Promises, Promises

The Apartment (1960)
Noms: Picture, Director (Billy Wilder), Actor (Jack Lemmon), Actress (Shirley MacLaine), Supporting Actor (Jack Kruschen), Original Screenplay, Editing, Sound, Art Direction (B&W), Cinematography (B&W)
Wins: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Editing

Why I watched it:
1) one of the most nominated movies from the 60's I hadn't seen
2) I heard it was lovely

I just HAD to find this picture! Yes, he is using a tennis racket to strain pasta.

This movie is too darn charming. Really. It is so wonderful and holds up SO well. I loved it. Quirky and funny, with a lot of heart. The performances are wonderful. So great to see Jack Lemmon at the height of his popularity (The Apartment came out a year after Some Like It Hot) - I was familiar with him from some of his later roles, but it's great to see such a screen legend do what he's known for. Shirley MacLaine is so young in this! Amazing to think that she is still in the game, making films and movies over 50 years later.

I watched while donating again and was so clearly enjoying myself (laughing, smiling, etc.) that the workers and others donors were asking what I was watching. I think most of them were really surprised that a twenty-something would be having such a good time watching a black-and-white movie from 1960, but hopefully it convinced them to perhaps check it out.

I couldn't help but connecting this movie with Mad Men. Not really in content per se, but in the world that they take place in. Disclaimer, I haven't actually watched Mad Men that much, but from what I understand, the New York of the 60's created in that show is so spot on to what the movie reflects. It's always so jarring to me to see the rampant adultery and the general schmuck-i-ness of the men at the top. It's just accepted that they will be cheating, the whole office know it, and the wives are none the wiser, believing that they are pulling long hours or that they stayed the night in the office. The movie makes a big point of satirizing that idea, but it still shocks me every time.

Still though, I love the sensibilities of this time period. From aesthetic to content, something about movies from the 60's just does it for me. I foresee myself watching a disproportionate number of them over the next few months.

Next up: I should be watching both Tron and Tron: Legacy soon.

Btw: Promises, Promises is a musical based on the movie :)