On January 1st, for those of you who don't know, Netflix added over 60 films to their online streaming list. For a film-lover like myself, it pretty much made the New Year. They've added really fantastic films, some that I love and some that I haven't had the pleasure to explore yet. One newly added film is Billy Wilder's 1960 classic, The Apartment. I was so excited that this title was now available, that it's one of the first films I watched this year. As I re-watched this classic, I realized that it's actually very appropriate to watch in celebration of the New Year. Not only does it take place during the holiday season, it also reminds you that the New Year is a time to take a look at your life, both the positive and the negative, and embrace necessary change.
Going off the movie poster alone, you'd think The Apartment was another rip-roaring, witty comedy from Billy Wilder; full of big of laughs and love. And the film does start actually off that way initially; you are introduced to C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), an average office worker living the average, uneventful bachelor life. He works in a large skyscraper in the heart of New York City, as just one of the many cogs in the corporate machine. He likes his job, even though he is of a little significance to anyone there. That is except to four executive in his company. To these men, Baxter is "buddy boy;" the office schmuck who they've promised quick promotions in exchange for the use of Baxter's bachelor apartment for their extramarital rendezvous.
"I said I had no family; I didn't say I had an empty apartment." - C.C. Baxter
Baxter alone in his office, waiting for his apartment to be vacated. Via.
Before Baxter knows it, these executives are getting more use of his apartment than he is. He spends most of his time staying late at the office or wandering snow-filled parks, waiting for his bosses and their mistresses to vacate his apartment. And, this "little problem" with his apartment isn't Baxter's only problem.
Jack Lemmon as Baxter, surrendering his apartment key once again. Via.
His next door neighbor, the middle-aged Dr. Dreyfuss, assumes Baxter is the one loudly entertaining a new women every night, and takes every opportunity he can to lecture Baxter about the dangerous road he's on.
"Why don't you grow up, Baxter? Be a mensch! You know what that means?
A mensch- a human being." - Dr. Dreyfuss
Things aren't much better at work either; on top of waiting anxiously for that promised promotion, Baxter struggles daily, attempting to woo the building's elevator girl, Fran Kubelic (Shirley MaClaine). While Baxter dreams of having the title of Junior Executive, Fran dreams of having the title of Boss' Wife.
Unbeknownst to Baxter, Fran happens to be one of the mistresses frequenting his apartment with none other than his boss, Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray). It all plays out like a typical romantic comedy, that is until Baxter comes home on Christmas Eve to find a broken-hearted Fran unconscious on his bed.
After realizing that, despite all his promises, Sheldrake is never going to leave his wife, Fran in a fit of grief tries to commit suicide, overdosing on sleeping pills at the apartment. Suddenly the romantic comedy takes quite a dark and cynical turn. Thanks to the help of Dr. Dreyfuss next door (who of course thinks Fran took the sleeping pills over Baxter), Fran survives the overdose. She spends the next few days with Baxter at the apartment recovering.
Baxter distracting Fran with a game of rummy. Via.
As Fran recuperates, she and Baxter discuss many things; Mr. Sheldrake, love, and heartbreak. Baxter adorably tries to cheer Fran up and distract her from her heartache. Although this darker twist in the film could easily become over-the-top or melodramatic, it's actually portrayed very subtly and realistic. It's this honesty from both the script and the actors, that makes it all the more heart-wrenching.
Baxter: "The mirror... it's broken."
Fran: "Yes, I know. I like it that way. It makes me look the way I feel."
Behind all the comedy and witty dialogue, you realize that Baxter and Fran are both lonely individuals who fill their lives with fruitless ambition; Baxter thinks the big title and private office is what will make him happy, just as Fran thinks that Sheldrake leaving his wife for her will make her happy.
"Some people take, some people get took. And they know they're getting took and there's nothing they can do about it. - Fran
Fran on New Year's Eve, thinking she finally got what she wanted. Via.
Funny thing though; what we want isn't always what's good for us. In those few days at the apartment, Baxter and Fran find comfort in one another and their similar situations. And once they return to normal life, with Baxter back in the boss' pocket and Fran back in the boss' bed, suddenly the status quo doesn't seem enough any more. Their dreams and ambitions have been overshadowed, by their few days of sincere human interaction at the apartment. They both find themselves entering the New Year with a decision to make; will they listen to their head or their heart?
"Ya know, I use to live like Robinson Crusoe. I mean, shipwrecked among 8 million people.
And then one day I saw a footprint in the sand, and there you were." - Baxter
This why I think The Apartment resonates so well at the New Year. Fran and Baxter remind you that the New Year is a blank slate, a new page. It's the opportunity to candidly look at your life and think about what's working and what's not. Like Fran and Baxter, we all get the chance to change the status quo. Moving forward in 2014 let's all remember to make decisions with both our heads and our hearts, and embrace the change that's needed for us to become a happy, healthy mensches- human beings.
Happy New Year!
Lisa Helene.
While working on this blog post, I found this fan-made movie poster below.
(You do have to have seen the movie to get his one though.)
Alternative poster for The Apartment. Designed by Matt Owen.
Also, take a look at this memo I found.
Director, Alfred Hitchcock sent Billy Wilder a commending note after seeing The Apartment:
