@@JamesVSCinema I'm very late to the party, but I so enjoyed watching you experience this great film for the first time. I've long considered it my third favorite. Honestly, I could watch it every single day and not get bored. I'm happy that you discovered this film, along with Jack Lemmon (truly one of the greatest actors of all time), Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray (who is best known as the wise and kindly father in the 1960s sitcom My Three Sons, but was so wonderful playing such a cad here. So many terrific character actors in this one as well. I've always wished I could live next door to Dr. and Mrs. Dreyfuss. And for someone old like me (I was born in 1957 and remember well when people were saying things like "cookie-wise" or "efficiency-wise," there are so many actors I knew from television and movie character parts. And I appreciated your comments on the script, which I've always considered one of the best ever (right there with Casablanca). Thanks for sharing this.
Hitchcock loved the film so much he cold wrote Billy Wilder a letter of appreciation. "Dear Mr. Wilder, I saw THE APARTMENT the other day. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it, and how beautifully made. I felt this so much that I was impelled to drop you this note." Kindest regards, Alfred Hitchcock.
Yes I love the way he uses his eyes in some of his comedy roles. I believe it is the scene in his new office when he is trying on the hat and he sees the broken mirror ......
Jack and Shirley should have won too. Jack did win two one supporting for Mr. Roberts in the 50’s and lead for Save The Tiger in the 70’s . Shirley won for Terms of Endearment in the 80’s so they were rewarded.
I love how the happy ending we get isn't the usual one where the characters end up together, but rather one where they each learn to stand up for themselves and discover their own sense of self worth. And they do it through one another as well. Brilliant storytelling!
Appreciate you giving love to these classics. With your reach, there will be many viewers who watch your reactions who would otherwise never see these films. That could lead to a lot of amazing discoveries. Also, the director of The Apartment, Billy Wilder, is considered by many (including Spielberg and Scorsese) as the greatest director-screenwriter of all time. And the diversity of his resume is incredible, as he excelled in many genres: 2 of the greatest noirs of all time (Double Indemnity & Sunset Boulevard); 1 of the greatest comedies (Some Like it Hot--and for my money, One, Two, Three is just as good); 1 of the greatest courtroom dramas (Witness for the Prosecution) and of course, The Apartment, (1960 best picture winner and one of the great comedy-dramas of all time).
Bruh Witness For the Prosecution is one of the best examples of screenwriting especially when it comes to classics. Based on Agatha Christy and also directed by Billy Wilder.
Fred McMurray was the lead in Double Indemnity. If you don’t know Jack Lemmon, then you have a lot of wonderful movies ahead of you- he’s one of the best. Some Like It Hot, The Odd Couple, The China Syndrome, Glengarry Glen Ross…. Decades of incredible work both comic and dramatic.
@@MsAppassionata yea I have not seen anyone review this one and MR Roberts is just a one of a kind film. from war time and then it becomes a comedic look at a crew and that one reveal when the Letter is read is a gut punch. Lemmon won his 1st oscar (best supporting) and he was on his way to more classic films
This is one of my favourite written films of all time. I just watched it a while ago and I found it so funny, so heartwarming, and how effortless the pacing of the film was. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are a match in every way, and Billy Wilder was just incredible.
Jack Lemmon was an institution.. that's being forgotten. He had no flash or ego. He took whatever trailer was available on set, large or small and didn't prevent anyone from knocking on his door. Michael Clarke Duncan stunned everyone at the Golden Globes (The Green Mile one) when he accepted his award and then asked Jack Lemmon on stage and gave it to him. Lemmon thought he lost his mind and was speechless. Duncan gave a long speech about how he was inspired by Lemmon and his character throughout his career....was extraordinary ... never done before. Anyway you should watch all his stuff NB Save the Tiger, China Syndrome, Missing.
I saw this as a teen, and for what I was expecting from such an "old" movie, I was really impressed even then with how funny this was, and also with how sincere, emotional, and clever it was.
I happened on The Apartment one late night some 20 years ago by complete accident as it just happened to be showing on TV (Anyone remember regular TV, where they could surprise you?). I stayed up until 2am just to finish watching it and it is now my favourite film (and I don't do favourites) which I own multiple times in various formats. Ving Rhames gave his Oscar to Jack Lemmon, and this film demonstrates why he would have felt compelled to do that. Lemmon was a treasure and a joy to watch. This film is a masterclass on screenwriting, acting and directing and ages like wine. My son loves this film and he's only 10, but he can watch it despite the heavy topics, because it deals with those topics with such exquisite nuance it is incredible. Thank you for showing this film its due diligence. Could you do Some Like It Hot next? Same director and Jack Lemmon stars again.
It's just mindboggling how this is only my third, maybe even fourth Billy Wilder film. How is that possible? With a hundred other directors it would be their best. This being the case cements Billy Wilder as a top tier director for me. As for the movie, on paper C.C. Baxter is a very bland character but the genius of the casting is knowing exactly the right person to breathe life into him. There are many actors who would seem too hokey straining the spaghetti with a tennis racket but how Lemmon does it is just...lovable, plain and simple. The twinkle in my eye when this man says "otherwise wise" should've been enough to blind me in that eye. Additionally how this idea sprung up with Wilder wanting to probe the kind of guy who in Brief Encounter, allowed people to use his apartment for affairs is just so next level I stopped typing this to put my hands to my temples in awe. This is exactly the kind of thinking that creates timeless movies, borrowing the tracest amount of something most people don't even consider for a second in another movie and expanding upon it. It's just brilliant, hugely clever. I try not to think about it too often because I don't want to be tempted to watch when it's not the space between Christmas and New Year's, which I wish was more common knowledge, that it's perfect for that time. I watched it when the ambiance was exactly wrong.
Well done! Here are three good romantic comedies of old; "Roman Holiday" ( w/ Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn), "Mr. Roberts" (w/Jack Lemon, Henry Fonda & James Cagney), "It Happened One Night" (w/ Carole Lombard & Clark Gable).
Before Double Indemnity, Fred MacMurray had always played good guys. He admits to being scared to play the role and being considered unlikeable, in spite of being personally encouraged by Billy Wilder, who understood he was casting against type. Lucky for all of us, MacMurray accepted the role and the movie has become a film noir classic! MacMurray said all this in the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award salute to Billy Wilder. He admitted that, for the first time in his career, he’d be “required to act.” Too true!
Billy Wilder is a genius, he has so many masterpieces that you never finish. I recommend "Ace in the hole" (1951), it's a very acidic and cool portrait.
