THE APARTMENT (1960) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Billy Wilder

Written by - Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond

Starring - Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray

"An office clerk who lets his bosses use his apartment for their afternoon affairs falls for one of his superiors' girlfriends, whom he finds unconcious in his apartment. 

The Apartment is arguably the most bittersweet romantic comedy of all time, born out of the tension of the conflict and contrast between its sense of hopelessness with its warmth. 

Many things are praiseworthy in one of Billy Wilder's greatest works, beginning with its clever screenplay that often deceives the viewer with its likeable and genuinely funny sense of humour, which is often the way in which its vulnerable central character defend themselves - particularly the wonderful pivotal leading roles played by Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon who give career defining performances here and share some wonderful chamistry, also because of its strong leniance towards friendship rather than cliched love affair. 

These are very three dimensional character. They feel so genuine that it makes them look even more fragile against the backdrop of the capitalistic world in which they become chess pieces for the more powerful and manipulative, whether they are searching for true love or chasing that pot of gold of the American Dream. 

The socio-political examination is fascinating. It is not only the sense of romanticism being crushed by a modern society that revolves around individualism. It is also the mature way in which The Apartment represents such adult delicate themes as sex, mysogyny and even polar opposite portrayals of masculinity in the contrast between the characters played by Jack Lemmon and Fred MacMurray."

Romantic Comedy, USA