The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)

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.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

Jim Cash (screenplay), Jack Epps Jr. (screenplay),

Stars:

Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

Brantley Foster, a well-educated kid from Kansas, has always dreamed of making it big in New York. On his first work day in New York, he is fired in a hostile take-over and learns that jobs - and girls - are hard to get. When Brantley visits his distant uncle, Howard Prescott, who runs a multi-million-dollar company, he is given a job in the company's mail room. Then Brantley meets Christy Wills, who happens to be one of the top executives. Brantley sees how poorly the company is being run and decides to create a position under the name Carlton Whitfield, to influence and improve the company's operations. Soon things get unexpectedly out of hand, not in the least because of his aunt, his girl and leading a double life.

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Plot Keywords:

kansas | corporation | dream girl | blockbuster | ferry | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

El secreto de mi éxito

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross:

$66,995,879 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rastar Pictures, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kristy McNichol was the original choice made by director Herbert Ross to play the lead actress role. She was pulled two weeks before filming though by the film's producers, who feared she might be "difficult" to work with, due to her then-ongoing bouts with manic-depression.

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Goofs

While Brantley is watching out of the window in his uncle's company, we see that someone is walking through the hallway towards him. In the next sequence from another angle, we expect the person to pass Brantley, but there's no one there and nowhere for them to go even if they were.

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Quotes

Jean: I was having fun on this job! You had all this energy, and all these crazy ideas... and you kept taking your pants off.

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Connections

References Jaws 2 (1978)

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Soundtracks

"WALKING ON SUNSHINE"
Written by Kimberley Rew
Performed by Katrina & The Waves (as Katrina and the Waves)
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User Reviews

Delightful take on "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

What sets this movie apart from standard sitcom material are the acting performances, tight scripting, funny sight gags, and great musical score.

If you liked Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future," you'll love him in this role. Much like BTTF, this is not a film to take seriously, but to enjoy it for what it is.

Which is a film that I can watch 100 times and never get bored of it.