Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

Movies
TV Shows
Browse
Topics

Account

Watchlist
Watched
Ratings

Legal

Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Content Policy

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

backdrop

backdrop

Housing crisis? In THIS economy? Joe McDoakes said it first in '48.

So You Want an Apartment (1948)

retro relatabledomestic chaossatirical bite

Overview

Joe McDoakes and his wife go apartment hunting.

Content warning

short film bewildered baffled housing shortage

Standout Aspects

Acting

George O'Hanlon's escalating panic — proto-George Jetson energy.

Direction

Bare's snappy Warners house style, eleven minutes flat.

Writing

Sardonic narrator who absolutely judges Joe's life choices.

Best for:Solo: Coffee break companion — done before it gets cold.·Background: Vintage ambiance while doom-scrolling Zillow.·Friends: Pre-gaming your actual apartment hunt with bitter laughter.

Director

Richard L. Bare

ReleasedJan 3, 1948

Runtime11m

StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast

Intensitymedium

Tonelight

Feellight

Richard L. Bare Productions

Top Cast

George O'Hanlon

Joe McDoakes

Art Gilmore

Narrator (voice)

Creighton Hale

Wallpaper Hanger (uncredited)

Jane Harker

Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

Fred Kelsey

Apartment Manager with a Vacancy (uncredited)

Mike Lally

Clerk (uncredited)

Paul Panzer

Wallpaper Hanger (uncredited)

Ted Stanhope

J. Phineas McNasty (uncredited)

Clifton Young

Homer Hotbox (uncredited)

Ask about So You Want an Apartment

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This was the 45th of 63 Joe McDoakes shorts — Warner Bros' secret weapon for filling double bills.

Cultural

Shot during the actual 1948 housing shortage; audiences laughed because they were literally living it. The satire hits different when it's documentary-adjacent.

Reviews

No ratings yet

Start the discussionBe the first to post — spoiler-safe

Rate & reviewBe the first to weigh in

So You Want... Collection(58 films)

