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IMDbPro

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

  • 19671967
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,601
1,673
Maureen Arthur, Michele Lee, and Robert Morse in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:56
1 Video
21 Photos
ComedyMusical
Armed with the titular manual, an ambitious window washer seeks to climb the corporate ladder.Armed with the titular manual, an ambitious window washer seeks to climb the corporate ladder.Armed with the titular manual, an ambitious window washer seeks to climb the corporate ladder.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,601
1,673
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • David Swift
    • Writers
      • Abe Burrows(book)
      • Jack Weinstock(book)
      • Willie Gilbert(book)
    • Stars
      • Robert Morse
      • Michele Lee
      • Rudy Vallee
    Top credits
    • Director
      • David Swift
    • Writers
      • Abe Burrows(book)
      • Jack Weinstock(book)
      • Willie Gilbert(book)
    • Stars
      • Robert Morse
      • Michele Lee
      • Rudy Vallee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 55User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:56
    Official Trailer

    Photos21

    Paul Hartman, Robert Q. Lewis, Robert Morse, John Myhers, Anthony 'Scooter' Teague, and Dan Tobin in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Robert Morse in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Kathryn Reynolds, Anthony 'Scooter' Teague, and Carol Worthington in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Robert Morse in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Michele Lee in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Tucker Smith and Howard Parker in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Maureen Arthur, Janice Carroll, Jeff DeBenning, Paul Hartman, Ruth Kobart, Michele Lee, Robert Morse, John Myhers, Kathryn Reynolds, Sammy Smith, Anthony 'Scooter' Teague, Dan Tobin, Rudy Vallee, and Carol Worthington in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Michele Lee and Robert Morse in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Paul Hartman, Robert Q. Lewis, John Myhers, Sammy Smith, Anthony 'Scooter' Teague, and Rudy Vallee in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Robert Morse and Rudy Vallee in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
    Michele Lee, Robert Morse, and Kathryn Reynolds in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Morse
    Robert Morse
    • J. Pierpont Finch
    Michele Lee
    Michele Lee
    • Rosemary Pilkington
    Rudy Vallee
    Rudy Vallee
    • Jasper B. Biggley
    Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
    Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
    • Bud Frump
    • (as Anthony Teague)
    Maureen Arthur
    Maureen Arthur
    • Hedy LaRue
    John Myhers
    • Bert O. Bratt
    Carol Worthington
    Carol Worthington
    • Lucille Krumholtz
    Kathryn Reynolds
    • Miss Smith aka Smitty
    • (as Kay Reynolds)
    Ruth Kobart
    Ruth Kobart
    • Miss Jones
    Sammy Smith
    • Twimble…
    Jeff DeBenning
    Jeff DeBenning
    • Gatch
    • (as Jeff Debenning)
    Janice Carroll
    • Brenda
    Robert Q. Lewis
    Robert Q. Lewis
    • Tackaberry
    Paul Hartman
    Paul Hartman
    • Toynbee
    Dan Tobin
    Dan Tobin
    • Johnson
    John Holland
    John Holland
    • Matthews
    Justin Smith
    Justin Smith
    • Jenkins
    Murray Matheson
    Murray Matheson
    • Benjamin Ovington
    • Director
      • David Swift
    • Writers
      • Abe Burrows(book)
      • Jack Weinstock(book)
      • Willie Gilbert(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene featuring Robert Morse skipping & dancing down the street on his way to work (immediately after the "Old Ivy" fight song duet with Rudy Vallee) was filmed on location in New York City using hidden cameras and a small earpiece to cue Morse on his timing. The various amused & astonished passersby were not extras, but rather were New Yorkers reacting genuinely to someone dancing to his own tune.
    • Goofs
      During opening credits number, Robert Morse and a young fellow window washer board an electric scaffolding in exterior rooftop shot, but by next scene when scaffolding has descended a few floors, co-worker is now a much older man with much less hair.
    • Quotes

      J. B. Biggley: I know blood is thicker than water, but Bud Frump is thicker than anything. I'll promote him when I'm ready. Now, you listen to me, Gertrude. The next time Bud complains to his mother, and she calls you, and you call me, you're all fired. Damn it.

    • Alternate versions
      The 1998 VHS release contained the 1994 variant of the United Artists fanfare.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Drew Carey Show: Brotherhood of Man (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      How To
      (uncredited)

      Written by Frank Loesser

      Performed by Robert Morse

    User reviews55

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Much better then I remembered
    I saw this movie on a local PBS station for the first time since it originally came out in the movies. I was only 10 at the time so I didn't get it and I remember not being crazy about it. ALthough the song "I believe in you" was a favorite of mine. I actually looked at the TV schedule to see what else was on. And I vowed to change the channel at 12, the coming hour. But a funny thing happened, I forgot about the other movie and I remained glued to the screen and saw it to the end. The movie is about a window washer who pledges to become a CEO within a short time by reading a "How To Book", hence the title. How delightful to see Michelle Lee singing..what a voice. I didn't remember her singing I Believe in You. Then we have Robert Morse. I was never a big fan of the slap stick comedy ala Jim Carrey Chevy Chase and Robin Wiliams. Robert Morse could give them all a few lessons on playing broad comedy without going over board. Rudy Vallee and the man who played Big Deal in West Side Story (one of my favorite musicals) were hilarious. He was the nephew of the CEO Vallee so we all know what type of character he was playing. We also have the CEO's bimbo girlfriend who wants to get out of the Secretary pool. She actually is not as dumb as we are suppose to think she is. It was a very upbeat funny movie. And for some reason I believe a lot of people in the business world probably know even less then the Robert Morse character, a window washer Maybe they should read the same type of book he was reading. This musical actually would be good if it was just the story. The book could stand on its own. I felt the same way about Carousel. Which deals with very serious issues. The music adds to the story which IMO separates a OK musicals from a great musical. This is a great musical. Oh beware a few songs were cut for the film. The Broadway musical was almost 3 hours, as a lot are. They have intermissions on Broadway. So they cut musical numbers from movie musicals. They did that with Guys and Dolls, one of the great songs at that. HTSIBWRT they cut the Coffee break scene, a great scene. So just as a caution to people who look at movie versions of Broadway musicals. Don't expect to see/hear all of the songs. It's a dumb practice because there are movies made now which are running 3 hours which have a whole lot less going for them then a Broadway musical.
    helpful•32
    5
    • marbleann
    • May 7, 2005

    FAQ1

    • Chicago Opening Happened When?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 9, 1967 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • How to Succeed in Business...
    • Filming locations
      • 270 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • The Mirisch Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,322,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    Maureen Arthur, Michele Lee, and Robert Morse in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
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