Customer Reviews

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

One of the most often overlooked movie musicals of the 1960s is also one of the most successful: the screen version of the Broadway smash HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, which delivers a sharp comic rap across the corporate knuckles in its tale of a nobody (Robert Morse) who uses a self-help book to rocket up the corporate ladder--and by the time our hero reaches the heights, romantic complications leads him to wonder what price corporate success.

Although the business world has changed quite a bit since 1967, SUCCEED is so dead-on with its attack that even modern corporate leaders will be bloodied from the fray. The company is just large enough so that no one knows what is actually going on, leadership cries out for creative solutions then promptly fires any one who shows a talent for it, and promotion doesn't hinge so much upon ability as it does upon [kissing] up, backstabbing, and looking like you know what you're doing. There are jabs at dressing for success, the idea that employees don't engage in sexual hankypanky, hidden nepotism, and the importance of belonging to the "right" clubs. And along the way our hero meets the classic business crowd: the company man, the bombshell secretary, the boss' nephew, and a host of largely incompetent yes-men VPs.

The film is very stylized, making no pretense at naturalism per se, and the cast follows suit, playing in a way that blends beautifully with the self-boosting and jingoistic tone that pervades the piece. Robert Morse gives a truly brilliant performance in the lead--and one wonders why Hollywood so seldom used him in later years; Michele Lee, as the secretary who befriends him, is equally fine, and the supporting cast is wonderful all the way around. The musical numbers (which includes such numbers as "The Company Way," "A Secretary Is Not A Toy," "It's Been A Long Day," and "Brotherhood of Man") are remarkably sly and memorably performed. All in all, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is sure to appeal to any one who has had the misfortune to graple with the idiocies of corporate America--and it will almost certainly outrage every "company man" on your city block. Strongly recommended, but make sure you get the widescreen version; pan-and-scan doesn't cut it on this one!

The 1967 musical comedy "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" is based upon a 1962 Broadway musical of the same name, as well as the similarly titled novel that was written by Shepherd Mead. The story begins with J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) who works as a skyscraper window washer. He finds and begins to read a self-help book entitled "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying". Following advice from the book and while washing windows outside, he sneaks into of an office of the World Wide Wicket Corporation (WWWC). Quickly stripping out of his orange window-washing coveralls, Finch wears a smart business suit beneath and quickly endears himself to the company's president, J.B. Biggley (Rudy Vallee), one of the secretaries, Rosemary Pilkington (Michelle Lee), as well as a host of yes-men vice presidents. Impressed, J.B. sends Finch to the personnel office to be promptly hired to work in the company's mailroom. There, Finch meets J.B.'s nephew, Bud Frump (Anthony Teague), who also works for WWWC in the mailroom. Continuing to follow advice from the self-help book, Finch finagles and brownnoses his way up the corporate ladder in record speed and develops a love interest with Rosemary, but not everyone is happy with Finch's rise within the company. J.B. also hires a very attractive 'friend', Hedy LaRue (Maureen Arthur), who has little experience working in an office, but has a lot of experience with men.

The engaging, original music in the film, which was written by Frank Loesser, includes the songs:

* "How To" (sung by Robert Morse).
* "The Company Way" (sung by Robert Morse).
* "A Secretary Is Not A Toy" (sung by company employees).
* "Been A Long Day" (sung by company employees).
* "Rosemary" (sung by Robert Morse).
* "Grand Old Ivy" (sung by Robert Morse and Rudy Vallee).
* "I Believe In You" (sung by Michelle Lee).
* "Brotherhood Of Man" (sung by company employees).

Though some of the activities shown in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" are dated and chauvinistic by today's business standards (and discouraged by the Labor Department and the EEOC), the basic message of the story regarding nepotism, brownnosing, favoritism, scapegoating, affairs between employees, people hired for their appearance, backstabbing and mismanagement within corporations is just as relevant today as it was over 40 years ago. Creative employees are summarily fired for their ideas, others with more corporate clout get those same ideas approved by management. People who went to the right schools or joined the right clubs move up quickly, as well as people who easily agree with superiors and/or dress as well as possible. It's not what you know, but who you know, how well you brownnose, how good of an appearance you make and how well you avoid trouble that makes one successful in the corporate world.

Robert Morse is hilarious in the film, as are Rudy Vallee, Maureen Arthur and Michelle Lee. The film was well scripted and the sets are appropriate for a late 1960's office building. It is likely that the film inspired Michael J. Fox's 1987 film, "The Secret of My Succe$s". Overall, I rate the film with 5 out of 5 stars. So sit back, get a bowl of popcorn and see whether you want to do things the company way.

