Talk:The Apartment

Black and White strike trivia

On the back of the box it said something about the movie being in color but due to a strike and deadlines it had to be produced in black and white. Could someone explain this somewhere? Better worded of course! It's very noteworthy "trivia", since a black and white movie at this time was have been a strange occurrence indeed... Master Thief Garrett 06:52, 24 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Billy Wilder preferred to make black and white films. He didn't object to color per se, but to the kind of oversaturated color feature that was popular in that era.

Durova 09:12, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

Comedy? Drama? Tragicomedy?

Hilarious? Yes, sometimes, but don't mislead people... there is quite a bit of darkness here (e.g. suicide attempts). It's a great film, but I'd call it a tragicomedy (or perhaps someone has a better less-dreck term?). firepink

I can't parse the first sentence. (Yes, there are movies I haven't seen.)  ;-) Koyaanis Qatsi

I've labelled it "comedy-drama" since I thought the main theme of the movie was positive--it *does* end happily ever after, despite all the negative bits. "Tragicomedy" makes me think more of Greek plays and such. But I'm fairly certain this is comedy-drama. I guess I could check on IMDB... Master Thief Garrett 06:52, 24 Apr 2005 (UTC)

It ends happy, but the movie is far removed from romantic comedy. It has nothing of the conventions of romantic comedy. Romantic comedy-drama is a misnomer. If you can't properly classify it, just call it a film. Mandel 01:00, Jun 18, 2005 (UTC)

last B&W Best Picture?

Schindler's List does not contain any color sequences. There is a moment when Schindler (I think) sees a child with a red coat, which is the only colored object in the image. That's it. It is no more a "color" film than a silent movie with tints. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 17:34, 28 January 2010 (UTC)

miscellaneous

Fred McMurray's character is named "Sheldrake", a name Widler used to excess. The Apartment might also be the last film in which McMurray played a nasty or craven character, which he was tiring of. ("Back when", he was considered quite the hunk. Captain Marvel is modeled after him.)

There needs to be a discussion of where The Apartment fits in Billy Wilder's ouevre. I see it as the beginning of the end. It's overly sentimental, and hardly of the quality of Some Like It Hot -- but when it comes to handing out Best Picture Oscars, sentimentality sells. He made no more "great" films, and cranked out one of the worst ever made by a major director, Kiss Me, Stupid. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 17:34, 28 January 2010 (UTC)