Billy Wilder is one of the more underappreciated directors for how many great movies he made. They're all incredibly well-written, directed and acted and still hold up very well today. Some others to check out are Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Ace in the Hole, Stalag 17, Witness for the Prosecution, and The Fortune Cookie (also starring Jack Lemmon). Can't go wrong with any of them. Plus Jack Lemmon is one of my favorite actors from that era. He could do it all.
My favorite film! Jack Lemmon is my favorite actor and Shirley was doing a lot of interesting characters at that time. Ones her later characters would harshly criticize and judge. The writing is so good.
Love your reaction to this film because you really got yourself immerse into it. Jack Lemmon was one of the great actors of our time. He could do comedy and he could do drama. He won his only Oscar for "Save the Tiger" an excellent performance and film you should check out. He also reprised his Broadway role in the film "Mister Roberts" which boast a great cast with Henry Fonda, William Powell (in his last film) and the great James Cagney.. My favorite Jack Lemon film is "Good Neighbor Sam" which is a comedic farce but it works so well there are scenes that will be etched in your memory for good. Jack partnered a couple of times with Walter Mattheau in "The Fortune Cookie," "The Odd Couple," and the epic Oliver Stone film "JFK." There's enough watching that will keep you busy. Until next time... BTW: The piano player in the first scene in the bar with Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray, the piano player was playing in the background the theme of the movie. It wasn't the actor actually playing the piano but it was dubbed into the soundtrack. The real pianist was John Williams. YES, THE John Williams of "Stars Wars," "Indiana Jones" etc. He was a studio musician before becoming a composer for TV and films.
Nice remark on Marilyn... A few years earlier, Jack Lemmon worked with her and Tony Curtis in "Some like it hot". From this movie is the great phrase, "Nobody is perfect..."
Went on a similar 50s-early 60s kick during the pandemic. I’d only seen “The Apartment” once, i think my grandma was watching it one Sunday afternoon and I just noticed Jack Lemmon, and I had seen “Grumpy Old Men.” Watching it decades later as an adult, this flick was absolutely brilliant. Another great 50s screenwriting study is the Elia Kazan/Andy Griffith flick “A Face in the Crowd,” which I later learned was an inspiration for “Network.”
Glad you enjoyed it. Best film 1960. Jack Lemmon is such a diverse actor. I’m only 50 but he’s one of my favorite actors. Days of Wine snd Roses, Save The Tiger, The Odd Couple are three I’d highly recommend.
This is why I love your reactions! You get it that a film can be multilayered and appreciate all the levels. This movie is so gut wrenching at times and laugh out loud funny at others. Most times people only see the sadness, especially after she takes the pills. Movies can be deep and funny. Thanks for feeling free to enjoy the humor!
"Shut up and deal." Jack Lemmon was on the receiving end of two of the best closing lines in movie history: this one, and "Well, nobody's perfect" in Some Like It Hot. And both of them are Billy Wilder films. The Apartment is a favorite of mine. I'd say it's not really a rom-com. It's too serious for that. It's about two people finding their self-respect in the middle of a moral cesspool. It's more of a rom than a com. Did you notice that the two main characters never call each other by their first names (or nicknames)? It was always "Mr. Baxter" and "Miss Kubelik," never "Fran" or "Bud." The formality was even there when Bud told her he loved her. To me it stands for the decency and respect with which they treat each other. Jack Lemmon played C.C. Baxter, AKA Bud. You previously saw him in Some Like it Hot, but maybe you didn't recognize him here because he wasn't in drag (😉). He was also in Mister Roberts, Bell Book and Candle, Days of Wine and Roses, Irma la Douce (also with Shirley MacLaine), The Fortune Cookie, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger, The China Syndrome, Missing, JFK, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Grumpy Old Men. He was a great actor, especially physically (as you noticed). Shirley MacLaine (Fran Kubelik) is still with us. She was also in The Trouble with Harry (a Hitchcock film), Sweet Charity, Two Mules for Sister Sara, The Turning Point, Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias, and Postcards from the Edge. Fred MacMurray (Mr. Sheldrake) said that after The Apartment was released, women would come up to him on the street and berate him for making a "filthy" movie. One even went so far as to hit him with her purse. Sheldrake really is a despicable character. MacMurray often played morally compromised characters, as he did in The Caine Mutiny and Double Indemnity (you recognized him from that film). But when I was a kid, he was the dad in the TV sitcom My Three Sons. I was surprised when I learned as an adult that, before that TV show, he specialized in playing weasels. Billy Wilder wrote and directed The Apartment. Many of his films are about the gritty underside of life (no fluffy romances for him!) Other Billy Wilder movies include Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, Sunset Blvd., Ace in the Hole, Stalag 17, Sabrina, The Seven Year Itch, Witness for the Prosecution, Irma la Douce, and The Fortune Cookie.
Jack Lemmon was primarily famous as a comic performer but in reality he was just a flat out great actor. Billy Wilder ...well, there just aren't the words.
I love this movie... The year we took Billy Wilder for our yearly cinema soiree (5 movies marathon) we used a raquet for our pasta dinner. Now you saw this classic ... why not trying Mad men. Love your reactions dude
"It's hard enough to write a good drama, it's much harder to write a good comedy, and it's hardest of all to write a drama with comedy. Which is what life is." Jack Lemmon
Love this movie for reasons obvious to you now. I had to double-check but you liked this actor director combo before in Some Like it Hot. Jack Lemmon was the one of the leads that dressed as a woman. He is the one that gets told at the end "nobody's perfect" in one of the better last lines of all time.
Love that you drew a comparison between Jack Lemon and Robin Williams. They are both brilliant and became cultural icons in their own ways. Funny, because for those two the compliment of being compared to the other honestly goes both ways. You may get a kick out of this th-cam.com/video/Tk3EgDPZD0w/w-d-xo.html I bet Ving Rhames was a pretty bing fan of The Apartment, too.
Robin Williams is such an apt comparison to Jack Lemmon's talents. He's comedy gold as Daphne in Some Like it Hot, but here he's a perfect blend of endearing awkwardness and pathos. One of the all-time great actors, and this is one of my favorite films. The party scene is just genius writing!
I am so glad you watched/reacted to this film. Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond made some great films together, but the two most outstanding were back-to-back: This one in 1960, and 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝑯𝒐𝒕 the year before (also with Jack Lemmon). If you haven't seen that one, put it high on your list. Keep it up!
You’re right they were not innocent but they were sympathetic. They also when they got what they thought they wanted it wasn’t what they needed. The happy ending is not only ending up together that but they outgrew who they were before.