This is one of the best transfers of a hit Broadway musical to movie musical. Everyone is superb! From Michelle Lee
to Robert Morse to Rudy Vallee to Ruth Kobart--all re-creating their Broadway Roles! Robert Morse's brilliant performance alone is worth the price of the dvd. Maureen Arthur's sexpot defines the word and is hilarious. Okay you can gripe that a few numbers from the Broadway Musical were left out--but overall this is a major success.

Concerns a window washer who reads a book "How to Succeed in Business" and within about a week, goes from
mail room clerk to Chairman of the Board . And he get's the girl in the end.

Fosse's Broadway choreography was recreated by an assistant for the film. Frank Loesser's Score is classic and singable.

And it shows how using the original Broadway Cast can make a film work incredibly well. (Take note those people who cast Lucille Ball in Mame and Peter O Toole in Man of La Mancha to terrible outcomes)

I don't think this film was a huge hit when it came out but it surely deserved to be. I watch it over and over. I sing the songs. It's a keeper.

This musical transcends time. What was true in the 1960s - and before - is still true today. That is why this musical is a true mockery of the corporate world, which is in turn why it made my musical-mocking husband laugh out loud and physically turn away from the computer to watch.

Before I bought the DVD version of How to $ucceed, I had seen it performed live. I loved it and subsequently purchased the soundtrack featuring Matthew Broderick.

So, as you can see, it was with an already deep affection for (and prejudiced mind) that I bought the movie version. It surprised me greatly that this vision of How to $ucceed met up to my already high standards. Only a few songs from the musical were not included. But the movie is 2 hours long, so it was necessary to do some cutting.

If you like musicals, if you like big business, if you like to make fun of big business, this movie will make you laugh.

As far as the DVD goes, there were not a lot of special features, which is to be expected from an older film. It did include the trailer, which was amusing in its retro-style, and it's nice to be able to go back and play the scene of a particular song I liked here and there. The widescreen version really enhanced the film for me, especially when my cats decided to nap lazily on the television and dangle their limbs about while I was watching.

Good movie!

A bright and breezy and somewhat cynical 1960's musical comedy satire of American big business with lots of energy, some good (but not great) songs and a powerhouse of a central performance, How To Succeed In Business is a pleasant romp that can by enjoyed by everyone but especially appreciated by anyone who has ever had to work in an office. Its silly story of a guy who uses a "how to" book to progress from window washer to company president is like a modern urban fairy tale with music, romance, and a bit of sex thrown in. If it has a moral (which is doubtful) it is to demonstrate to the anti-Establishment mob that being part of the Establishment could be fun too.

Leading the way and holding the whole thing together is Robert Morse, reprising his Broadway role as J. Pierrepont Finch in a super star-making performance. Morse's long experience with this character is obvious as he sings, dances, grins, mugs and schemes his way through the film. He is never better than when performing his big number "I Believe In You" - sung to his reflection in the mirror of the executive washroom.

A couple of other players from the Broadway original are also in the film, most notably Sammy Smith (again playing two roles) and veteran crooner Rudy Vallee. Michelle Lee is pert and pretty as Morse's love interest, Anthony Teague (one of the Jets in West Side Story) is the slimy boss's nephew, and Maureen Arthur provides more than a dash of sex appeal as an inept secretary. But the show really belongs to Robert Morse.

The bouncy songs are by ace tunesmith Frank Loesser (this was his followup to his classic Guys And Dolls). Unfortunately, as so often happens with Hollywood versions of Broadway shows, some of the songs got dropped with gems such as "Coffee Break" and "Paris Original" among the lamented casualties. But the songs that remain are enthusiastically and imaginatively performed, especially the popular "A Secretary Is Not A Toy".

I have heard, but never been able to confirm, that this film was released in France with all the songs removed - that it was shown as just a comedy. If so, it is a good indication of just how strong and funny the script is on its own. It also tells us something about the weirdness of the French...

For the rest of us, How To Succeed In Business remains a fun time to be enjoyed by all. It never takes itself seriously and that is one of its great virtues. Its other assets are color, laughs, music, slapstick, sex, and - more than anything else - Robert Morse. He was great on stage - he's great in this movie.

"How to Succeed" is an energetic and snappy satire of big business. As the story opens, J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) is a poor but ambitious window washer; he finds a "how-to" book that can teach him to climb the corporate ladder in no time at all. Ponty follows the book's advice and advances from the mailroom of the World Wide Wicket Company to become its president, falling in love with secretary Rosemary (Michele Lee) along the way.

The movie looks like a staged play, and that's a good thing, since this was such a smash hit on Broadway. It preserves forever the look of the early sixties with vibrant colors, pillbox hats, and references to Metrecal and Wildroot Cream-Oil. The unique Robert Morse is the whole show here. He originated the stage role of Ponty and this movie made him an even bigger star. He is a great singer and dancer, but it's his irresistible personality and charisma that keep you rooting for him. Michele Lee is perfect as his leading lady, and Rudy Vallee reprises his stage role as the singing, dancing, and knitting Big Boss. This is a happy, fun movie.

