tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post115454295862981201..comments2024-03-10T10:56:38.185-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: encore! the film that defines mejoe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-8599254047728862862020-02-28T11:33:34.647-05:002020-02-28T11:33:34.647-05:00While you've written about "The Apartment...While you've written about "The Apartment" before, this one really digs deep and stirred thoughts of special moments for me. You managed to put into words what so many of us feel and clearly, what moved you. Another thing we agree on - you married way better! Thanks.<br /><br />Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09478924826163254326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-88938418843581701662020-02-09T16:19:19.403-05:002020-02-09T16:19:19.403-05:00Holy smoke Joe. This is one for the ages. One to p...Holy smoke Joe. This is one for the ages. One to print out and savor to read over and over again. On this day when movies are supposed to be celebrated at the Oscars you put into words what our love for cinema is really all about. Your column speaks to all of us who live for next flicker of light to come on our screen. I would be lost without them. I'm glad you are putting it into words I cannot do. Thanks JoeJoeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08396228442241622851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-85862309320880244232020-02-06T16:08:11.638-05:002020-02-06T16:08:11.638-05:00You have some serious groupies. You have some serious groupies. j. novaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-61610551699223702752020-02-04T08:59:13.565-05:002020-02-04T08:59:13.565-05:00Joe, your writing continues to shake the memories ...Joe, your writing continues to shake the memories loose. I can still feel myself standing under the marquee of the Astor theatre in Manhattan waiting for the first showing of The Apartment on its opening day, staring up at the "key" in the film's logo. Across the street, workmen were putting the finishing touches to the huge wraparound corner billboard for Psycho at the DeMille Theatre, which would be opening the next day! That image is clearer to me than whatever I did yesterday.Kevin Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16951372389921640120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-79506761648555170432020-02-04T07:15:51.923-05:002020-02-04T07:15:51.923-05:00Joe, your writing is a dream to read. I like the a...Joe, your writing is a dream to read. I like the apartment but have never felt connected to it like you have. My movie is Miracle on 34th St. the best version with Natalie Wood. I learned so much from that movie. About life, retail, believing in the unbelievable, and more. Silly I know, but it’s my movie. Thank you for always making me think about movies in different ways. <br /><br />Ps I second the request to review current movies. I can’t tell you how many times I think: WDJT. What Does Joe Think when the movie is over. <br /><br /><br />MGoetzelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362068742397384444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-65015038552320074172020-02-04T07:04:48.636-05:002020-02-04T07:04:48.636-05:00since Billy Wilder made ' The Apartment ',...since Billy Wilder made ' The Apartment ', I now want his to make a movie called ' Home Owners '...he can call in the script from his grave<br /><br />waltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-45775249584414397652020-02-03T16:29:59.296-05:002020-02-03T16:29:59.296-05:00Mike! Me thinks the word "mad" fits the ...Mike! Me thinks the word "mad" fits the title. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-47177370936272334582020-02-03T15:42:03.624-05:002020-02-03T15:42:03.624-05:00Exceptional piece, and some wonderful photos I'...Exceptional piece, and some wonderful photos I'd never seen, especially the one with the three bowlers.<br /><br />MY movie, of course, is well-known to all. ;-)mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-63952027986456298752020-02-03T15:27:31.722-05:002020-02-03T15:27:31.722-05:00This is a beautiful piece of writing, both the ori...This is a beautiful piece of writing, both the original and the new addition. Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />I think my version of The Apartment would be A Hard Day's Night. Not surprisingly, I did not grow up to be John Lennon - or, more accurately, "John Lennon," since he would have been, and in fact was, the first person to say the movie's version of him wasn't really him. But how much joy I've gotten from Not Really John, and Not Really Paul, Not Really George, and Not Really Ringo! And how much those Not Really Beatles helped me become really me.Bill Wolfenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-30182998678308857382020-02-03T15:19:16.328-05:002020-02-03T15:19:16.328-05:00Funny, but Jack Lemmon has always had a different ...Funny, but Jack Lemmon has always had a different effect on me. <br /><br />He reminds me of my father. (no mistake using present tense)<br /><br /> I got to know him, a bit, in NYC many years ago when he was starring in Tribute on Broadway and I was working at Sardi's, one of his watering holes. He'd also show up occasionally at Open Call, a piano bar near the theater where Tribute was playing. <br /><br />One night in Sardi's, it was both Mr. Sardi's and my dad's birthday. Mr. Sardi got my dad on the phone and Jack wished him a happy birthday. Later, when he found out that my dad had passed from pancreatic cancer, he warned me not to see his film "Dad" where his character dies of the same disease because he knew that seeing him on screen would bring back the fresh memories of my dad's death.<br /><br />A couple of years ago, The Apartment was screened in 70mm as part of the Widescreen Weekend festival in Bradford, England. I wept.Paul Margulieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357628086168148184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-80635992321245879122020-02-03T14:47:28.594-05:002020-02-03T14:47:28.594-05:00A most touching reminisence. This is the first tim...A most touching reminisence. This is the first time I've read your site. I will check it out regularly!Donald Elmesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-80650620436075737492020-02-03T14:23:33.954-05:002020-02-03T14:23:33.954-05:00Cal! So glad you found me! Thanks for the generous...Cal! So glad you found me! Thanks for the generous words. -J-Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-51034229756756756622020-02-03T12:17:54.284-05:002020-02-03T12:17:54.284-05:00Anonymous said...