This is my all time favorite film. I consider it to be as close to perfectly written and performed as anything I’ve experienced. Glad you watched it and loved it
Future TV stars in this one: Fred MacMurray (Mr. Sheldrake) on TV's My Three Sons (1960 to 1972), Ray Walston (Mr. Dobisch) on TV's My Favorite Martian (1963 to 1966) and David White (Mr. Eichelberger) as boss Larry Tate on TV's Bewitched (1964 to 1972). Lynn Cartwright (elevator supervisor with clicker) would , years later, play the older version of Geena Davis in the feature film A League of Their Own.
I'm old enough to have watched this on over-the-air TV-- they actually used to show these old classics in the '70s and '80s over regular TV with commercials.
Both this and Sling Blade were first time watches for me because I saw you reacted to them, so thank you. I loved both a lot, but The Apartment may be one of my favorite movies ever. Such a well written film.
Hi James, Thankyou for what you are putting out here as someone with cinematography background, as I am a cinema enthusiast and enjoing all your comments. I am Romanian doctor living in France. Have you ever given a thought of trying romanian cinema, say the 'eastern minimalist ciname wave' ? There is also some good art in the comunist era film also but it's a little trickie there. Anyway, if you ever want to give it a try, I would be glad to give you some recommandation. Have a nice day!
They didn't have to use black and white, from what I've heard. But I think black and white, like 12 Angry Men, for example, enhances the actors' abilities. Jack, Fred, Shirley, and the others really onew their craft, and Wilder knew exactly how to tell this story. Magnificent!
Just smashed the "subscribe" button. The professor in my screenwriting class made us watch this film on our first day, because it had so many fantastic elements - particularly in how character insight and story telling could be demonstrated in the physical actions of a character, rather than through dialogue. I've been a fan every since. And Jack Lemmon - you will probably not see a bad Jack Lemmon film. Some folks already mentioned a few, but you have to see "Some Like it Hot" for more Billy Wilder greatness, and I think the "China Syndrome" is under appreciated, and Glengarry Glen Ross" for Lemmon as part of an all-star cast. But there are so many great films of his, you cannot go wrong. I also love the fact that you're exploring films from the 60s. So much great and ground breaking work of which can still inspire.
all-time favourite romantic comedy for me, maybe tied with Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night (I think Bergman was most suited to romantic comedies) both very DARK as romantic comedies go, because love is PAIN man. Also like it a lot more than Some Like It Hot, which seems to be far more well-known. As for the actor Jack Lemmon, Gill in the Simpsons was actually based off a character he played
OK, great movie, and great choice. Not an NYC movie so much as a abuse of corporate power movie and a "corruption below the respectable surface" movie, which was an important theme in this era. I can't vote, but for a great military movie/courtroom drama try The Caine Mutiny. Great cast, great story.
Take it out to sea, Mr Roberts - 1955, Jack Lemmon & Henry Fonda - and Jimmy Cagney! Another gem, comedy & emotion. A movie that was adapted from a play, based on a 1940s WW II veteran who served on board a cargo ship. Some say that this is one of the best looks at what most WW II veterans of the war in the Pacific went through. More Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon please!
IMDB - "Jack Lemmon was born on February 8, 1925 in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. He initially acted on TV before moving to Hollywood for the big screen, cultivating a career that would span decades. An eight time Academy Award nominee, with two wins, Lemmon starred in over 60 films including Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), Irma la Douce (1963), The Odd Couple (1968), Save the Tiger (1973) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). Some of his most beloved performances stemmed from his collaborations with acclaimed director Billy Wilder and with his fellow friend and actor Walter Matthau. A versatile and beloved performer, Jack Lemmon was a celebrated virtuoso in both comedy and drama. The only child of Mildred Lankford Noel and John Uhler Lemmon Jr., who was the president of a doughnut company, Lemmon had a fairly affluent upbringing. He attended the prestigious Phillips Academy (Class of 1943) and Harvard College (Class of 1947). At Harvard, Lemmon found his passion for theater. He was also a member of the V-12 Navy College Training Program and served briefly as an ensign on an aircraft carrier during World War II before returning to Harvard following his time served in the military. After college, Lemmon moved to New York City and spent much of his time there playing piano in a bar before landing small roles on the radio, stage and television. Two years later, Lemmon earned his first big role in the comedy war drama Mister Roberts (1955) with Henry Fonda and James Cagney. His complex portrayal of a somewhat dishonest but sensitive character earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Lemmon would go on to work on a number of films with comedian and close friend Ernie Kovacs, including Bell Book and Candle (1958). In 1959, Lemmon gave one of the top comedic performances of his career when he starred alongside Tony Curtis in the romantic comedy film Some Like It Hot (1959), the first of several collaborations with director Billy Wilder. Lemmon also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of C.C. 'Bud' Baxter in the The Apartment (1960) while working again with Wilder. Lemmon enjoyed great success on the big screen throughout the 1950s and 60s. The Fortune Cookie (1966) served as the start of a comedic partnership between Lemmon and Walter Matthau and the two would come together again, two years later, for The Odd Couple (1968), one of their most endearing films together. As the 1970s came around, Lemmon began to undertake more dramatic roles and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Save the Tiger (1973). Throughout the 80s and 90s, Lemmon continued to excel in his character performances and earned a Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1988. Sometimes referred to as "America's Everyman", Lemmon's versatility as an actor helped the audience more closely identify and relate to him. He was able always to elicit a laugh or sympathy from his viewers and his charismatic presence always shined on the big screen. He often portrayed the quintessence of aspiring man and established a lasting impression on the film industry."
Love your reaction to this Billy Wilder gem. He is a great writer and director in various genres. However I have always preferred his comedies over the other stuff.
OH HELL YEAH! BILLY WILDER! Top level Director for any generation. You have a few more of his films to watch and most assuredly enjoy. You're a very lucky young man.
Hey, great reaction! My first time watching. But The Apartment is definitely one of my top five all-time American films. Certainly the greatest romantic comedy ever made. Thanks for letting me watch it with you. Thanks for having such intelligent things to say.