Kona

A great film adaptation of a great Frank Loesser
musical -- but in a wretched DVD transfer that Amazon
should be ashamed of itself for selling. I bought it
because I love the show and was tired of looking
at the suboptimal VHS version, so I was staggered
to discover that the disk is simply a letterboxed
STANDARD-WIDTH transfer of the cassette.

That's right: on a HDTV, you get only a small rectangle
in the middle of the screen! For shame, Amazon!

This is a musical which is instantly recognizable as having come from the Sixties. The Technicolor is bright with lots of reds and oranges and yellows. The dresses look like Doris Day would be comfortable in them. The hairdos are shiny helmets.

It also is one of the most cynically good-natured satires on business you'll ever hope to see. Young J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) reads a book on getting ahead in business and is inspired to try his luck with the World Wide Wicket Company. Within a day, through affectionate rear-end kissing, ego massaging, opportunism and happy toadying, he has advanced from window washer to mail room clerk to...junior executive. And he's just starting. By the end of the movie he's the chairman, found the love of his life, himself, as well as cute secretary Rosemary Pilkington (Michele Lee), waved the old chairman, J. B. Biggley (Rudy Vallee), into a happy retirement, and shown the door to Biggley's fawning and ambitious nephew, Bud Frump (Anthony Teague).

Along the way we've encountered some of Frank Loesser's funniest songs and some of Abe Burrows sharpest lines. "Last month," says Mr. Twimble, Ponty's mailroom boss, "I became a quarter-of-a-century man." "Oh," says Finch, "that's beautiful, a quarter-of-a-century. How long have you been in the mail room?" "Twenty-five years," says Twimble. "It's not easy to get this medal. It takes a combination of skill, diplomacy, and bold caution".

Loesser's lyrics are funny, sharp-edged but not mean-spirited. Twimble, for instance, explains his philosophy in The Company Way: "When I joined this firm as a brash young man,
"Well, I said to myself, 'Now, brash young man, don't get any ideas.'
"Well, I stuck to that, and I haven't had one in years."
Says Finch: "You play it safe."
"I play it the company way", sings Twimble, "wherever the company puts me there I stay."
"But what is your point of view?," says Finch.
"I have no point of view."
Says Finch: "Supposing the company thinks . . ."
"I think so too."

The hit of the show, I Believe in You, goes like this:

You have the cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth;
Yet there's that upturned chin and that grin of impetuous youth.
Oh, I believe in you.
I believe in you.

I hear the sound of good, solid judgment whenever you talk;
Yet there's the bold, brave spring of the tiger that quickens your walk.
Oh, I believe in you.
I believe in you.

And when my faith in my fellow man
All but falls apart,
I've but to feel your hand grasping mine
And I take heart; I take heart

To see the cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth;
Yet, with the slam-bang tang reminiscent of gin and vermouth.
Oh, I believe in you.
I believe in you.

A great love song...and Finch is singing it to himself while he gazes into a mirror.

Morse does a terrific job. He's full of energy and charm, even when he's brown-nosing...which he's doing most of the time. It's kind of unsettling to imagine Finch now as the CEO of World Wide Wicket, scratching the stomachs of tame board members so they'll give him a $700 million retirement package, building an $80 million ego mansion for him and his new trophy wife (he traded in Rosemary some years ago), and regaling his CEO buddies with tales of the $10 million birthday bash he secretly got his company's shareholders to pay for. But that's another story.

The DVD picture looks just fine to me. There are no extras.

Infectiously amusing, energetic musical based on the Tony winning Broadway production, complete with Frank Loesser songs (most famously, "I Believe In You"), Bob Fosse dance numbers, and a sixties palette of vibrant color. Morse is appealing as the elfin Finch (is he a man or a boy?), and former crooner Vallee is perfectly cast as the pompous Biggley. About as subtle as the Fourth of July, and just as much fun.

Oh, wow! This is a marvelous production that I saw as a one-day-only offering in a theater eons ago when I was a college student (in West Texas of all places). I loved it then, and other feedback does a decent job of saying "why."

All I can add is this outstanding Broadway musical translated to the big movie screen extremely well, and then it almost disappeared from broadcast/cable TV -- and for reason. To much theatrical action and choreography was lost through cropping for the TV screen, and the magic was lost. (I only saw it listed once for TV before letterbox, and it was a mega disappointment).

Even if you've never heard of it before, please consider this late 1960s-era musical comedy if you want to enjoy some solid entertainment.