IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
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.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
- Bud Frump
- (as Anthony Teague)
Kathryn Reynolds
- Miss Smith aka Smitty
- (as Kay Reynolds)
Jeff DeBenning
- Gatch
- (as Jeff Debenning)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- GoofsDuring 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 versionsThe 1998 VHS release contained the 1994 variant of the United Artists logo.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Drew Carey Show: Brotherhood of Man (1999)
Featured review
Except for four songs being dropped and a slight altering of the original story's pacing, this is a flawless translation of a Broadway classic to the big screen, making great use of New York locations and retaining Robert Morse in the best role of his entire career as the ambitious window washer J. Pierrepoint Finch who climbs his way up the corporate ladder by every little trick in a book that the musical takes it's title from. Morse's timing and delivery is perfect and everyone who's played the part of Finch since on Broadway (most notably Matthew Broderick a few years back) have had to emulate his basic approach to the part.
Michele Lee is also perfect as the secretary Rosemary who is madly in love with Finch. Her sexy solo of "I Believe In You" (a vast improvement over the stage's "Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm") makes you wish she hadn't given up Broadway for TV success because she has one of the best singing voices you'll ever hear.
Michele Lee is also perfect as the secretary Rosemary who is madly in love with Finch. Her sexy solo of "I Believe In You" (a vast improvement over the stage's "Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm") makes you wish she hadn't given up Broadway for TV success because she has one of the best singing voices you'll ever hear.
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $6,322,000
- Runtime2 hours 1 minute
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967) officially released in India in English?
Answer