I bought the blu ray for this film on a whim with an amazon gift card and it has become one of my favorite movies. A perfect romantic comedy that balances cynical realities with heartfelt characters trying to do the right thing. Just like you said, so much is conveyed through the actors' body language, expressions and just what they do when not talking that just makes it more believable and the characters more relatable. Amazing film and I'm glad you got to watch it
Hi James, it`s always good to see someone younger appreciating these older Classics. I first saw Ray Walston in the early `60`s Tv Series (My Favorite Martian), I enjoyed his performances in it & watched out for him. Besides this film, I most associated Fred MacMurray with his 1961 comedy (The Absent Minded Professor). The three films that standout the most for me from Shirley MacLaine`s great career are, the 1962 (My Geisha), the 1966 (Gambit) & the 1969 musical (Sweet Charity). Similarly, Jack Lemmon had a wonderful & long career, any of his films alongside Walter Matthau are well worth watching. But also, the following 4 films :- 1959 (Some Like It Hot), 1965 (How To Murder Your Wife), 1965 (The Great Race) & 1979 (The China Syndrome). Sadly, I can`t remember which one of his or Shirley`s I saw first. Hopefully, you will add these to your no doubt long list of possible future reactions.
This is one of my desert island movies, and repeat viewing has hepped me to so many things. Something I think people don't always notice on the first watch is that C.C. copies off other people, repeats phrases all his dominant figures use on him ("O-U-T, OUT!" "You see a girl for laughs...,"), thinking they will have the same effect on others, but they almost always backfire because he's saying them to people who don't put up with that kind of doubletalk. It takes a while for him to become his own person with his own lexicon and not just a parrot. Similarly, as part of his learning process, at first he likes the neighbors thinking that he was a lothario because it added color to a boring life. Then, once he was in too deep, he had to keep up the charade, not just for appearances, but also legally. In the '60s in many cities, especially NYC, infidelity was a prosecutable crime, you could get arrested if you were caught wildcatting in public. The reason why all his superiors want to use his apartment is because hotels usually had security working for them whose job it was to try spotting who the "unmarried" couples were and call the cops. So if he admitted he let other men use his apartment to screw women, he could likely get evicted and maybe even prosecuted for abetting. Finally, when he willingly takes the punches from Fran's brother-in-law, it's come full circle to the point where he's accepting that part of the price of being perceived as a hound is that you're gonna get beat up, and demonstrating to someone he respects (Dr. Dreyfus) that he takes responsibility for everything, both what is perceived and what is real.
For me, this is the best movie of all time. The script is just so beautifully constructed. 14:35 This moment and everything that build up to it, is just pure writing perfection. Your reaction was great.
13:51 Personally though I'd say it was more brutal what he was doing to all the women than what she was saying to Fran, remembering she said that he told all of them that he was going to divorce his wife and that he loved them, "and then ya wind up with egg fu yung on your face."
Aw man how did i miss this video! My father is a certified cinefile and he showed me this when i was very young. My dad used to use a tennis racquet to strain pasta bc of this movie lol
I've always thought the premise of this movie (and the screenplay) made for one hilarious movie! And Jack Lemmon was the perfect actor for his role. And nice to see a very young Shirley MacLaine, too. Thanks, James.
Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine had great screen chemistry that made their characters feel real. Another one of their movies together is Irma La Douce. Great,fun,wacky movie. Add it to your watch list,you won't regret it.
You said it all. There us a language to music, the visual arts, cinema, poetry, history, mathematics. In order to appreciate them we need to analyze the parts of that language and determine how they interact to communicate the story, the message. I really appreciate your ability to connect all the elements of cinema and clearly communicate their message. Keep on with your gifts Tony’s. Peace and love.
This is one of my very favorite movies! This is widely considered one of the best screenplays of all time. Jack Lemmon, the lead actor here, is also in Some Like it Hot, which is also a Billy Wilder film. Glen Gary Glen Ross is a Jack Lemon MUST see. Be prepared though, it’s definitely not a comedy 😬
Take it out to sea, Mr Roberts - 1955, Jack Lemmon & Henry Fonda - and Jimmy Cagney! Another gem, comedy & emotion. A movie that was adapted from a play, based on a 1940s WW II veteran who served on board a cargo ship. Some say that this is one of the best looks at what most WW II veterans of the war in the Pacific went through. More Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon please!
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My all time favorite movie. I'm so happy people are finally getting around to this. Awesome.
I had a BLAST with this one 🙏🏽
How about "Avanti!"?
@@LucSchots Anything with Shirley.
Also my all time favorite film! And I am 20 years old! Jack Lemmon is my favorite actor, and his Shirley Mclane's performance in this is incredible!
@@JamesVSCinema I'm very late to the party, but I so enjoyed watching you experience this great film for the first time. I've long considered it my third favorite. Honestly, I could watch it every single day and not get bored. I'm happy that you discovered this film, along with Jack Lemmon (truly one of the greatest actors of all time), Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray (who is best known as the wise and kindly father in the 1960s sitcom My Three Sons, but was so wonderful playing such a cad here. So many terrific character actors in this one as well. I've always wished I could live next door to Dr. and Mrs. Dreyfuss. And for someone old like me (I was born in 1957 and remember well when people were saying things like "cookie-wise" or "efficiency-wise," there are so many actors I knew from television and movie character parts. And I appreciated your comments on the script, which I've always considered one of the best ever (right there with Casablanca). Thanks for sharing this.
Hitchcock loved the film so much he cold wrote Billy Wilder a letter of appreciation. "Dear Mr. Wilder, I saw THE APARTMENT the other day. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it, and how beautifully made. I felt this so much that I was impelled to drop you this note." Kindest regards, Alfred Hitchcock.
High praise indeed. He didn’t lavish praise much.
@@kellie-nd1yp But he lavished praise on the actresses he tried to seduce.
Lemmon was the master of mannerisms that seamlessly were part of the character . Never seemed like too much but that’s how good he was.
Jack Lemmon is one of the best actors I've ever seen in terms of his ability to excel in both comedic and dramatic roles
I actually watched Glengarry Glen Ross this morning and god damn if he wasn't fantastic in there.
Yes I love the way he uses his eyes in some of his comedy roles. I believe it is the scene in his new office when he is trying on the hat and he sees the broken mirror ......
Agreed! I think our closest modern equivalent is probably Jason Bateman.
The Days of Wine and Roses was an eye opener. Lemmon does it all👍
Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture.
DAMN! That’s awesome
Jack and Shirley should have won too. Jack did win two one supporting for Mr. Roberts in the 50’s and lead for Save The Tiger in the 70’s . Shirley won for Terms of Endearment in the 80’s so they were rewarded.
I love how the happy ending we get isn't the usual one where the characters end up together, but rather one where they each learn to stand up for themselves and discover their own sense of self worth. And they do it through one another as well. Brilliant storytelling!
Absolutely love this movie. Billy Wilder is a genius. You could teach an entire filmmaking class on just his films.
Amen to that.
