The Associate (1996)

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writers (WGA):

Jenaro Prieto (novel)
Jean-Claude Carrière (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's a man's world...until October 25.

Plot:

A comedy about making it on Wall Street. Prejudices are hard to break and Laurel Ayres quickly learns...

Plot Keywords:

Business | Businesswoman | Gender Disguise | Christmas | Remake Of French Film

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Laurel Ayres
Dianne Wiest	...	Sally Dugan
Eli Wallach	...	Donald Fallon
Tim Daly	...	Frank Peterson
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Camille Scott
Austin Pendleton	...	Aesop Franklin
Lainie Kazan	...	Cindy Mason
George Martin	...	Walter Manchester
Kenny Kerr	...	Charlie
Lee Wilkof	...	Bissel
Helen Hanft	...	Mrs. Cupchick
George Morfogen	...	Plaza Manager
Zeljko Ivanek	...	SEC Agent Thompkins
Miles Chapin	...	Harry
Jean De Baer	...	Loan Officer

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sensuality and an exotic dance club scene.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | UK:PG | Germany:6 (w) | Iceland:L | Mexico:B | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34840) | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Frederic Golchan Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: The output of an HP Laserjet 4 printer is shown emerging face-up, but should be face-down.

Quotes:

Loan Officer: Do you have any assets?
Laurel Ayres: Well, yeah. I have drive and courage and ambition. And if you'll look at the prospectus, you'll notice that I have a very, very sound business mind too.
Loan Officer: I was thinking more like stocks, bonds, property.
Laurel Ayres: Ah. Now, we're starting to sound a little like a "men's bank", now, aren't we?
Loan Officer: Oh, I see. Because we're the "women's bank", we should go against standard banking practices and give you this very large, unsecured loan because you're the right gender.
Laurel Ayres: Well... you know, it might send a message.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Rock (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Whatta Man

Working executive girl

Never having seen this film, we decided to take a chance with it. We were quite surprised to learn this Hollywood film is based on a French one, "L'associe", written for the screen by Jean Claude Carriere and based on Jenaro Prieto's novel "El Socio". Daniel Petrie, its director is working with Nick Thiel's adaptation, which appears to have been a vehicle for its star, Whoopi Goldberg.

Some comments have compared this movie with "Working Girl", a film that also dealt with a smart woman working in the financial world, one of the themes in "The Associate". We are introduced to an intelligent woman, Laurel Ayers, who happens to have three things going against her, she is black, a woman, and is intelligent enough to merit a promotion in the Wall Street firm she works for. Unfortunately, it comes as no surprise that Laurel is passed and her co-worker, Frank, gets the good job and becomes her boss.

The film is mildly funny, as Laurel goes to make a name for herself by creating a "silent" partner, Mr. Cutty, who is never seen. The financial world is all in a frenzy to meet him, and the hilarious appearance at the Plaza Hotel, instead of making things clear, contributes to his myth.

Ms. Goldberg is delightful to watch. Dianne Wiest makes an impressive appearance as the loyal Sally, who is an under appreciated woman. Timothy Daly is perfect as the egotistical Frank. The supporting cast is good. Bebe Neuwirth, Eli Wallach, Austin Pendelton, and a funny Lanie Kazan as a financial gossip writer.

While the film is predictable, it offers some funny moments.