THE APARTMENT

We can all agree that this is a great film (one of four masterpieces directed by Billy Wilder) but if it was made now how on earth would it be marketed?

Is it for example a romcom? 

For sure, the plot does have a feel good romantic ending, and features two protagonists having to overcome obstacles before they can be together. 

In this case the main obstacle is Fran’s relationship with the married Mr Sheldrake. Although the latter is played marvellously by Fred MacMurray I’ve never really bought the idea that Fran (an early role for Shirley MacLaine) would be that into him, but then again many romcoms have featured far more contrived impediments to happiness.

But to buy into the feel good ending does require a lot of heavy lifting from the last few minutes of the film (i.e. from when Fran leaves Sheldrake at the restaurant).  Because up to that point the film is a pretty bleak depiction of loneliness and alienation in the big city.

The scene where CC Baxter looks at a broken image of himself in Fran’s compact mirror, and realises she is Mr Sheldrake’s mistress, is especially devastating.

CC Baxter himself is on paper an unattractive character given that he is trying to advance his career by letting his bosses use his apartment to have sex with their mistresses. Not cool behaviour!

The fact that we still root for him is largely down to Jack Lemmon’s inherent likability (incidentally, surely Wilder’s ‘Kiss Me, Stupid’ would have got a better reception if Lemmon had played the part taken by Ray Walston?).

But is Lemmon himself the reason why this film doesn’t convince as a romcom? He was a great comic actor certainly but no Cary Grant in terms of looks or charm. 

Given the lack of sexual chemistry between Fran and Baxter, I’m not convinced that they will live happily ever after when we get to the closing credits. They are both out of a job, and her response to his declaration of love at the very end of the film is ambivalent.  

The fact that they don’t kiss, and that it is very hard to imagine them doing so, is I think quite telling.

Ultimately this film is more than one thing; it's an intelligent, beautifully plotted, adult, somewhat satiric, somewhat comedic, somewhat romantic exploration of modern life which one has to doubt would get made today or find an audience.

So let’s appreciate it for what it is. And if you are a fan of Wilder’s body of work (and why wouldn’t you be?) I can heartily recommend Jonathan Coe’s ‘Mr Wilder & Me’, a joy from start to finish.

RATING: ✓✓✓ Cancel All Other Arrangements