The Apartment and How to Write Movies Good

Support me on Patreon: / eyebrowcinema
An effort to understand and unpack Billy Wilder's screenwriting methodology by applying his own eleven tips for writers to his greatest work: The Apartment, co-written by I.A.L. Diamond. The goal here is not to put forth Wilder's list as the ultimate screenwriting formula, but to educate viewers on what is gained by structuring a screenplay along Wilder's principles.
Please like and subscribe for more classic and contemporary film analysis.
Follow me on Twitter: / danpgsimpson
Once Upon a Time in the West - Setting the Stage - • Once Upon a Time in th...
Silent Films are Like Hard Liquor - • Silent Films are Like ...
Night of the Living Dead and the Prison of Intent - • Night of the Living De...
Alfred Hitchcock - The Dark Ages - • Alfred Hitchcock - The...
The Death of the American Gangster Film - • The Death of the Ameri...
Bergman's Cinema - • Crisis - Becoming Ingm...

[@BrianMorisky]

One of my favorites, film-wise.

[@eliasb8]

Film-wise :)

[@randywhite3947]

Film wise?

[@BrianMorisky]

@@randywhite3947 Yes. One of the repeated comic tropes in the film is "(insert word)-wise". It is even on the original poster. lh3.googleusercontent.com/KRgMHHUjkpyWEWVpWqRQ_aq1aNdXhvyvwRydFYWpTbqmT-QOoFnmUUASHXFwsnjnpWPA=w400-h600

[@terrortower666]

I see what you did there Brian ;)

[@huubkuyvenhoven1294]

I guess that’s the way it crumbles, you know, cookie-wise?

[@12classics39]

This script is simply flawless. The humor, the pathos, the romance, the pacing, the twists, the character development, the relationship development … never to be topped.

[@wildsmiley]

One of my top five favorite films ever. It’s amazing how often I watch it, yet never come close to getting tired of it. No matter the mood I’m in, The Apartment instantly improves it.

[@EyebrowCinema]

Yeah, it's my go-to feel good movie. Certainly pretty heavy at points, but it makes the catharsis so much stronger.

[@maze2000wi]

It's a timeless masterpiece and pure joy to watch

[@randolphwhite3406]

what's your top 5?

[@wildsmiley]

@@randolphwhite3406 5. The Apartment (1960) 4. Stand By Me (1986) 3. Casablanca (1942) 2. Vertigo (1958) 1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

[@frankmachin5438]

The Apartment is brilliant - it really is a joy, in every sense.

[@yes-fq6jd]

One of my favorite films, story-wise, acting-wise, and otherwise-wise

[@judahherod9999]

I must say the apartment it without a doubt one of the best screenplays of all time

[@landonhagan450]

No creator who could deliver that "...I also don't know how to read," line so perfectly could be considered anything other than great.

[@richardclegg5853]

Outstanding movie... Jack Lemon at his all time best...

[@kishorekrish5903]

Wow. This is such a thorough and detailed analysis of these movie. Love this work a lot. Please make many such good ones.

[@EyebrowCinema]

I plan too!

[@kishorekrish5903]

@@EyebrowCinema awesome. I'm waiting

[@lupodelupis3672]

Wilder was a brillant mind! He made so many great films! And Jack Lemmon was his best man.

[@StratsRUs]

This movie is beautiful. It's another planet.

[@jackm4457]

"11.... that's it. Don't hang around." It makes all the sense in the world, but requires a Herculean amount of self-awareness and discipline. It also explains why most movie sequels are so disappointing. Great analysis btw... presented in a way that is neither condescending nor over any one's head.

[@pranavkamath]

This film is so unique in so many ways even today. The audience are fed the conception of Kubelik running to Baxter in the end to (probably?) profess her love for him but we are excited by the gunshot, expecting the worst. This makes us forget why Kubelik was here in the first place and are waiting for Baxter to open the door. The relief we feel when he does is turned into a comic moment. Then when they pay off with the incomplete gin game, it shows that this isn't just like any other romantic drama movie. The last line: "Shut up and deal" drills home this exact point. One of my all time favourites. I cannot get over this movie no matter how many times I watch it. Love it. Thanks for this great analysis! I think I will go through all other videos of yours as well! EDIT: I had a contention. You say that when Baxter realizes that he was renting his apartment so that his boss could take out Kubelik, he feels guilty. But I have another opinion. I think he feels betrayal and animous towards his boss and Kubelik because he realizes she stood him up to be out with his boss. Thats why when he comes home and sees Kubelik lying unconscious he yells at her to get out. He wouldn't do that if he felt guilty, right?

