Blog 3: The Apartment

I am a big Billy Wilder fan, and I have screened the 1960 classic The Apartment with Jack Lemon in it. This is one of the many classics Wilder has. The script was an easy read, and was written much like a novel. Like the previous script we read, the location of the movie was written out in the script (mainly taking place in the office and the apartment) but I found it surprising that Wilder did not include camera shots into the script since he directed the film himself. I would have thought that since Wilder directed it he would have put in the shots and Mathison would have left the shots out of A Boy’s Life.

The Apartment is a cynical comedy. I like the fact that Baxter’s neighbors think he is up at all hours with different woman. In fact Baxter is completely opposite of how his neighbors perceive him. Baxter lends out his room to coworkers, who use his apartment as a shag pad. He allows himself to be exploited by his coworkers in order to move up in management in the insurance firm.

Question 1: What are the differences in the styles of writing between Wilder and Mathison?

Question 2: How does The Apartment compare to other Billy Wilder movies you have watched?