Joe,
We've been missing you...Anonymous said...<br />Joe,<br /><br />We've been missing your reviews ever since you left the California. You were always the first critic I consulted, even after I moved away from Sac. I understand your decision to stop reviewing movies as a vocation and appreciated that you telecommunted for a while, but won't you consider reviewing the new movies you really appreciate on this blog?<br /><br />Much thanks,<br /><br />Cal Pacino<br />Calnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-24925172083042297862020-02-03T11:36:49.209-05:002020-02-03T11:36:49.209-05:00I am your first blogger groupie, Joe! For some rea...I am your first blogger groupie, Joe! For some reason, I never had the privilege of reading your column in LA. Having caught up with this remarkable piece, I am extremely impressed by your prose and insights. Marc Powersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-83323753476691117692015-01-31T22:09:13.636-05:002015-01-31T22:09:13.636-05:00Great article Joe and a truly great movie.
Re the...Great article Joe and a truly great movie.<br /><br />Re the question posed by Alex, the exact location of the Apartment is 55 West 69th. Must confess I've been looking myself but this article http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=6371<br />puts us all out of our misery. The elaborate staircase has gone but you can clearly see it's the one.<br /><br />Interestingly, the bar scene was filmed just around the corner in the Emerald Inn. E Currienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-32558752720563577892015-01-31T17:55:10.764-05:002015-01-31T17:55:10.764-05:00I know the apartment is supposed to be at 59 West ...I know the apartment is supposed to be at 59 West 67th St. but, there is no apartment that address.... That's the ABC headquarters... Was the actual apartment at that address???? Is it gone.... I live on the Upper West side, and talk about obsession... I come the streets off of Central Park West always in hopes of finding "the apartment"..... 120 West 80th seems to fit a lot of the criteria.... three side by side staircases leading up to an elevated first floor with bowed 2nd floor windows...... Help me..... in Manhattan.... as for my first seeing of the film the apartment.... I was on the Queen of Bermuda, a cruise ship heading for... you guessed it .... Bermuda.... My babysitter was too seasick and my parents were living it up... much like those at the accounting firm christmas party... so I wandered into the onboard movie theater and must have watched it 2 or three times..... not getting a lot of it.... I was 7 or 8 you see.... Anyway... that is part of the reason why I am so obsessed with this film..... and love all of Billy Wilder's films.....Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-57959873744523336022015-01-31T17:35:06.636-05:002015-01-31T17:35:06.636-05:00Hello! Jack would approve! Keep up the great work,...Hello! Jack would approve! Keep up the great work, Cheers!jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-3615325239847429742015-01-31T17:28:28.145-05:002015-01-31T17:28:28.145-05:00Love Lemmon, too. Blog looks good! Well done. All ...Love Lemmon, too. Blog looks good! Well done. All the best! Alicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-74565170843958660802011-03-03T10:40:18.206-05:002011-03-03T10:40:18.206-05:00Wow -- this is a truly, truly fantastic blog about...Wow -- this is a truly, truly fantastic blog about a perfect movie. You have articulated everything that is wonderful about The Apartment in a wonderful way. It's like you somehow managed to channel Wilder whilst penning this.The Kid In The Front Rowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284758898483746863noreply@blogger.com