The Apartment Literary Elements

Billy Wilder

Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine

Jack Kruschen, Fred MacMurray

Comedy, Drama, Romance, "Sex Comedy"

English

Academy Awards : Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Original Screenplay (Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond), Best Editing, Best Set Decoration

1960

Billy Wilder

Baxter's apartment, late 1950s, New York City

We primarily follow C.C. Baxter, but also are privy to a more omniscient perspective as well.

The film is formally a comedy, but it contains many darker dramatic elements. While the beginning is very lighthearted and glib in tone, once Fran attempts suicide, the tone gets much more ominous and dark. The film never quite attains its original lighthearted mood, but does get lighter once Fran is on the mend.

C.C. Baxter is the protagonist; Sheldrake is the antagonist

The major conflict is that Baxter is in love with Sheldrake's mistress, Sheldrake is his boss, and Fran doesn't seem to return Baxter's romantic feelings.

The climax is when Fran leaves Sheldrake at the Chinese restaurant and runs to Baxter's apartment.

Fran looking at Baxter's sleeping pills foreshadows the fact that she will use them to attempt suicide.

Sheldrake's response to Fran's suicide attempt is understated and he doesn't seem to think about the incident except as it reflects on him, not as a real event with emotional stakes. Many of the scenes that involve extramarital affairs also include understatement, in that the ethical implications are downplayed and seemingly inconsequential.

The shots of the main office floor were shot using forced perspective. What appeared like a larger room was in fact not that large, but each successive row of desks was smaller and smaller.

There are allusions to Robinson Crusoe, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Grand Hotel, Marilyn Monroe, and The Untouchables with Bob Stack.

Baxter is getting a reputation as a sleazy Casanova and playboy when in reality he is not sleeping with anyone.