"The Crowd" (1928). You've seen it on countless Oscar night clip montages, the dazzling tracking shot of a vast, impersonal Manhattan office full of anonymous drones. It's from director King Vidor's silent classic, and it crystallized an entire artistic movement across various art forms, asking the question: Is that all we are? Cogs in a wheel?
"His Girl Friday" (1940). The greatest office romance in history: Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell trade the fastest banter in cinema, as Chicago journalists (based on characters introduced in the play "The Front Page") chasing after a big story involving a small anarchist hiding in a roll-top desk. Directed by Howard Hawks.
"The Apartment" (1960). Workplace amorality run amok: In director Billy Wilder's mordant comedy, shot in black and white and deliberately echoing, among others, "The Crowd," Jack Lemmon lends his place out to scheming co-workers looking for a little hey-hey. Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray co-star.
"Clerks" (1994). Kevin Smith's micro-budget indie hit kills time, amusingly, with New Jersey video store clerks. This was back when video store clerking was a viable career path.
"The Social Network" (2010). Directed by David Fincher. It's the make-your-own-workplace century! When Mark Zuckerberg got drunk in his Harvard University dorm room and starting messing around online, Facebook and billions eventually came his way, bringing controversy with them. The 21st century does not belong to "The Crowd." In our uncertain virtual economy, it's all about "The Soloist" who sometimes works with other people.