Appreciate you giving love to these classics. With your reach, there will be many viewers who watch your reactions who would otherwise never see these films. That could lead to a lot of amazing discoveries. Also, the director of The Apartment, Billy Wilder, is considered by many (including Spielberg and Scorsese) as the greatest director-screenwriter of all time. And the diversity of his resume is incredible, as he excelled in many genres: 2 of the greatest noirs of all time (Double Indemnity & Sunset Boulevard); 1 of the greatest comedies (Some Like it Hot--and for my money, One, Two, Three is just as good); 1 of the greatest courtroom dramas (Witness for the Prosecution) and of course, The Apartment, (1960 best picture winner and one of the great comedy-dramas of all time).
Bruh Witness For the Prosecution is one of the best examples of screenwriting especially when it comes to classics. Based on Agatha Christy and also directed by Billy Wilder.
Fred McMurray was the lead in Double Indemnity. If you don’t know Jack Lemmon, then you have a lot of wonderful movies ahead of you- he’s one of the best. Some Like It Hot, The Odd Couple, The China Syndrome, Glengarry Glen Ross…. Decades of incredible work both comic and dramatic.
@limeymcfrog1 You don't like 'Days of Wine and Roses' or the ones co-starring Judy Holliday??
Don’t forget « Missing », with SissyS’acek
@@MsAppassionata yea I have not seen anyone review this one and MR Roberts is just a one of a kind film. from war time and then it becomes a comedic look at a crew and that one reveal when the Letter is read is a gut punch. Lemmon won his 1st oscar (best supporting) and he was on his way to more classic films
Billy Wilder! What an incredible writer-director! I'm so excited to watch your take on it.
This is one of my favourite written films of all time. I just watched it a while ago and I found it so funny, so heartwarming, and how effortless the pacing of the film was. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are a match in every way, and Billy Wilder was just incredible.
Jack Lemon has this understated charm and humanity that just draws you in.
I love this film. I've used "be a mensch" as a self-motivation mantra ever since I first watched it.
Fred McMurray (Mr. Sheldrake) is in Double Indemnity. Another film directed by Billy Wilder.
Also the name of the protagonist's actor is Jack Lemmon.
Jack Lemmon was an institution.. that's being forgotten. He had no flash or ego. He took whatever trailer was available on set, large or small and didn't prevent anyone from knocking on his door. Michael Clarke Duncan stunned everyone at the Golden Globes (The Green Mile one) when he accepted his award and then asked Jack Lemmon on stage and gave it to him. Lemmon thought he lost his mind and was speechless. Duncan gave a long speech about how he was inspired by Lemmon and his character throughout his career....was extraordinary ... never done before. Anyway you should watch all his stuff NB Save the Tiger, China Syndrome, Missing.
YES!! A classic film. Funny, sad, and cynical. Great performances and masterly directed by the great Billy Wilder. Thanks, James.
I don't think it's cynical, quite the opposite.
I saw this as a teen, and for what I was expecting from such an "old" movie, I was really impressed even then with how funny this was, and also with how sincere, emotional, and clever it was.
I happened on The Apartment one late night some 20 years ago by complete accident as it just happened to be showing on TV (Anyone remember regular TV, where they could surprise you?). I stayed up until 2am just to finish watching it and it is now my favourite film (and I don't do favourites) which I own multiple times in various formats.
Ving Rhames gave his Oscar to Jack Lemmon, and this film demonstrates why he would have felt compelled to do that. Lemmon was a treasure and a joy to watch.
This film is a masterclass on screenwriting, acting and directing and ages like wine. My son loves this film and he's only 10, but he can watch it despite the heavy topics, because it deals with those topics with such exquisite nuance it is incredible. Thank you for showing this film its due diligence.
Could you do Some Like It Hot next? Same director and Jack Lemmon stars again.
It's just mindboggling how this is only my third, maybe even fourth Billy Wilder film. How is that possible? With a hundred other directors it would be their best. This being the case cements Billy Wilder as a top tier director for me.
As for the movie, on paper C.C. Baxter is a very bland character but the genius of the casting is knowing exactly the right person to breathe life into him. There are many actors who would seem too hokey straining the spaghetti with a tennis racket but how Lemmon does it is just...lovable, plain and simple. The twinkle in my eye when this man says "otherwise wise" should've been enough to blind me in that eye.
Additionally how this idea sprung up with Wilder wanting to probe the kind of guy who in Brief Encounter, allowed people to use his apartment for affairs is just so next level I stopped typing this to put my hands to my temples in awe. This is exactly the kind of thinking that creates timeless movies, borrowing the tracest amount of something most people don't even consider for a second in another movie and expanding upon it. It's just brilliant, hugely clever.
I try not to think about it too often because I don't want to be tempted to watch when it's not the space between Christmas and New Year's, which I wish was more common knowledge, that it's perfect for that time. I watched it when the ambiance was exactly wrong.
Wow James! You have done another of my absolute favorites. The Apartment has such a flow and rhythm to the dialogue. I just adore this film.
I pop off so hard everytime the camera pans to an empty seat in front of Sheldrake
Absolutely!😂
Well done! Here are three good romantic comedies of old; "Roman Holiday" ( w/ Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn), "Mr. Roberts" (w/Jack Lemon, Henry Fonda & James Cagney), "It Happened One Night" (w/ Carole Lombard & Clark Gable).
Before Double Indemnity, Fred MacMurray had always played good guys. He admits to being scared to play the role and being considered unlikeable, in spite of being personally encouraged by Billy Wilder, who understood he was casting against type. Lucky for all of us, MacMurray accepted the role and the movie has become a film noir classic!
MacMurray said all this in the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award salute to Billy Wilder. He admitted that, for the first time in his career, he’d be “required to act.” Too true!
Billy Wilder is a genius, he has so many masterpieces that you never finish. I recommend "Ace in the hole" (1951), it's a very acidic and cool portrait.
An Absolute Classic!
Greatest pick James.
Thanks!! The community knows how to pick ‘em!
Billy Wilder is one of the more underappreciated directors for how many great movies he made. They're all incredibly well-written, directed and acted and still hold up very well today. Some others to check out are Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Ace in the Hole, Stalag 17, Witness for the Prosecution, and The Fortune Cookie (also starring Jack Lemmon). Can't go wrong with any of them.
Plus Jack Lemmon is one of my favorite actors from that era. He could do it all.
One of my faves.......thank you for watching this movie
My favorite film! Jack Lemmon is my favorite actor and Shirley was doing a lot of interesting characters at that time. Ones her later characters would harshly criticize and judge. The writing is so good.
One of my favorites. Such a great depiction of loneliness. Keep it up with the old movies. So many gems.
