← Back to Reviews
in
The Apartment is a pretty simple story of an Everyman of 1960 (Jack Lemmon) in a typical entry-level insurance job, a number-cruncher without much to set him apart... except an apartment he's willing to loan out to the big kahuna's in his office for their extra-marital romps. It isn't long til he meets the perfect goofy girl next door (Shirley MacLaine) and wants the apartment for himself. This is a fairly light-hearted little story with fun characters and an upbeat attitude. There is a slightly deeper level to it, in which you can ponder the "mensch" angle: "what would it take for you to stand up for your beliefs?" it asks... but it asks over a frothy drink with an umbrella in it, and it's a fun thing to contemplate. It's a highly enjoyable movie, and it got me thinking about a couple of things, too.
For instance...
I did a little research on the information in Bud's opening speech, and a comparison to today's corresponding data:
In 1960, population of NYC: 8,042,782
In 2002, population of NYC: 7,428,162
In 1960, 5th largest corporation: Consolidated Insurance (per Bud)
In 2002, 5th largest corporation: Enron
In 1960, pay for an actuary, level III (middle range) in NYC: $4924.40 a YEAR!
Same in 2003: $76.268.00 a year.
Then, rent for a mid-60's Manhattan 1 br, W of Central Park: $85/mo. (21% of the above income)
Now, for the same area: $2000 a month (31% of that person's gross income....suddenly it's clear the real reason we stopped wearing pearls and furs after the 60's!)
Then: instant coffee was hip
Now: it's all about the Starbuck's, baby
Then: nearly dead movie cuties got 10 sharp slaps from an MD and walked around for 6 hours.
Now: same girlie gets a hypodermic of adrenaline jabbed through her sternum by a drug-dealing Eric Stoltz.
Regarding Bud's morality, I think he had a sense of chivalry going on. I didn't think he enjoyed taking "credit" for banging a different woman every night, but rather that it was better the neighbors thought he (a single guy) was wild than for them to know that he was letting his apartment be used for adultery. He had a couple of moments where you saw that he had mensch potential, like when he said to Sheldrake that, "five bad apples is still a small percentage." He didn't just let him off the hook. I think Bud was a guy trying to figure out his own morality in a sea of new ideas about sexuality. 1960 was a bit of a turning point.
My favorite quotes...
he: Your mirror is broken.
she: Yes, I know. I like it that way. Makes me look how I feel
bar floozie: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Nothin'. No action. Dullsville.
Bud: I used to l ive like Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked among millions of people. Then one day, I saw a foot print in the sand, and there you were.
|
For instance...
I did a little research on the information in Bud's opening speech, and a comparison to today's corresponding data:
In 1960, population of NYC: 8,042,782
In 2002, population of NYC: 7,428,162
In 1960, 5th largest corporation: Consolidated Insurance (per Bud)
In 2002, 5th largest corporation: Enron
In 1960, pay for an actuary, level III (middle range) in NYC: $4924.40 a YEAR!
Same in 2003: $76.268.00 a year.
Then, rent for a mid-60's Manhattan 1 br, W of Central Park: $85/mo. (21% of the above income)
Now, for the same area: $2000 a month (31% of that person's gross income....suddenly it's clear the real reason we stopped wearing pearls and furs after the 60's!)
Then: instant coffee was hip
Now: it's all about the Starbuck's, baby
Then: nearly dead movie cuties got 10 sharp slaps from an MD and walked around for 6 hours.
Now: same girlie gets a hypodermic of adrenaline jabbed through her sternum by a drug-dealing Eric Stoltz.
Regarding Bud's morality, I think he had a sense of chivalry going on. I didn't think he enjoyed taking "credit" for banging a different woman every night, but rather that it was better the neighbors thought he (a single guy) was wild than for them to know that he was letting his apartment be used for adultery. He had a couple of moments where you saw that he had mensch potential, like when he said to Sheldrake that, "five bad apples is still a small percentage." He didn't just let him off the hook. I think Bud was a guy trying to figure out his own morality in a sea of new ideas about sexuality. 1960 was a bit of a turning point.
My favorite quotes...
he: Your mirror is broken.
she: Yes, I know. I like it that way. Makes me look how I feel
bar floozie: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Nothin'. No action. Dullsville.
Bud: I used to l ive like Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked among millions of people. Then one day, I saw a foot print in the sand, and there you were.