The Apartment (1960) ft. Christine Duncan
Dana and Tom welcome back Christine Duncan to discuss the Best Picture winner of 1960, The Apartment: written and directed by Billy Wilder with I.A.L. Diamond, cinematography by Joseph LaShelle, music by Adolph Deutsch, starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray.
Plot Summary: C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), an ambitious office clerk in a Manhattan insurance firm, lends his apartment to philandering executives in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. His plan hits a moral snag when he discovers that Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator operator he’s fallen for, is having an affair with his boss, Jeff Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray). As Baxter wrestles with loyalty, loneliness, and love, he must decide whether success is worth sacrificing integrity and happiness. A poignant blend of sharp satire and heartfelt romance, The Apartment is a bittersweet portrait of ambition and redemption in the big city.
Guest:
Christine Duncan - Wife of Dana and Mother of Tom
- 15x guest: Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, There's Something About Mary, My Fair Lady, Pillow Talk, The Odd Couple, Bringing Up Baby, A Few Good Men - Revisit, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Top Gun, Dial M for Murder, Anatomy of a Murder, Gone Girl, Roman Holiday Revisit
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back Christine
02:12 Why Did Chris Want to Discuss The Apartment?
04:04 Cast of The Apartment
05:14 How Much Would You Sacrifice for Professional Success?
10:43 Background for The Apartment
14:32 Relationship(s) with The Apartment
16:59 Does Dana Like The Apartment?
17:43 Plot Summary for The Apartment
18:33 What is The Apartment About?
25:30 Did You Know?
31:49 First Break
33:45 GMOAT Hall of Fame for June 2025
40:56 Best Performance(s)
49:20 Best Scene(s)
56:03 Second Break
56:43 In Memoriam
57:58 A Note from Our Superfan
59:20 Best/Funniest Lines
01:03:39 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:13:20 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:17:11 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:20:58 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:25:10 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:28:19 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:30:48 Remaining Questions for The Apartment
01:35:49 Final Thoughts for the Week
01:40:34 Credits
You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/the-apartment-1960-ft-christine-duncan
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
The Apartment, Billy Wilder, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, film analysis, classic cinema, movie themes, cultural commentary, film history, podcast, Hollywood, actors, film analysis, character dynamics, emotional stakes, legacy, audience engagement, comedy, classic films, rewatchability, Fred MacMurray, Oscar, Oscars, Best Picture, 1960s
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