[@lakrids-pibe]

Jack Lemmon miming gunshot makes me laugh every time. Hehehe! I love this movie. I've seen it several times, but I think I'm going to give it another go.

[@nomine4027]

Make a short doc series about Wilder's movies. His body of work and personal attributes deserve a more complete dive because he truly was such a singular artist.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Wilder never made a bad film, and I'd even defend Buddy, Buddy. I've seen them all over several decades of nailing the canon. Thanks for doing such a good job of schooling the unfamiliar.

[@CookieMonsterMC11]

This made me love the Apartment even more, bravo!

[@kevingreen3781]

Shirley McLain is gorgeous and a great actress this is a great movie top three of mine watched it loads of times

[@SmithMrCorona]

"...And if you don't know who Cameron Crow is..." That was a fucking winner right there.

[@electrojones]

One of the best films by my absolute favorite director.

[@DwRockett]

Thank you prime for adding The Apartment so that I can now finally watch this video

[@EyebrowCinema]

Lovely!

[@camcabbas]

Great video! I would like to add that the scene with the gun and the champagne works against audience's expectations in that by placing it on screen the audience will immediately think it has to be fired. In a sense, it works as a fake Chekhov's gun, when what's really going on is that Wilder is setting up a Chekhov's champagne.

[@jaymacintyre1777]

Very good point

[@markkavanagh7377]

Avanti is another great Wilder/Lemmon comedy.

[@jmorgan3977]

Fantastic breakdown of one of my favorite films. Well done.

[@ScriptSleuth]

Excellent video! Billy Wilder was simply one of the greatest.

[@brunoarnabar7450]

If you’ve got script sleuth commenting, you know you’re doing well

[@user-cf7pe3qg1c]

Hollywood is simply incapable of making movies like this anymore. Thank God we have about 80 years of quality films to enjoy. Great job on analyzing this amazing movie.

[@maplestreetmovies]

Amazing video!! I rewatched this movie just about a month ago and loved it way more on a rewatch!

[@valluff2386]

Great video ! I absolutly adore the movie and am so glad someone is talking about it.

[@isaiahwilliams2642]

I can't believe I haven't found this video sooner! The Apartment is my favorite movie, as I discovered just a couple years ago. I even downloaded the screenplay and read it religiously. I looked up every analysis and essay I could find online, and for some reason this video never came up. But this is truly one of the greatest breakdowns of it I've seen. It's a true masterclass in everything filmmaking has to offer. I will say however that I disagree with your interpretation of Baxter's emotions when he recognizes the pocket mirror. I think Baxter was upset for more selfish reasons: That the girl he liked was taken, and the fact that it was his boss he already lets take advantage of him who took her. I don't think he really contemplates how much he hurt her until he found her lifeless in his bed.

[@arnepianocanada]

Your posts are terrific!

[@MBAinternetmktg]

Excellent commentary, thank you!

[@gailstewart612]

Awesome and funny analysis of a Great Movie! Thank you for posting.

[@garydevlin8178]

Thank you for this, you have helped sell my interest in this when I picked up a leaflet at a particular local cinema of mine which is planning on showing a lot of older classics over the holidays including this one🤔

[@p0champ457]

Great review!

[@dinomoviesnstuff]

The need vs want analysis really opened my eyes on some life questions.

[@nateds7326]

Me: *see’s movie analysis video* No it’s 10:40 I got school in the mor- *recognizes channel name from the gangster video* ..... K maybe I’ll give it a shot

[@EyebrowCinema]

I'm deeply flattered. Hope it was worth the late night.

[@cam21333]

My favorite movie.

[@plasticnoodles9678]

How your channel hasn't blown up in popularity yet is a mystery to me

[@EyebrowCinema]

That's kind of you to say. I suspect my inconsistent posting schedule doesn't exactly help. But I like the videos I make and the feedback from folks like yourself mean a lot. Cheers.

[@willheigh5818]

It's perhaps because the creator likes to put jokes in his video titles...

[@grouchomarxist5612]

Kubrick is the great auteur, Lumet, Nichols, Ford, Polanski, Altman and Huston have impressive resumes, but Wilder's body of work is so consistently good it puts him at the top of the list, imho.

[@dynamicvoltage9765]

I only discovered this movie a few months ago and I've watched it 5 times since.

[@JakeMcClake2]

My first reaction to this movie, when I saw it, on TV in 1969, was, this is not a comedy. It is not a comedy, rather it is a dramatic movie with a feel good ending. That said it was well written. The rules quoted are not easy to follow. but represent good writing ideas.

[@nancystone2917]

WATCHED AS A PRE-TEEN AND LIKED IT, LATER AS A NEW MOM AND ENJOYED IT MORE; AND PROBABLY ONCE MORE APPRECIATING IT FURTHER. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, NURSING A DAUGHTER'S BROKEN HEART (NO FUN) I SUGGESTED WE WATCH THE APT. ACTS I & II UPSET HER AND I KEPT PROMISING SHE'LL LOVE ACT III - SHE DID (OF COURSE). NOW, I'M DELVING INTO JUST WHAT MAKES THIS FILM TIMELESS SO I'M WATCHING THESE ANALYSIS WHICH I FIND JUST AS FASCINATING TOO. EXCELLENT FILM!

[@kevinmuendo9889]

your channel is soooo underrated

[@EyebrowCinema]

That's kind of you to say. I try to do good work.

[@kevinmuendo9889]

@@EyebrowCinema I've been following your run through the Bergman films, sooo good

[@fosbury68]

Eddie Sheldrake was a guard on UCLA's basketball team from 1949-51. Wilder was a LA sports fan and has confirmed that Eddie was the namesake for Fred MacMurray's character in "The Apartment".

[@anjomo96]

Shrek wanting the fairytale creatures to fuck of...Best line!!!

[@kartik3719]

This is such an incredible and brilliant video thank you so much for making this

[@EyebrowCinema]

Hey, it was my pleasure. Glad you liked it.

[@goodtitle686]

I found your channel today by the Hitchcock masterpiece... I subbed immediately!

[@EyebrowCinema]

Welcome aboard and thank you for your kind words!

[@janethayes5941]

You do a truly amazing job at film analysis. I'm really enjoying these as I'm a huge movie fan and I've seen all of these. Now I can look at them with a totally new outlook. Thanks for educating me.

[@EyebrowCinema]

Thanks, Janet. It's been a pleasure reading your kind words.

[@poetcomic1]

I have been applying Wilder's rules to some other 'almost great' movies and it shows every time where the flaw in the screenplay lies.

[@darkforest3333]

masterpiece

[@luiz_ed76]

I think I will have to watch this video, at least, three more time to can take all the tips and tricks that are presented. I, also, wanna to thank you for doing this video, as a person who has not the privelege of study cinema and screenwriting formally, this free content help and inspire me a lot. Greetings from Brazil, continue doing this amazing work!

[@EyebrowCinema]

Hope it proves helpful, Luiz!

[@ruff1draft]

Daniel I enjoyed this. Keep up the great work.

[@paulocesardecastrosilveira5482]

60 years today. première NYCity june 15, 1960

[@madameversiera]

Thank you so much for this analysis, finally a good and detailed one.

[@MrResearcher122]

Strong review. But couldn't the screenplay be just the famous dramatic structure of: Act I beginning (set up),Act II (confrontation), Act III (Resolution)? That's the paradigm structure, with each screenwriter adding his or her creative talents to the plot points. Here, it seems Wilder's 2+2 works fine, but that again need not be too technical, for drama must allow the audience or reader to also make inferences.

[@reelseri0us629]

You're bold to openly lie to my face.... you write really well. Subscribed.

[@gabefranco6572]

Not to be that guy but I heard him say that Ace in the Hole was the best thing he’d ever done. Though, we may have read different interviews

[@saumyananduru5927]

Great video, great analysis!

[@FrameofMind]

This was fantastic!

[@GuyTheArtist]

Was this remade a little while back

[@annsanse2935]

hey, that guy with the dark hair sitting there in the office at the desk behind baxter's, is that jon hamm?

[@user-uu8tx5yj3q]

By current grammatical standards you are technically correct, but if you are going to use "good," I would use it as an adjective before the noun it describes "good movies." The rules of grammar once dictated that "well" be used as in "how to write movies well," but the rules have changed (as they always do over time) and when someone now asks, "How are you?" It is now considered acceptable (and sometimes preferable according to some grammar guides) to say "Good" although I will always respond with "I am well." Also, in cases where you have an independent clause such as "How to write movies good" (meaning it can stand alone as its own sentence), you should consider the using a comma before the conjunction "and."

[@loganunsen1506]

great video. thanks!!

[@EyebrowCinema]

Hey, thank you, Logan. I appreciate your kind words!

[@thesummerofmark]

I know I’m late to the party, but the Shrek bit made me cackle

[@hopeinsf]

funny, well-written with setup and payoffs, well-acted, hence it's my favorite movie

[@ronaldh8446]

Fred MacMurray... great actor.

[@highwind1991]

Hey Cameron Crowe made Say Anything, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous :(. For a small period of time, Crowe was great

[@EyebrowCinema]

I was mostly just teasing. I like the Crowe you mention, especially Say Anything and Almost Famous.

[@highwind1991]

@@EyebrowCinema I know, it just sucks that he hasn't made anything great or even that good in over two decades. Watching Almost Famous again just recently brought me so much joy but also sadness

[@mariaseiple9433]

I'm not saying the aloha moment was shade but that was shade,

[@randywhite3947]

Wilder actually considered double indemnity his best film

[@EyebrowCinema]

I can't remember the exact quote, but in Conversations with Billy Wilder by Cameron Crowe, Wilder does refer to The Apartment as his best work when asked. I imagine like most directors though, he gave different answers to the question at different times.

[@randywhite3947]

@@EyebrowCinema your right I’m wrong

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@randywhite3947 Oh wow, always surprising to see a response to a year old comment. Good to see you again, Randy.

[@robertplattner1636]

Did you know that Mr Dobish in this film is actually played by the devil? Because Ray Walston, five years earlier, played the devil, Mr Applegate, in Damn Yankees on Broadway and in the film.

[@deanwalker9605]

Would love you to employ this structural analysis to a Michael Bay movie

[@NC-ij9rb]

I love the girl’s hair

[@jaymacintyre1777]

*SPOILER ALERT* Super analysis of my personal favorite film. The only thing I would add is that the overall structure of the film is masterful in the way it sets up, in the first hour, the characters so that we know and care about them as 'real' people. When Fran takes the sleeping pills (at exactly the mid-point of the film) it's more painful to watch than if it had come too soon. Audiences would probably see it as forced and unbelievable in what up to that point seems like merely a romantic comedy. Wilder has it timed perfectly, increasing the human dimension of the film.

[@romanclay1913]

What would Billy Wilder do?

[@bethanylaurel]

That Aloha joke tho.

[@MsDefectiveToaster]

It's a CRIME you don't have more subscribers!

[@EyebrowCinema]

I'd like to think so. Thanks for your kind words :)

[@Armakk]

No lies detected. This is A+ stuff in a world filled with bad, vague, and/or prescriptive writing advice.

[@patrickhamos2987]

what about when Double Indemnity meets Sunset Boulevard

[@LazlosPlane]

There was no key "mix - up" that prevent him from going back to the apartment.

[@simonster-9094]

At the opening Bud tells the boss he's on the phone with that the boss accidentally put the washroom key under the mat, instead of the apartment key which Bud explains he needed to get the landlady to open his door at 4am.

[@penelope8557]

"The Apartment" is one of the best movies ever made. I'm interested in how the screenplay came into being. You jump around way way way way too much in your analysis. P.S.: 90% of the success of the movie is due to the superb cast of first-rate actors.

[@BTTFMovie]

Wilder said while seeing the film Brief Encounter, in which a minor character lends his apartment to an adulterous couple, he began wondering what kind of story could be told if that minor character were the protagonist.

[@paulocesardecastrosilveira5482]

scene 100 dollars?

[@VrejHAI]

Good or well?

[@romanclay1913]

"Shut up and view."

[@wyattduzmadder9711]

He stops playing the game because he is in love with her, not because of the immoral nature of the game. Great film, and while I am well versed in most things involving films and filmmaking, but I admit that I didn't that they made this one!

[@gildenstorf]

Not nice to slam Cameron Crowe. He's done some fine work like Singles, Jerry McGuire and Almost Famous.

[@gingern3475]

Teenage Dirtbag ripped up this film yet the writer dares to deny it,

[@dreamterry]

If you are going to write about good writing, it would be helpful to use good grammar yourself . . . "How to Write Movies Well" is proper English. Aside from that, well done!

[@EyebrowCinema]

That's the joke.

[@dreamterry]

@@EyebrowCinema Okay, if you say so.

[@sjw5797]

@@dreamterry Okay, but "loan" is a noun. "Lend" is a verb.

