment’ is a poignant and daring exploration of love and loneliness within the confines of corporate America. Lemmon delivers a masterful performance, and MacLaine is simply luminous. A must-see classic that resonates even today.
• The New York Times: “A bittersweet comedy with a sharp edge, ‘The Apartment’ captures the complexities of human relationships. Wilder’s direction is superb, crafting a film that is both funny and deeply moving. The performances are top-notch and the dialogue is witty and insightful.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “‘The Apartment’ is a remarkable film that seamlessly blends comedy and drama. Wilder’s script is clever and insightful, and the cast delivers memorable performances. The film’s exploration of corporate ethics and personal morality is both timely and timeless.

Audience Reactions

Shirley MacLaine’s performance was captivating and emotionally powerful.: The cast’s chemistry and the film’s ability to blend humor with serious themes resonated deeply with viewers.

The movie’s ending remains iconic and satisfying to this day.: The film is praised for its witty dialogue, memorable characters, and its insightful commentary on corporate culture.

Overall Consensus: ‘The Apartment’ is widely regarded as a classic, praised for its sharp wit, excellent performances, and its ability to balance comedy and drama. A must-see film that continues to resonate with audiences.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Picture)- 1961
2. Academy Award (Best Director)- 1961
3. Academy Award (Best Original Screenplay)- 1961
4. Academy Award (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White)- 1961
5. Academy Award (Best Film Editing)- 1961
6. Golden Globe Award (Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy)- 1961
7. Golden Globe Award (Best Director)- 1961
8. Golden Globe Award (Best Actor – Musical or Comedy)- 1961
9. Golden Globe Award (Best Actress – Musical or Comedy)- 1961

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “To create the illusion of a vast office space, the filmmakers used a forced perspective technique. They placed children at desks in the back to make the room appear much larger than it actually was.”
• “Paul Douglas was originally cast as Sheldrake, but he passed away shortly before filming began. Fred MacMurray stepped in to take the role.”
• “The film’s themes of loneliness and corporate culture were considered quite daring for the time, contributing to both its critical acclaim and some initial controversy.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Apartment?

The Apartment is widely available for streaming and purchase. You can find it on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, where it’s often available to rent or buy. Check your preferred streaming service to see if it’s included in their subscription offerings. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray are also readily available from retailers like Amazon and major stores, offering a high-quality viewing experience and bonus features.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Apartment, you might like these similar films:

• Double Indemnity (1944): Also directed by Billy Wilder, explores themes of morality and illicit affairs, but with a darker, film noir tone.
• Mad Men (2007-2015): A TV series that delves into the complexities of corporate life and relationships in the 1960s, similar to the setting and themes of ‘The Apartment’.
• Brief Encounter (1945): Explores a forbidden love affair and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters, sharing a similar theme of complicated relationships.
• Office Space (1999): A modern comedy that satirizes corporate culture and the frustrations of office work, resonating with the film’s critique of corporate life.
• In Good Company (2004): Explores the complexities of relationships in the workplace and corporate power dynamics with a balance of humor and heart.

🛒 The Apartment Related Products

• The Apartment (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A meticulously restored Blu-ray edition from the Criterion Collection, featuring insightful commentary, behind-the-scenes footage, and essays about the film’s legacy. A must-have for collectors and cinephiles.
• Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge: This book provides a detailed analysis of The Apartment and other Billy Wilder films, exploring his directing style, thematic concerns, and impact on cinema history. It features exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes insights.
• The Apartment Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster. A perfect addition to any movie enthusiast’s collection, capturing the iconic imagery and spirit of the film.
• The Apartment: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: The soundtrack is a nostalgic collection of jazz and classical pieces that evoke the mood and atmosphere of 1960s Manhattan. The perfect accompaniment to a movie night or a trip down memory lane.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Apartment features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)” – performed by Various Artists
• “Theme from The Apartment” – performed by Adolph Deutsch (Rickshaw Boys, uncredited)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Apartment: Behind the Scenes

Dive into the captivating world of ‘The Apartment’ with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and hear firsthand accounts from the people who brought this classic to life!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvds568UP1o

The Apartment: An In-Depth Analysis

Delve into the intricate layers of ‘The Apartment’ with this thought-provoking analysis. Uncover the hidden meanings and discover why it remains a timeless masterpiece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efh293_hhew

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