How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)

Director:

David Swift

Writers:

Abe Burrows (book) and
Jack Weinstock (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 March 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Nothing Succeeds Like "Succeed" ! !

Plot:

Armed with a "How to..." manual, an ambitious window washer seeks to climb the corporate ladder.

Plot Keywords:

Book | Business | How To | Secretary | Window Washer

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Robert Morse	...	J. Pierpont Finch
Michele Lee	...	Rosemary Pilkington
Rudy Vallee	...	Jasper B. Biggley
Anthony 'Scooter' Teague	...	Bud Frump (as Anthony Teague)
Maureen Arthur	...	Hedy LaRue
John Myhers	...	Bert O. Bratt
Carol Worthington	...	Lucille Krumholtz
Kay Reynolds	...	Miss Smith aka Smitty
Ruth Kobart	...	Miss Jones
Sammy Smith	...	Twimble - Wally Womper
Jeff DeBenning	...	Gatch (as Jeff Debenning)
Janice Carroll	...	Brenda
Robert Q. Lewis	...	Tackaberry
Paul Hartman	...	Toynbee
Dan Tobin	...	Johnson
John Holland	...	Matthews
Justin Smith	...	Jenkins
Murray Matheson	...	Benjamin Ovington
Patrick O'Moore	...	Media Man No. 1
Lory Patrick	...	Receptionist
Wally Strauss	...	Media Man No. 2
Hy Averback	...	2nd Junior Executive
George Fenneman	...	Himself / TV Announcer
Carl Princi	...	1st Junior Executive
Sheila Rogers	...	1st Girl
Robert Sweeney	...	3rd Junior Executive
Ivan Volkman	...	The President
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Bradley	...	TV Board Member / Junior Executive / Dancer (uncredited)
Ron Charles	...	Broker (uncredited)
Joey Faye	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Don Koll	...	Executive (uncredited)
Al Nesor	...	Newseller (uncredited)
Erin O'Brien-Moore	...	Mrs. Frump (uncredited)
Barry O'Hara	...	Executive (uncredited)
Howard Parker	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Virginia Sale	...	Cleaning Woman (uncredited)
Anne Seymour	...	Gertrude Biggley (uncredited)
Tucker Smith	...	Passerby / Dancing Executive (uncredited)
David Swift	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Minister with Large Bible (uncredited)
Helen Verbit	...	Mrs. Needlebaum - Finch's Landlady (uncredited)

Directed by
David Swift

Writing credits
Abe Burrows		(book) and
Jack Weinstock		(book) and
Willie Gilbert		(book)
Shepherd Mead		(novel)
David Swift		(written by)

Produced by
David Swift	....	producer
Irving Temaner	....	associate producer
Walter Mirisch	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Nelson Riddle		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Burnett Guffey

Film Editing by
Allan Jacobs
Ralph E. Winters

Casting by
Shirley Mellner

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)

Set Decoration by
Edward G. Boyle

Costume Design by
Micheline

Makeup Department
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist
Fae M. Smith	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Nate H. Edwards	....	unit manager
Allen K. Wood	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John D. Bloss	....	assistant director
Michael J. Dmytryk	....	assistant director

Art Department
Mary Blair	....	color designer
Sam Gordon	....	property master
William Maldonado	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Robert Martin	....	sound
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recordist
James Richard	....	sound editor
James D. Young	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Virgil Partch	....	visual gags

Camera and Electrical Department
Don Stott	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leslie Hall	....	costumer: women
Ed Ware	....	costumer: men

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor
Bob Fosse	....	original musical stager
Jimmy Joyce	....	vocal supervisor
Frank Loesser	....	music and lyrics by
Nelson Riddle	....	conductor
Nelson Riddle	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Abe Burrows	....	director: stage play
Cy Feuer	....	stage producer
Marie Kenney	....	script supervisor
Ernest H. Martin	....	stage producer
Dale Moreda	....	choreographer
Charles Mulvehill	....	production associate
Norman Stuart	....	dialogue supervisor
Edward Folger	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mirisch Corporation, The (presents)

Distributors

• United Artists (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Frank Productions  produced on the stage in association with
• Professional Film Services  background titles
• Pacific Title  titles
• 3M Company  office copying equipment

Also Known As:

"How to Succeed in Business..." - USA (short title)

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:14A (video rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #21357) | Australia:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

270 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

The Broadway version of Finch had a lot more "edge" to him. The movie producers felt they had to make him nicer for the movie in order to be more likeable to the audience.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Although Finch's rise to top of corporate world is supposedly pegged to sequential chapters of same-named title book he reads throughout movie, his progress through text isn't sequential - even near end of movie he is seen poring over beginning chapters for next bit of ladder-climbing advice.

Quotes:

TV Announcer:A day without a wicket is like a day without sunshine.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man: How to Suck in Business Without Really Trying (#4.23)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Gotta Stop That Man

Stinging Satire

In this film version of the 1960's Broadway musical that won 7 Tony Awards, Robert Morse (Tony winner) plays J. Pierpont Finch, a New York City window washer, who takes the advice of a how-to-succeed book, and quickly ascends the corporate ladder.

This is one of the best musicals ever made. The songs are forceful and original. The dialogue is sharp-witted. The plot is a hoot. The pace is brisk. And the casting is perfect. In addition to a superbly funny Morse, the film features talented Michele Lee, and the great Rudy Vallee. Of special mention is Maureen Arthur. She is hilarious as the curvaceous (39-22-38), but vacuous secretary, Miss Hedy LaRue. In one scene, Finch asks her if she can type fast; her self-confident response: "like a jack rabbit, 12 words a minute".

Underneath the humor, "How To Succeed In Business ..." is, of course, a scathing indictment of corporate culture. The film also takes a gleefully irreverent jab at pop-psychology books.

The visuals look dated now, with those awful 60's hats and hairdos, and that bright orange, yellow, and red decor; yet, even that is part of the film's charm.

"How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" is wonderfully entertaining. And its biting social commentary is as timely now as it was in 1967.