Jack Lemmon was a superstar, this movie is a top 50 must see ...
Oh dang i hoped you were able to rewind that scene of the cracked mirror😂 bc thats an important scene together 😂….great reaction btw 🙏
Enjoyed that so much, James. You were like a character in the film, or the Greek Chorus!🤓 Keep hittin' 'em outta the park, bruh!
this film is just so charming, I’m looking forward to watching this one, the versatility of the movies you watch is always awesome to see!💗
The yiddish word “mensch” connotes a man who treats others with decency, essentially what I’d call an Eagle Scout who studies his Judaica.
Love your reaction to this film because you really got yourself immerse into it. Jack Lemmon was one of the great actors of our time. He could do comedy and he could do drama. He won his only Oscar for "Save the Tiger" an excellent performance and film you should check out. He also reprised his Broadway role in the film "Mister Roberts" which boast a great cast with Henry Fonda, William Powell (in his last film) and the great James Cagney.. My favorite Jack Lemon film is "Good Neighbor Sam" which is a comedic farce but it works so well there are scenes that will be etched in your memory for good. Jack partnered a couple of times with Walter Mattheau in "The Fortune Cookie," "The Odd Couple," and the epic Oliver Stone film "JFK." There's enough watching that will keep you busy. Until next time... BTW: The piano player in the first scene in the bar with Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray, the piano player was playing in the background the theme of the movie. It wasn't the actor actually playing the piano but it was dubbed into the soundtrack. The real pianist was John Williams. YES, THE John Williams of "Stars Wars," "Indiana Jones" etc. He was a studio musician before becoming a composer for TV and films.
This is such a funny film. It’s cool to see you react to it. Keep up the great work James, take care!
Nice remark on Marilyn... A few years earlier, Jack Lemmon worked with her and Tony Curtis in "Some like it hot". From this movie is the great phrase, "Nobody is perfect..."
Went on a similar 50s-early 60s kick during the pandemic. I’d only seen “The Apartment” once, i think my grandma was watching it one Sunday afternoon and I just noticed Jack Lemmon, and I had seen “Grumpy Old Men.” Watching it decades later as an adult, this flick was absolutely brilliant. Another great 50s screenwriting study is the Elia Kazan/Andy Griffith flick “A Face in the Crowd,” which I later learned was an inspiration for “Network.”
Glad you enjoyed it. Best film 1960. Jack Lemmon is such a diverse actor. I’m only 50 but he’s one of my favorite actors. Days of Wine snd Roses, Save The Tiger, The Odd Couple are three I’d highly recommend.
This is why I love your reactions! You get it that a film can be multilayered and appreciate all the levels. This movie is so gut wrenching at times and laugh out loud funny at others. Most times people only see the sadness, especially after she takes the pills. Movies can be deep and funny. Thanks for feeling free to enjoy the humor!
Brilliantly said! These films are truly breathing life!
If you ever get the chance James,
I highly recommend "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950).
"Shut up and deal." Jack Lemmon was on the receiving end of two of the best closing lines in movie history: this one, and "Well, nobody's perfect" in Some Like It Hot. And both of them are Billy Wilder films.
The Apartment is a favorite of mine. I'd say it's not really a rom-com. It's too serious for that. It's about two people finding their self-respect in the middle of a moral cesspool. It's more of a rom than a com.
Did you notice that the two main characters never call each other by their first names (or nicknames)? It was always "Mr. Baxter" and "Miss Kubelik," never "Fran" or "Bud." The formality was even there when Bud told her he loved her. To me it stands for the decency and respect with which they treat each other.
Jack Lemmon played C.C. Baxter, AKA Bud. You previously saw him in Some Like it Hot, but maybe you didn't recognize him here because he wasn't in drag (😉). He was also in Mister Roberts, Bell Book and Candle, Days of Wine and Roses, Irma la Douce (also with Shirley MacLaine), The Fortune Cookie, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger, The China Syndrome, Missing, JFK, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Grumpy Old Men. He was a great actor, especially physically (as you noticed).
Shirley MacLaine (Fran Kubelik) is still with us. She was also in The Trouble with Harry (a Hitchcock film), Sweet Charity, Two Mules for Sister Sara, The Turning Point, Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias, and Postcards from the Edge.
Fred MacMurray (Mr. Sheldrake) said that after The Apartment was released, women would come up to him on the street and berate him for making a "filthy" movie. One even went so far as to hit him with her purse. Sheldrake really is a despicable character. MacMurray often played morally compromised characters, as he did in The Caine Mutiny and Double Indemnity (you recognized him from that film). But when I was a kid, he was the dad in the TV sitcom My Three Sons. I was surprised when I learned as an adult that, before that TV show, he specialized in playing weasels.
Billy Wilder wrote and directed The Apartment. Many of his films are about the gritty underside of life (no fluffy romances for him!) Other Billy Wilder movies include Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, Sunset Blvd., Ace in the Hole, Stalag 17, Sabrina, The Seven Year Itch, Witness for the Prosecution, Irma la Douce, and The Fortune Cookie.
Jack Lemmon was primarily famous as a comic performer but in reality he was just a flat out great actor.
Billy Wilder ...well, there just aren't the words.
I love this movie... The year we took Billy Wilder for our yearly cinema soiree (5 movies marathon) we used a raquet for our pasta dinner. Now you saw this classic ... why not trying Mad men. Love your reactions dude
"It's hard enough to write a good drama, it's much harder to write a good comedy, and it's hardest of all to write a drama with comedy. Which is what life is." Jack Lemmon
Love this movie for reasons obvious to you now. I had to double-check but you liked this actor director combo before in Some Like it Hot. Jack Lemmon was the one of the leads that dressed as a woman. He is the one that gets told at the end "nobody's perfect" in one of the better last lines of all time.
Thanks James! I think your "Thankyou!" reaction right at the end of the movie summed it up perfectly.
Love that you drew a comparison between Jack Lemon and Robin Williams. They are both brilliant and became cultural icons in their own ways. Funny, because for those two the compliment of being compared to the other honestly goes both ways.
You may get a kick out of this th-cam.com/video/Tk3EgDPZD0w/w-d-xo.html
I bet Ving Rhames was a pretty bing fan of The Apartment, too.
Robin Williams is such an apt comparison to Jack Lemmon's talents. He's comedy gold as Daphne in Some Like it Hot, but here he's a perfect blend of endearing awkwardness and pathos. One of the all-time great actors, and this is one of my favorite films. The party scene is just genius writing!
