Today's movie is Billy Wilder's The Apartment from 1960, a movie that I consider to be absolute perfection. It stars Jack Lemmon as C.C. Baxter, a poor shmuck who's constantly used by his associates at work for his bachelor apartment, so that all these married men can have their affairs in a safe place. One of those affairs is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) who, like Baxter, is also being used by a married man. When she tries to commit suicide in the apartment it's Baxter who takes care of her, and a perfect friendship is born. Billy Wilder was one of the best writers in movie history, and his dialogue is so perfect in this one it's a joy just listening to it. A smart, cynical and yet ultimately optimistic story about sad people prone to holiday blues (this is also set between Christmas and New Year's) learning how to take a step forward in life. As I said, it's perfection.
Original 1960 Trailer:
