MovieChat Forums > The Apartment (1960) Discussion > Do you think she fell for him? *Spoilers...

Do you think she fell for him? Spoilers

posted 13 years ago by InsecureNeuroticControlFreak
30 replies | jump to latest

I took a film class my freshman year of college last year, and we watched this film. There was a long discussion after the end in which the professor asked if we thought Shirley MacLaine really loved Jack Lemmon by the end. Most of them said no. I personally thought it was a very sweet ending and I thought yes. One woman (who had said she wanted to do her class project on Disney movies) said she thought so and thought it was a very happy ending, and some people scoffed. Our teacher even made a sarcastic "Well you're a Disney fan" comment.

(This is why I hate film students lol.)

I personally think she realized that she could be truly happy with him. I don't know if she was IN LOVE with him or not, but that smile at the very end before she runs off to see him shows it. She realized she could be so much happier with him than she could ever be with the boss. I thought it was an incredibly sweet ending to a pretty serious film.

Omgosh! I open my mouth and a little purse falls out!

[–] treyfk 9 years ago

Funny how we are all speculating about whether it was love by the end after the film first came out 55 years ago. That's how you know it's such a classic. The story is just as relevant today as it was when it first came out. This movie really stands the test of time well.

I am still torn about whether she likes him as well. When her eyes widen in her her final dinner scene with Sheldrake after learning Baxter quit on the spot, I am not sure if it is because she is excited at the thought that Baxter has stood up to Sheldrake to condemn his womanizing and treatment of Fran or because she fears Baxter may kill himself. I think the difference here in what goes through her mind would affect how she feels towards him - whether he's a friend that stood by her at her lowest point or if he's the "fourth" man in her life. I suppose it could partly be both?

That's what I love about films like these. It doesn't spell it all out for you and years later, we are still having this discussion.

[–] Maddyclassicfilms 9 years ago

I think they like each other a great deal at the end. Fran likes him because he has been decent towards her and helped save her life. Baxter likes her and I think he feels like he has to protect her and look out for her. They have become friends and I can see them spending time with each other, I'd like to think they may begin a romantic relationship but I think the ending shows both are comfortable with their relationship as it stands at that moment.

They are friends and in my opinion friendship is a love just as strong and meaningful as romantic love, they are two lonely souls who have found each other. Who knows what may happen to them in the future, but at that moment they are together and happy and that's all that matters.

Go to bed Frank or this is going to get ugly .

[–] landrynumbertwo 9 years ago

I think the ending is perfect. No corny, over-the-top ending.

Fran is attracted to emotionally unavailable men and tends to avoid men like Baxter, and it would be pretty ridiculous to have your character do a 180 degree spin at the end.

The way I see it, she is trying to listen to her logic instead of her feelings this time and give Baxter a chance. Will it work? Who knows. But she's giving it a shot.

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[–] gemproof99 9 years ago

I agree. The film ends with a future that only Baxter and Fran will know. Baxter is definitely smitten with Fran. When Fran runs back to Baxter's apartment she realizes that he has taken a moral stand. His actions demonstrated a deep caring for Fran as a person; something that was missing from her previous relationships. I was pleased that the film didn't end with a melodramatic kiss. "Shut-up and deal the cards" was the perfect ending. This film is easily in my top 50 of all time. As far as the film being a "comedy/drama"; the classification fits. Baxter's comedic mannerisms, sharp witted one-liners, and the supporting cast of philanderers gave the film a satirical sense of improbability. The funniest line is when Baxter hastily escorts the blonde out of his apartment, she says: " I am going to call my husband and tell him how you treated me". Many of the comments in the other threads state the film was not a comedy- that is true, it is not a comedy in the truest sense. Many film buffs view Tarrantino and Scorcese films comedies flushed with violence.

[–] gary_w_trott 9 years ago

I think that she did. Fran saying, "We'll send him a fruitcake every Christmas." (emphasis is mine) pretty much says it for me.

[–] Stratego (30504) 3 years ago

I saw the film again today (on the big screen) and she definitely said "we" instead of "I" (as it was in the original script). The implication has to be that they might have a future together.

[–] Beau_Buffet (340) 2 years ago

I wanted this to be true, but I'm literally going frame by frame (because it's really hard to tell) and she never puts her lips in a way that could form the "W" sound. She forms an "M", like in "I'm (gonn)a send him...".

Also, the subtitles say "I'm gonna send him"... but they could be wrong so it's not a proof, more like a clue.

[–] Druffmaul 8 years ago

I wouldn't say she was exactly head over heels over Baxter in the end, but she had finally broken away from the lout Sheldrake and realized that Baxter was the perfect guy to settle down with. It was obviously meant to be a happy ending and the teacher of that class is a moron.

Do you think she fell for him? *Spoilers*

Do you think she fell for him? Spoilers