Here’s a review in New York Newsday of the new Collector’s Edition release of Billy Wilder’s Oscar-winning The Apartment. Like most reviewers, Jan Stuart loves the film (it is, apropos of nothing, our mother’s favorite movie). And he mentions Mad Men:
Surely this is where “Mad Men,” AMC’s advertising-world drama, derived its stark, fluorescent-ceiling ambience and ribald, ’60s spirit. For all its Wilderesque cynicism, “The Apartment” is rescued from that TV show’s soullessness by the waifish but unmistakably wise presence of MacLaine as elevator operator Fran Kubelik.
We here will find Stuart’s characterization of “soullessness” completely wrong-headed, but Matt Weiner confirms he’s absolutely right about the film’s influence.
The Apartment was on TCM at 3:45 Wednesday morning. I DVRed it and we’ll be reviewing it sooner or later.
We received a comment from Byron (yonder in the About section) asking for our take on how it was that Don came to marry Betty.
Betty seems so simple and he is unsatisfied by her. I think it’s because he fabricated his post Korea life and she fit the stereotype of the perfect late 50s housewife.
I think he fell in love with her. Yes, she is, on paper, the perfect wife, but I don’t think it was calculated or deliberately cold. She is gorgeous, she is kind, and she would make a good mother. And she would make him feel safe and mothered, something he always craved. Of course he couldn’t understand that piece of the appeal.
From Shoot:
You’re a mother to those two little people and you are better at it than anyone else in the world… I would have given anything to have had a mother like you. Beautiful and kind, and filled with love like an angel.
Here’s the thing. Everyone talks about this couple like they have no marriage. The actors commented to that effect. (I don’t recall hearing Weiner speak on it.) I disagree. I think there is a marriage. One that was based on love and affection and sure, filling each other’s holes (like so many love stories). I don’t know if it’s one that can be saved anymore because they’re both becoming so angry and their communication skills are for shit. But it’s a marriage. (more…)
Basket of Kisses 