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The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)

 -  Comedy  -  10 April 1987 (USA)
6.2
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Ratings: 6.2/10 from 16,162 users  
Reviews: 64 user | 17 critic

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.

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
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Title: The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)

The Secret of My Succe$s (1987) on IMDb 6.2/10

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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...
...
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Barney Rattigan
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Art Thomas
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Donald Davenport
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Jean (as Carol-Ann Susi)
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Grace Foster
...
Burt Foster
...
Maureen
Barton Heyman ...
Arnold Forbush
...
Ira Wheeler ...
Owens (as Ira B. Wheeler)
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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. Written by watzdabigdeal

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 April 1987 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El secreto de mi éxito  »

Box Office

Gross:

$66,995,879 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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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. See more »

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. See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

References Jaws 2 (1978) See more »

Soundtracks

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

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User Reviews

 
Delightful take on "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
5 January 2001 | by (Florida) – See all my reviews

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.


11 of 16 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
He had Sex with his Aunt!!!! nydude6009
Brilliant movie! i cannot believe that my mom let me watch it though. The_Humiliated_Grapes
Brantley's job search in the beginning - question gfnoyes
Name of the song which runs when he sit in the car with his aunt michaeleibich
Red hair? dr_hendrix
one glaring goof... glxyjones
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