The Apartment
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Apartment is a 1960 comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
The Apartment is a 1960 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by Billy Wilder from a screenplay he co-wrote with I. A. L. Diamond. Jack Lemmon stars as an insurance clerk who, in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder, allows his superiors to use his Upper West Side apartment to conduct their extramarital affairs. He becomes attracted to an elevator operator (Shirley MacLaine) in his office building, unaware that she is having an affair with the head of personnel (Fred MacMurray). Ray Walston and Edie Adams feature in supporting roles.
Production
Written by Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond, the film was produced by The Mirisch Company. Adolph Deutsch composed the score. Joseph LaShelle handled the cinematography. The film runs 126 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $3,000,000, The Apartment grossed $25,000,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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