One of the most popular and acclaimed writer-director-producers of his time, Billy Wilder created in The Apartment what many consider the summation of all he had done on screen up to that point. He was the master of bittersweet comedy that had a barbed commentary of modern life. With this film, he managed to make a commercial success that would go on to win five Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Ambitious insurance clerk C.C. "Bud" Baxter (Jack Lemmon) attempts to climb the corporate ladder by loaning his apartment key to his superiors for their extramarital affairs, but the plan backfires when Bud unwittingly falls for the top executive's current girlfriend, Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine).

Reviews

"Mr. Wilder has done more than write the film. His direction is ingenious and sure, sparkled by brilliant little touches and kept to a tight, sardonic line." - New York Times, 1960

"The Apartment is a very funny movie that can take a place among the finest comedies Hollywood has turned out." - Newsweek, 1960