The Apartment

What's Jack Lemmon watching? I have no idea, but we're watching The Apartment (1960).

Sometimes you watch a "classic" movie and you don't really understand why it's referred to as a classic movie... other times you watch a movie - like The Apartment - and you immediately understand why it receives the classic designation.

Along with Jack Lemmon, it stars my beloved Shirley MacLaine (plus Fred MacMurray). Directed by Billy Wilder.

While the movie takes place during the holiday season, Christmas isn't a huge part of the plot. So if you're not a fan of "Christmas movies", you'll probably still enjoy this one. Even though 99% of the men in it (and some of the women) are total shits. I've done many a movie post where Jack Lemmon plays the sleaze (see - Phfft! or How to Murder Your Wife) - in this one he's the one non-sleaze in a sea of creeps.

wikipedia / netflix / buy / amazon prime / imdb

Shirley plays Fran Kubelik. They use her last name a lot during the course of the film (or at least it seems like they do to me?), and I'm convinced that it's the perfect name for her character. Kubelik. 

Not so kind and fatherly in this role. Not at all.

Fran stands up Jack Lemmon's character (Calvin Clifford "Buddy Boy" Baxter) when he was trying to take her to see The Music Man. A true shame! I would kill to go back in time and see the original production! In my dreams I perform in The Music Man as Harold Hill. Do you want to hear me sing "(Ya Got) Trouble"? Because I will do it for you. Just ask. 

The office Christmas party scene was actually filmed on December 23, 1959, so as to catch everybody in the proper holiday mood. Billy Wilder filmed almost all of it on the first take, stating to an observer, "I wish it were always this easy. Today, I can just shout 'action' and stand back."

One of the more infuriating moments of cinema.

After you watch this, you should watch The Baxter. It's written and directed by Michael Showalter and the title is actually based on Jack Lemmon's character. Plus it's just enjoyable.

See all the previous movie posts here.

How to Murder Your Wife

So. This was an interesting one. 

How to Murder Your Wife (1965).

wikipedia / netflix instant / amazon prime / imdb / old review from the nyt

Here's the summary (via) -

A successful syndicated cartoonist (who acts out the adventures he later infuses into his cartoon-strip character, "Bash Brannigan, Secret Agent") is dedicated to living the bachelor life, complete with a devoted English butler-valet-confidante. Until he awakens one morning after a wild stag party, only to discover that he married the sexy, sensual Italian beauty who popped out of the cake and barely speaks English. What's more...she doesn't believe in divorce. Now, how does the ultimate bachelor get rid of her? With the perfect murder scheme, of course!

Throughout the movie you're confused - is this supposed to be a satire? Or not? Should I be super offended? Or (once again) not? Whether or not it's meant to be a straight-up satire, the guy below (the butler) IS UNHINGED! Just ready for murder. Casually. Casual wife murder.

He's lost his mind.

Perfect casting. This guy is scarier than Hannibal Lecter. Well, that's an exaggeration. But he's a grade A cretin. 

Some Like It Hot has been one of my favorites since middle school or so. The Apartment has been a fave for about as long. Both of those movies made me a Jack Lemmon fan.... and then I started watching things for these posts and so many times he plays a semi-creep-ish asshole. And now I find myself loathing the sight of him! They're ruining Jack Lemmon for me! What am I doing!

Let's be frank - pretty much a douchebag / asshole / shit. 

Virna Lisi. Her performance is WONDROUS. Even if the movie is supposed to be a satire, you can tell that you're meant to think that she's annoying. You're meant to sort of understand why Jack Lemmon would want to get rid of her. BULLSHIT! She's the best. No one should be trying to murder ANYONE, but if someone has to murder someone - she should be offing Jack.

So many great facial expressions captured in this post.

Note the magnificent Mary Wickes on the left.

Showdown. He's ready to kill her with that grater. Slowly.

Nice desk set-up.

"Oh you poor, poor guy! That she-devil trapped you into marriage." Negatory.

One of her flaws is that she basically cooks TOO WELL. She "makes him" fat. Eye roll.

This post is way too image heavy, mostly because I can't resist pictures of this little dew drop.

(Note - I use the word dew drop as a term of endearment directly due to the influence of Sassy from Homeward Bound.)

Those freaking hen-pecking wives. Plotting against their husbands.

Immediately brings this to mind.

At the end even the creep finds love.

Anyway. I recommend viewing it if only to watch Virna Lisi. And because it's ridiculous. 

See all the previous movie posts here.