How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)

To me, this movie is perfection.

the audience applauded

Sick Product of a Sick System

Excellent but underrated film

Robert Morse is incredible in this, absolutely electric, you can really see why he won the Tony Award for this (he performed the same role in a live run on Broadway). It's not the best musical ever but this is one of those times that the best version if probably the one they caught on film, I wish I could have seen Morse perform this live too!

Cynics may say that the film merely copied the play, which was ALREADY a smash. Bad argument. Whether this film merely copies a superb piece of entertainment which already existed, or takes an existing work to the next level is irrelevant. It is superb and it holds up extremely well. Morse is nothing less than brilliant as both the lead character and the "master of ceremonies" who is always talking directly to the audience. I have seen this at least half a dozen times and every time I have to ask myself, why was Morse not known for other roles aside from this? He had talent. It is one of those odd Hollywood quirks that sometimes an actor will become known for just one role. In this case one is more than enough. Michelle Lee is not only glamorous but intelligent, a mix that was rare in the era. Those same cynics will tell you that mores have changed and the workplace is not like this anymore. They are wrong. The same games exist, the rules have changed slightly. Guaranteed entertainment.

Entertaining musical where it is again proved that brains aren't the only prerequisite to success up the corporate ladder. That is shown so beautifully by Robert Morse's energetic performance as the success climbing oriented person. While Morse won a Tony on Broadway for his performance, when the show was turned into a movie, he was denied an Oscar nomination. The bigotry that the Academy has shown towards musicals through the years!Rudy Vallee is on par as the dimwitted boss who everyone respects in order to get ahead.Another joy here is Maureen Arthur, who does a fabulous imitation of the late Jean Hagen in 1952's "Singin' in the Rain." Arthur gives new meaning as the dumb redhead who also knows how to get what she wants.The picture is lots of fun as it shows how to climb up the corporate ladder through sheer luck, deceit, treachery and ambition. Furthermore, it's done in a wonderful musical way. Besides I Believe in You, let's all hear it for The Company Way.

I can't say I enjoyed this movie. I fast-forwarded through all of the songs as I found them dull, uninspired, and repetitive. Not Loesser's best, and no way near as good as those in Guys and Dolls. I found Robert Morse interesting to watch, although I kept hoping right up to the end that he would somehow get his comeuppance and be knocked back down to window washer! Although his tricks were fascinating, he was rather obnoxious and unpleasant in how he used people and didn't care who he crushed on his way to the top (yes, I know it is satire, but he still was irritating!).I did find that things picked up near the end, but the ending itself didn't make sense to me. Why was it suddenly forgotten that Ponty had caused 6 offices to be wrecked and the company to lose money? Why did Michelle Lee suddenly forget that she was disgusted with Ponty for stealing Bud's idea and become his fiancée again? The art direction and colours were fabulous though, and I really enjoyed the sets and those enormous offices!