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The Apartment
1960 126 min United States of America 16+
★8.9
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director: Billy Wilder
Trailers
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Description
Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.
Budget:
$3M
US Gross:
$18.6M
Worldwide:
$25M
Starring
Jack Lemmon
Actor
Shirley MacLaine
Actor
Fred MacMurray
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Director
Golden Globe 1961
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1961
— Best Picture (Comedy)
Golden Globe 1961
— Best Picture (Comedy)
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Actress
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Production Design (Black and White)
Golden Globe 1961
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Venice Film Festival 1960
— Golden Lion
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Sound
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Cinematography (Black and White)
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 1961
— Best Director
BAFTA 1961
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1961
— Best Original Screenplay
Venice Film Festival 1960
— Volpi Cup – Best Actress
BAFTA 1961
— Best International Actor
BAFTA 1961
— Best International Actress
Key opinion
The Apartment is widely celebrated as a masterfully directed, sharp satire of corporate conformity and moral compromise. While most viewers praise the poignant blend of comedy and drama alongside career-best performances, a minority finds the film's tone uneven or its runtime excessive.
| Direction | Billy Wilder’s direction successfully balances biting corporate satire with tender, humanistic character study. | |
| Acting | Jack Lemmon delivers a standout performance that masterfully captures the vulnerability and quiet desperation of a 'small man' in a rigid corporate machine. | |
| Screenplay | The script is lauded for its sharp dialogue and its ability to critique office politics and hypocrisy without losing its emotional heart. | |
| Acting | Shirley MacLaine provides a grounded, sincere performance that serves as the perfect emotional anchor for the narrative. | |
| Runtime | Opinions on the film's runtime are divided; while many appreciate the deliberate pacing, some viewers find the film overextended and lacking sufficient dramatic momentum. | |
| Originality | The film's tonal shift between broad slapstick comedy and somber melodrama creates a polarizing experience for those who prefer a more consistent narrative focus. |