I am so glad you watched/reacted to this film. Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond made some great films together, but the two most outstanding were back-to-back: This one in 1960, and 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝑯𝒐𝒕 the year before (also with Jack Lemmon). If you haven't seen that one, put it high on your list. Keep it up!
You’re right they were not innocent but they were sympathetic. They also when they got what they thought they wanted it wasn’t what they needed. The happy ending is not only ending up together that
but they outgrew who they were before.
This is my all time favorite film. I consider it to be as close to perfectly written and performed as anything I’ve experienced. Glad you watched it and loved it
Future TV stars in this one: Fred MacMurray (Mr. Sheldrake) on TV's My Three Sons (1960 to 1972), Ray Walston (Mr. Dobisch) on TV's My Favorite Martian (1963 to 1966) and David White (Mr. Eichelberger) as boss Larry Tate on TV's Bewitched (1964 to 1972). Lynn Cartwright (elevator supervisor with clicker) would , years later, play the older version of Geena Davis in the feature film A League of Their Own.
One of those flicks you can't believe is 60+ years old.
The Apartment is among my top 10 favorite films.
This film still feels quite fresh which is an incredible testament to its writing and performances, especially Jack in the lead
such a beautiful movie! jack lemmon is an incredible actor, I love him in everything he's in. so happy you reacted to it!
One of my favourite films, and it's even better to watch with you! Jack Lemmon also shines in the hilarious, The Out-of-Towners (1970).
I'm old enough to have watched this on over-the-air TV-- they actually used to show these old classics in the '70s and '80s over regular TV with commercials.
Won Best Picture for a reason. A timeless classic.
Both this and Sling Blade were first time watches for me because I saw you reacted to them, so thank you. I loved both a lot, but The Apartment may be one of my favorite movies ever. Such a well written film.
One of my perfect films. I love it.
Hi James, Thankyou for what you are putting out here as someone with cinematography background, as I am a cinema enthusiast and enjoing all your comments. I am Romanian doctor living in France. Have you ever given a thought of trying romanian cinema, say the 'eastern minimalist ciname wave' ? There is also some good art in the comunist era film also but it's a little trickie there. Anyway, if you ever want to give it a try, I would be glad to give you some recommandation. Have a nice day!
I’ve always considered jack Lemmon, and Shirley MacLaine iconic actors. It seems like every time I see one of them, they’re incredible in the role.
They didn't have to use black and white, from what I've heard. But I think black and white, like 12 Angry Men, for example, enhances the actors' abilities. Jack, Fred, Shirley, and the others really onew their craft, and Wilder knew exactly how to tell this story. Magnificent!
Just smashed the "subscribe" button. The professor in my screenwriting class made us watch this film on our first day, because it had so many fantastic elements - particularly in how character insight and story telling could be demonstrated in the physical actions of a character, rather than through dialogue. I've been a fan every since. And Jack Lemmon - you will probably not see a bad Jack Lemmon film. Some folks already mentioned a few, but you have to see "Some Like it Hot" for more Billy Wilder greatness, and I think the "China Syndrome" is under appreciated, and Glengarry Glen Ross" for Lemmon as part of an all-star cast. But there are so many great films of his, you cannot go wrong.
I also love the fact that you're exploring films from the 60s. So much great and ground breaking work of which can still inspire.
all-time favourite romantic comedy for me, maybe tied with Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night (I think Bergman was most suited to romantic comedies) both very DARK as romantic comedies go, because love is PAIN man. Also like it a lot more than Some Like It Hot, which seems to be far more well-known. As for the actor Jack Lemmon, Gill in the Simpsons was actually based off a character he played
NYC type of story right here.
Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema
Have a great day!
OK, great movie, and great choice. Not an NYC movie so much as a abuse of corporate power movie and a "corruption below the respectable surface" movie, which was an important theme in this era.
I can't vote, but for a great military movie/courtroom drama try The Caine Mutiny. Great cast, great story.
How about a Bogart movie?
Dead Reckoning
Or have you seen "the Maltese Falcon" yet?
Take it out to sea, Mr Roberts - 1955, Jack Lemmon & Henry Fonda - and Jimmy Cagney! Another gem, comedy & emotion. A movie that was adapted from a play, based on a 1940s WW II veteran who served on board a cargo ship. Some say that this is one of the best looks at what most WW II veterans of the war in the Pacific went through. More Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon please!
IMDB - "Jack Lemmon was born on February 8, 1925 in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. He initially acted on TV before moving to Hollywood for the big screen, cultivating a career that would span decades. An eight time Academy Award nominee, with two wins, Lemmon starred in over 60 films including Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), Irma la Douce (1963), The Odd Couple (1968), Save the Tiger (1973) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). Some of his most beloved performances stemmed from his collaborations with acclaimed director Billy Wilder and with his fellow friend and actor Walter Matthau.
A versatile and beloved performer, Jack Lemmon was a celebrated virtuoso in both comedy and drama. The only child of Mildred Lankford Noel and John Uhler Lemmon Jr., who was the president of a doughnut company, Lemmon had a fairly affluent upbringing. He attended the prestigious Phillips Academy (Class of 1943) and Harvard College (Class of 1947). At Harvard, Lemmon found his passion for theater. He was also a member of the V-12 Navy College Training Program and served briefly as an ensign on an aircraft carrier during World War II before returning to Harvard following his time served in the military.
After college, Lemmon moved to New York City and spent much of his time there playing piano in a bar before landing small roles on the radio, stage and television. Two years later, Lemmon earned his first big role in the comedy war drama Mister Roberts (1955) with Henry Fonda and James Cagney. His complex portrayal of a somewhat dishonest but sensitive character earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Lemmon would go on to work on a number of films with comedian and close friend Ernie Kovacs, including Bell Book and Candle (1958). In 1959, Lemmon gave one of the top comedic performances of his career when he starred alongside Tony Curtis in the romantic comedy film Some Like It Hot (1959), the first of several collaborations with director Billy Wilder. Lemmon also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of C.C. 'Bud' Baxter in the The Apartment (1960) while working again with Wilder. Lemmon enjoyed great success on the big screen throughout the 1950s and 60s.
The Fortune Cookie (1966) served as the start of a comedic partnership between Lemmon and Walter Matthau and the two would come together again, two years later, for The Odd Couple (1968), one of their most endearing films together. As the 1970s came around, Lemmon began to undertake more dramatic roles and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Save the Tiger (1973). Throughout the 80s and 90s, Lemmon continued to excel in his character performances and earned a Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1988.
Sometimes referred to as "America's Everyman", Lemmon's versatility as an actor helped the audience more closely identify and relate to him. He was able always to elicit a laugh or sympathy from his viewers and his charismatic presence always shined on the big screen. He often portrayed the quintessence of aspiring man and established a lasting impression on the film industry."
