The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

AJ Carothers (story)
Jim Cash (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 April 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

There's no such thing as an overnight success. Brantley Foster took two weeks.

Plot:

A talented young man can't get an executive position without rising through the ranks, so he comes up with a shortcut, which also benefits his love life.

Plot Keywords:

Corporation | Limousine | Mailroom | Husband Wife Relationship | Blockbuster

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Brantley Foster / Carlton Whitfield
Helen Slater	...	Christy Wills
Richard Jordan	...	Howard Prescott
Margaret Whitton	...	Vera Prescott
John Pankow	...	Fred Melrose
Christopher Murney	...	Barney Rattigan
Gerry Bamman	...	Art Thomas
Fred Gwynne	...	Donald Davenport
Carol Ann Susi	...	Jean (as Carol-Ann Susi)
Elizabeth Franz	...	Grace Foster
Drew Snyder	...	Burt Foster
Susan Kellermann	...	Maureen
Barton Heyman	...	Arnold Forbush
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Sheila
Ira Wheeler	...	Owens (as Ira B. Wheeler)

Also Known As:

The Secret of My Success (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Italy:T | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

A sequel was proposed for this film but never made.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Brantley/Carlton enters his empty office for the first time and sits behind the desk, the phone rings, and he answers a gray phone. A few shots later and the phone is now black.

Quotes:

Brantley Foster: At least I didn't sleep with the boss.
Christy Wills: No, you slept with the boss's wife!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack (#4.10)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

FELIZ CUMBE

It's Vera Prescott who steals the show!

Okay, Michael J. Fox stars as a Midwestern college graduate who moves to New York City to conquer the business world. He is completely unprepared as Brantley Foster. He is so desperate that he contacts a distant cousin, Richard Prescott, for help breaking in to the business world of New York City. Along the way, he meets his aunt Vera Prescott, played by the delicious Margaret Whitton who really steals the show in this role. He also falls in love with Christy Wills who works there and is played admirably by Helen Slater. John Pankow plays the guy in the mail room who helps Brantley. The cast is first rate but the writing is somewhat mediocre material. It's a good entertainment with a first rate cast and the scenes in the country are quite beautiful.