"The Apartment" Who Said It? Quiz

Answer: Mrs. Lieberman

Bud's long suffering landlady has only a few scenes, but Frances Weintraub Lax's wonderful performance (uncredited at the time of the film's release) invokes fond thoughts of everybody's favorite Jewish aunt.

"Meshugaas" is a Yiddish word for foolishness. Since the movie was released in 1960, we can probably assume that Mrs. Lieberman wasn't the only one who had suspicions about the activity at Cape Canaveral!

Answer: Dr. Dreyfuss

The good doctor isn't thinking about delayed payments for purchases when he admonishes Bud about his wild lifestyle and tries to make him see that his escapades are bound to have consequences down the road.

This is truly one of the best lines in the movie.

The role of Dr. Dreyfuss was played superbly by Jack Kruschen, earning him an Academy Award nomination.

Answer: Mr. Kirkeby

Kirkeby's incessant, and often annoying, use of the word "wise" as a suffix is a common theme throughout the movie. In fact, when Bud uses the expression "promotion-wise", Fran informs him that he is "beginning to sound like Mr. Kirkeby already".

Answer: Sylvia

When Bud puts a stop to the use of his apartment, the philandering executives must find other places for their rendezvous. In this scene, the rather full figured Sylvia describes her forgettable drive-in movie date with Kirkeby, which takes place in his nephew's borrowed (and unheated) Volkswagen.

Answer: Jeff Sheldrake

Bud's response is that it is indeed unfair, especially to Sheldrake's wife!

The dishonorable Sheldrake is best described as a cad, showing no respect or regard for the feelings of others.

Fred MacMurray reportedly considered turning down the role out of concern that fans' disapproval of Sheldrake's unscrupulous ways would affect the success of "My Three Sons", which was scheduled for release a few months later.

Answer: Fran

Fran has just learned that she is just one in a long line of Jeff Sheldrake's conquests and spends most of Christmas Eve crying her eyes out at Bud's apartment.

The talented Shirley MacLaine picked up her second Oscar nomination for her marvelous portrayal of the vulnerable and trusting elevator girl, Fran Kubelik.

Answer: Mrs. Dreyfuss

Mrs. Dreyfuss mistakenly believes Bud is responsible for Fran's suicide attempt and gives him a good tongue-lashing, referring to him as "Max the Knife" and "King Faruk". Fran's brother-in-law, Karl Matushka, gives Bud a black eye before convincing her to go home to her family, but he promptly forgets the pain when she kisses his cheek!

Answer: Margie MacDougall

This is one of the funniest scenes in the movie! Margie, oblivious to Bud's discovery of the unconscious Fran, thinks he's frantically rushing out in the middle of the night to replace the offending ice tray (on Christmas Eve, no less).

Hope Holiday is flawless as the likable but somewhat dimwitted Mrs. MacDougall.

Answer: Bud

Tired of the deception and the uncaring attitudes of his superiors, Bud finally decides that no amount of money or job prestige is worth such a price. He also hands Sheldrake the key to the executive washroom and adds that he won't be needing it because he's "all washed up around here".

Jack Lemmon received a Best Oscar nomination for what is still regarded as one of his finest performances.

Answer: Miss Olsen

Sheldrake fires his secretary after learning that she told Fran about his many indiscretions. Just before leaving the office for the last time, Miss Olsen exacts revenge by calling his wife and arranging an "educational" meeting with her.