Love your reaction to this Billy Wilder gem. He is a great writer and director in various genres. However I have always preferred his comedies over the other stuff.
It IS a classic!!! Glad you enjoyed it
15:11 Love it when the audience knows more that the characters!
Enjoyed your reaction.
Nothing to do with the plot but his movie shows how many people large office business use to employed.
Both Jack Lemmon and Shirley Mclaine are brilliant actors. Great film too.
The scene where they show all the desks is taken from the silent film The Crowd. Well worth seeing.
OH HELL YEAH! BILLY WILDER! Top level Director for any generation. You have a few more of his films to watch and most assuredly enjoy. You're a very lucky young man.
Just want to say thanks for reacting to different movies. Best reactor tbh
Hey, great reaction! My first time watching. But The Apartment is definitely one of my top five all-time American films. Certainly the greatest romantic comedy ever made. Thanks for letting me watch it with you. Thanks for having such intelligent things to say.
This must be a real oldie ! I never heard of it
Nominated for 10 Oscars including the two leads, it won the Best Picture Academy Award, Best Director and 3 others, so it's worth knowing about.
I bought the blu ray for this film on a whim with an amazon gift card and it has become one of my favorite movies. A perfect romantic comedy that balances cynical realities with heartfelt characters trying to do the right thing. Just like you said, so much is conveyed through the actors' body language, expressions and just what they do when not talking that just makes it more believable and the characters more relatable. Amazing film and I'm glad you got to watch it
Hi James, it`s always good to see someone younger appreciating these older Classics. I first saw Ray Walston in the early `60`s Tv Series (My Favorite Martian), I enjoyed his performances in it & watched out for him. Besides this film, I most associated Fred MacMurray with his 1961 comedy (The Absent Minded Professor).
The three films that standout the most for me from Shirley MacLaine`s great career are, the 1962 (My Geisha), the 1966 (Gambit) & the 1969 musical (Sweet Charity). Similarly, Jack Lemmon had a wonderful & long career, any of his films alongside Walter Matthau are well worth watching.
But also, the following 4 films :- 1959 (Some Like It Hot), 1965 (How To Murder Your Wife), 1965 (The Great Race) & 1979 (The China Syndrome). Sadly, I can`t remember which one of his or Shirley`s I saw first. Hopefully, you will add these to your no doubt long list of possible future reactions.
This is one of my desert island movies, and repeat viewing has hepped me to so many things.
Something I think people don't always notice on the first watch is that C.C. copies off other people, repeats phrases all his dominant figures use on him ("O-U-T, OUT!" "You see a girl for laughs...,"), thinking they will have the same effect on others, but they almost always backfire because he's saying them to people who don't put up with that kind of doubletalk. It takes a while for him to become his own person with his own lexicon and not just a parrot.
Similarly, as part of his learning process, at first he likes the neighbors thinking that he was a lothario because it added color to a boring life. Then, once he was in too deep, he had to keep up the charade, not just for appearances, but also legally. In the '60s in many cities, especially NYC, infidelity was a prosecutable crime, you could get arrested if you were caught wildcatting in public. The reason why all his superiors want to use his apartment is because hotels usually had security working for them whose job it was to try spotting who the "unmarried" couples were and call the cops. So if he admitted he let other men use his apartment to screw women, he could likely get evicted and maybe even prosecuted for abetting. Finally, when he willingly takes the punches from Fran's brother-in-law, it's come full circle to the point where he's accepting that part of the price of being perceived as a hound is that you're gonna get beat up, and demonstrating to someone he respects (Dr. Dreyfus) that he takes responsibility for everything, both what is perceived and what is real.
I own 784 films on Blu-ray. This is my favorite. I’m glad you liked it.
For me, this is the best movie of all time. The script is just so beautifully constructed. 14:35 This moment and everything that build up to it, is just pure writing perfection. Your reaction was great.
Poor Bud, forever condemned to the friend-zone
From way back then; you may enjoy “On The Waterfront”, “Rebel Without A Cause”, & “The Hustler”..... Great drama! 💯🔥🤙🏽😎
Jack Lemon was such a lovable actor in everything he did love Shirley McClain in this also
You have another good film, like Phone booth. Final call. Very thrilling film with good filmactors.
Fred McMurray is in Double Indemnity. Great flick.
13:51 Personally though I'd say it was more brutal what he was doing to all the women than what she was saying to Fran, remembering she said that he told all of them that he was going to divorce his wife and that he loved them, "and then ya wind up with egg fu yung on your face."
Aw man how did i miss this video! My father is a certified cinefile and he showed me this when i was very young. My dad used to use a tennis racquet to strain pasta bc of this movie lol
YES! HELL YEAH!
I gotchu! 🙏🏽
I've always thought the premise of this movie (and the screenplay) made for one hilarious movie! And Jack Lemmon was the perfect actor for his role. And nice to see a very young Shirley MacLaine, too. Thanks, James.
Another excellent Jack Lemmon film to check out is Days of Wine and Roses
I just was reminded of my favorite Jack Lemon performance:
Mister Roberts.
A 1955 film that is more of a play, ala, 12 Angry Men.
Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine had great screen chemistry that made their characters feel real. Another one of their movies together is Irma La Douce. Great,fun,wacky movie. Add it to your watch list,you won't regret it.
You said it all. There us a language to music, the visual arts, cinema, poetry, history, mathematics. In order to appreciate them we need to analyze the parts of that language and determine how they interact to communicate the story, the message. I really appreciate your ability to connect all the elements of cinema and clearly communicate their message. Keep on with your gifts Tony’s. Peace and love.
Disregard my typing if the word tony! Sorry
This is one of my very favorite movies! This is widely considered one of the best screenplays of all time. Jack Lemmon, the lead actor here, is also in Some Like it Hot, which is also a Billy Wilder film. Glen Gary Glen Ross is a Jack Lemon MUST see. Be prepared though, it’s definitely not a comedy 😬
Interesting movie soundtrack trivia: A young pianist-composer named Johnny Williams played the piano on this score!
Take it out to sea, Mr Roberts - 1955, Jack Lemmon & Henry Fonda - and Jimmy Cagney! Another gem, comedy & emotion. A movie that was adapted from a play, based on a 1940s WW II veteran who served on board a cargo ship. Some say that this is one of the best looks at what most WW II veterans of the war in the Pacific went through. More Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon please!
Fred McMurray was indeed in Double Indemnity, also directed by Billy Wilder.