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
From metacritic.com
From Dark Phoenix to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Kevin Smith and Retta pick the major performances they can't wait to see.
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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) |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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
Taglines:
There's no such thing as an overnight success. Brantley Foster took two weeks.Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
10 April 1987 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Secret of My Success See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$12,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$7,766,452, 12 April 1987, Wide ReleaseGross USA:
$66,995,879Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$110,996,879Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Written by David Foster, Danny Peck and Tim DuBois
Performed by Restless Heart
Produced by David Foster
Co-Produced by Tim DuBois and Scott Hendricks
Restless Heart appears courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
A sequel was proposed, but never made. See more »Goofs
When Prescott and his executives stop for a moment to check their pulse while running on the roof, one of them starts to look at his watch.. but it's not there. So he looks over the shoulder of another, and then suddenly the watch appears. See more »Alternate Versions
There are two different ending sequences. In the first, after they leave the boardroom Fred and Vera meet and start to flirt. Christy and Brantley go into the elevator which stops between floors. In the second version, this scene is ommitted and we cut to several weeks later where the two couples climb into a limo and go the opera. The first shows up on the video releases, whereas the second shows up in broadcast versions. See more »Connections
Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Paul Reiser/Margaret Whitton/Teresa Ganzel (1987) See more »Soundtracks
Something I Gotta DoWritten by David Foster, Danny Peck and Tim DuBois
Performed by Restless Heart
Produced by David Foster
Co-Produced by Tim DuBois and Scott Hendricks
Restless Heart appears courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
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Ok, so maybe some people may call this movie your typical 80's comedy. I don't think so I love this movie. I've seen it many times and laugh at it every time. It's a movie filled with things that you wonder if that could happen, most likely not but hey it's fiction. Michael J. Fox is cute as always and Helen Slater is great as the female lead. It's a comedy with some drama in it too and I love the ending. Rent, watch, and enjoy.