The most impressive cinematic works are rarely born of lofty, all-encompassing ideas. They usually begin with a single spark of curiosity. One such spark of imagination engulfed the outstanding filmmaker Billy Wilder back in 1945 when he saw ‘Brief Encounter,’ a classic romantic tragedy. Interestingly, it was not the central characters who excited Wilder.
Instead, Wilder found himself obsessed with a small but fascinating aspect that went unseen by most viewers. This mystery stayed with him for over a decade, brewing in his mind. Wilder finally decided to set the idea in motion after working with his favorite comedic actor on another cinematic masterpiece, and it later became known as ‘The Apartment.’
How ‘Brief Encounter’ Inspired Billy Wilder’s 1960 Classic
The story behind ‘The Apartment’ began many years before its creation in 1960. After watching David Lean’s ‘Brief Encounter,’ Billy Wilder became fascinated by one character who never even appeared on camera.
Related: Why Cary Grant Refused to Work With Billy Wilder Despite Their Close Friendship
In the story, the lovers hold their clandestine meetings in the apartment that they had borrowed from one of their acquaintances. However, the filmmakers kept the property owner’s identity hidden from the audience.
While most viewers focused on the central romance, Wilder became intrigued by the unseen character who made the meetings possible. The director believed that a fascinating story, with a touch of humor and humanity, lay buried in this seemingly insignificant fact.
Rather than treating the unseen apartment owner as a mere plot device, Wilder imagined him as a fully realized character with his own ambitions, struggles, and emotions. This question became the basis of what would become ‘The Apartment’ several years later, proving that sometimes the most brilliant ideas come from the smallest details.
Wilder Found The Perfect Lead In Jack Lemmon
Although Billy Wilder had carried the idea since the late 1940s, he decided to bring it to life only after the success of ‘Some Like It Hot’ in 1959. After working with Jack Lemmon on this project, Wilder again put his faith in the comedic actor, casting him in ‘The Apartment.’
In Case You Missed It: Top 10 Billy Wilder Movies Every Cinema Lover Should Watch
And that’s how Lemmon’s character C.C. ‘Bud’ Baxter, an office clerk whose apartment is used by company executives for extramarital affairs, came into being. Wilder reportedly pitched the lead role to Lemmon while the two were on their way to watch ‘Some Like It Hot’ together.
From then on, the actor became an integral element of the director’s vision for the film. ‘The Apartment’ finally came out in 1960 and became one of Wilder’s best works. Nobody had thought Wilder’s imagination of an unseen character from another movie could spawn an Academy Award-winning classic.
You Might Also Like To Read: The Reason Raquel Welch Never Got Tired Of Talking About Her Iconic Bikini