[@classiclife7204]

Whew. A lot of people my age and older really not coming off well in the comment section. My fellow oldsters: "Write good" is a JOKE. Stop acting so old.

[@BillSmith-ed4jg]

It's just an incredibly pathetic joke is all

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@BillSmith-ed4jg So what? It's a joke nonetheless. Stop taking it so seriously.

[@BillSmith-ed4jg]

@@TomEyeTheSFMguy Zero seriousness Young Zero testosterone half boy Now don't get annoyed That's a joke

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@BillSmith-ed4jg what are you talking about?

[@BenPaganelli]

Are you f@$ing kidding me?? Dude, I loved this breakdown so much but why in the world would you ruin the very last minutes by spoiling a film I haven’t sen yet?? The Shrek reference was funny and unharmful as it is a relatively recent film that you can assume no one between the ages of 20 and 60 hasn’t seen. But another classic from the 1940s that would have to be sought out and that you can assume would be by most of those who would watch this breakdown... I cannot fathom why you would build your entire half-hour to spoiling another classic and risk infuriating your so far entrhralled audience - which is what happened to me - especially after you took such care to warn us about the spoilers for this film at the outset. Luckily, even though I yelled at my laptop and had to cut this video short, the otherwise brilliant and engaging rest of this video has earned you a subscriber and fan. I look forward to checking out the rest of your library. Just don’t pull any more bs like that.

[@hello11197]

Get over yourself. Jesus Christ. I hope in the year since this comment you’ve grown up.

[@chrisjenkins9978]

There’s nothing "sexist" in this movie as both men and women use their assets to gain an advantage. It’s women who use sexual access to gain a monetary advantage from wealthy men. The mistresses in the film know full well that these men are married and yet they are willing to go to great lengths to secure their access to cash and prizes. Are these women "sexist”? I love how women are always absolved of any and all agency when it comes to feminist-propaganda.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

You talk about "feminist propaganda," and my brain dies.

[@chrisjenkins9978]

@@TomEyeTheSFMguy - Not sure what you mean?

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Just because the women may also be using the men, doesn't mean the men aren't still being sexist. (That's not in relation to my previous comment, just something else that came to mind.)

[@okay6109]

*well

[@twomindz79]

How to write movies ' good '. I love the bad English. Supposed to be ironic i assume ?

[@EyebrowCinema]

Absolutely.

[@anastasia10017]

"The Apartment and How to Write Movies Good" -- Speak English much ????

[@EyebrowCinema]

That's the joke.

[@willh1933]

How to write movies well.

[@EyebrowCinema]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnamhqWio712p80

[@mkrbrtsn1]

The title is really ironic, it's not "write movies good" it should be "write movies well", or "write good movies".

[@joehuiras4955]

you don't know how to read??

[@zaqvoir4856]

>>> why all the senseless profanity in the narration? is "fuck-off" really necessary in light of a well written script?

[@willheigh5818]

"Write Movies Good"?! "Write Movies Well" is how it's written in English. When did syntax and grammar become 'optional'?

[@EyebrowCinema]

That's the whole joke dude. The video is a writing guide and makes an obvious writing mistake.

[@willheigh5818]

@@EyebrowCinema That's a ludicrous conclusion. The video's content is not a joke, and contains a sounds analysis. So you're saying that to make everyone respect worthwhile content that the creator includes his only joke in the title of the video?! Ridiculous.

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@willheigh5818 Ummm, I am the creator.

[@willheigh5818]

@@EyebrowCinema Why on earth would anyone bother to post something serious that is within ten miles of a "joke"? Gag titles make the viewer doubt your scholarship, which made the time you took to make it a complete waste. Wouldn't that make your time worth nothing but a joke and, ultimately, wouldn't that make all of your posts a joke on you?

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@willheigh5818 Look man, if you're so humourless you can't see the value in a title like this then that's on you. I'm confident enough in my video that its merit will be apparent to anyone even if I decide to be a little silly with the title. I'd also argue that silliness makes my video all the more approachable as I'm not positioning myself as some all knowing auhority. And beyond all that, I think the title is fun.

[@danielstartek1497]

Is there other gooder scripts? What will it be Sunset Boulevard? When do it now?

[@ingeborgschneeberger7517]

MY whole LIFE I Iook all the MOVIES ❣️ & I find Me in The Stories ❣️... 🎬 🌟💛👑📽️🌉🏔️❄️🌨️⚾🎾💟☮️♾️💋♥️💃