So You Want to Give Up Smoking

So You Want to Give Up Smoking

1942

So You Think You Need Glasses

So You Think You Need Glasses

1942

So You Think You're Allergic

So You Think You're Allergic

1945

So You Want to Play the Horses

So You Want to Play the Horses

1946

So You Want to Keep Your Hair

So You Want to Keep Your Hair

1946

So You Think You're a Nervous Wreck poster

So You Think You're a Nervous Wreck

1946

So You're Going to Be a Father

So You're Going to Be a Father

1947

So You Want to Be in Pictures

So You Want to Be in Pictures

1947

So You Want to Be a Salesman

So You Want to Be a Salesman

1947

So You Want to Hold Your Wife

So You Want to Hold Your Wife

1947

So You Want an Apartment

So You Want an Apartment

1948

So You Want to Be a Gambler poster

So You Want to Be a Gambler

1948

So You Want to Build a House

So You Want to Build a House

1948

So You Want to Be a Detective poster

So You Want to Be a Detective

1948

So You Want to Be in Politics poster

So You Want to Be in Politics

1948

So You Want to Be on the Radio

So You Want to Be on the Radio

1948

So You Want to Be a Baby Sitter poster

So You Want to Be a Baby Sitter

1949

So You Want to Be Popular

So You Want to Be Popular

1949

So You Want to Be a Muscle Man

So You Want to Be a Muscle Man

1949

So You're Having In-Law Trouble

So You're Having In-Law Trouble

1949

So You Want to Get Rich Quick

So You Want to Get Rich Quick

1949

So You Want to Throw a Party

So You Want to Throw a Party

1950

So You Think You're Not Guilty poster

So You Think You're Not Guilty

1950

So You Want to Hold Your Husband

So You Want to Hold Your Husband

1950

So You Want to Move

So You Want to Move

1950

So You're Going to Have an Operation

So You're Going to Have an Operation

1950

So You Want to Be a Handyman

So You Want to Be a Handyman

1951

So You Want to Be a Cowboy

So You Want to Be a Cowboy

1951

So You Want to Be a Paper Hanger

So You Want to Be a Paper Hanger

1951

So You Want to Buy a Used Car

So You Want to Buy a Used Car

1951

So You Want to Be a Bachelor

So You Want to Be a Bachelor

1951

So You Want to Be a Plumber

So You Want to Be a Plumber

1951

So You Want to Get It Wholesale

So You Want to Get It Wholesale

1952

So You Want to Enjoy Life

So You Want to Enjoy Life

1952

So You Want to Go to a Convention

So You Want to Go to a Convention

1952

So You Never Tell a Lie poster

So You Never Tell a Lie

1952

So You're Going to the Dentist

So You're Going to the Dentist

1952

So You Want to Wear the Pants

So You Want to Wear the Pants

1952

So You Want to Be a Musician

So You Want to Be a Musician

1953

So You Want a Television Set

So You Want a Television Set

1953

So You Love Your Dog

So You Love Your Dog

1953

So You Think You Can't Sleep

So You Think You Can't Sleep

1953

So You Want to Be an Heir

So You Want to Be an Heir

1953

So You're Having Neighbor Trouble

So You're Having Neighbor Trouble

1954

So You Want to Be Your Own Boss

So You Want to Be Your Own Boss

1954

So You Want to Go to a Nightclub

So You Want to Go to a Nightclub

1954

So You're Taking in a Roomer

So You're Taking in a Roomer

1954

So You Want to Know Your Relatives

So You Want to Know Your Relatives

1954

So You Don't Trust Your Wife

So You Don't Trust Your Wife

1955

So You Want to Be a Gladiator poster

So You Want to Be a Gladiator

1955

So You Want to Be on a Jury

So You Want to Be on a Jury

1955

So You Want a Model Railroad

So You Want a Model Railroad

1955

So You Want to Be a V.P.

So You Want to Be a V.P.

1955

So You Want to Be a Policeman

So You Want to Be a Policeman

1955

So You Think the Grass Is Greener

So You Think the Grass Is Greener

1956

So You Want to Be Pretty poster

So You Want to Be Pretty

1956

So You Want to Play the Piano

So You Want to Play the Piano

1956

So Your Wife Wants to Work

So Your Wife Wants to Work

1956

Recommended

Laughing Gravy movie poster (1931)

Laughing Gravy

Duplex movie poster (2003)

Duplex

They Go Boom! movie poster (1929)

They Go Boom!

Gone Fishing movie poster (2017)

Gone Fishing

Berth Marks movie poster (1929)

Berth Marks

The Landlord movie poster (2007)

The Landlord

Home Makeover movie poster (2010)

Home Makeover

Night Owls movie poster (1930)

Night Owls

The Fixer Uppers movie poster (1935)

The Fixer Uppers

Below Zero movie poster (1930)

Below Zero

Hog Wild movie poster (1930)

Hog Wild

Babes movie poster (2024)

Babes

The Hoose-Gow movie poster (1929)

The Hoose-Gow

The Scarecrow movie poster (1920)

The Scarecrow

Any Old Port! movie poster (1932)

Any Old Port!

More Like This

Disgruntled movie poster (2000)

Disgruntled

Creedacio I movie poster (2023)

Creedacio I

A Teachable Moment movie poster (2016)

A Teachable Moment

Black Savior movie poster (2023)

Black Savior

Bree and Drew (Me & You) movie poster (2018)

Bree and Drew (Me & You)

Aglaée movie poster (2010)

Aglaée

Sequins movie poster (2019)

Sequins

Dead Bait movie poster (2016)

Dead Bait

Failure movie poster (2017)

Failure

On the Path movie poster (2015)

On the Path

Ghost Theft Auto movie poster (2024)

Ghost Theft Auto

i didn't do anything movie poster (2025)

i didn't do anything

Midnight Manhunt movie poster (1945)

Midnight Manhunt

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.

Discussion starters

View all comments →