How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Released Mar 9, 1967

1h 59m

Musical

Comedy

List

92%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) is a lowly window cleaner with dreams of making it big in the business world. After finding a copy of the book "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Finch decides to apply the tactics in the book to his own life. Soon, he's working as a mail-room clerk at the World Wide Wicket Company and quickly fighting his way up the corporate ladder with relative ease in this quirky musical based on the hit Broadway production.

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Simon T

This charmless and overlong musical is sunk by a smug central performance and several grotesquely overplayed cameos. The only characterisation that carries is that of Michele Lee, but why she is so smitten by Robert Morse's irritating social climber is a mystery. Frank Loesser contributes two good songs: I Believe in You and Brotherhood of Man, but they're not enough to salvage this dreary forgotten show.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

Full Review

Alec B

You get the sense the some of the rougher satire in the original stage musical has been smoothed out for more mainstream audiences but what's there is still effective. Although the best reason to see the film is for Morse, whose wonderfully strange performance is the antithesis of what you'd expect from a musical comedy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

Full Review

Joel H

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying should be annoying. After all, the protagonist is a manipulative ladder-climber in a company where everybody seems a little bit miserable. However, there's something charming about this workplace musical. Perhaps it's the music. Some songs are forgettable, but there are some toe-tappers in there. Or maybe it's the choreography. Bob Fosse has a way of making every little movement feel unique and interesting. And the cast seems to be having a good time, too. Honestly, I can't quite put my finger on why I like this movie, but I like it, nonetheless.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

Full Review

Jerry E

Aside from the story being hopelessly dated, the acting is atrociously strained, with everyone trying to be funny in the most childishly giddy way. The point of satire is for the characters to be dead serious about what to us is ridiculous.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Excellent transition from stage to screen!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/18/21

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the funniest movies I ever saw. I liked it so much that I didn't mind that it is a musical.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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David Swift

Director

Robert Morse

J. Pierpont Finch

Michele Lee

Rosemary Pilkington

Rudy Vallee

Jasper B. Biggley

Anthony "Scooter" Teague

Bud Frump

Maureen Arthur

Hedy LaRue

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How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - Big Presentation

2:15

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - Been a Long Day

3:21

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - The Boss's Wife

1:35

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - Mrs. Jones & Me

2:53

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - The Company Way

2:43

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - A Secretary Is Not a Toy

3:24

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - I Believe In You

2:58

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - Brotherhood of Man

3:17

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - Working Girls

1:43

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Official Clip - Rosemary

2:45

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Aug 4, 2005

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Adding financial insult to artistic injury, it earned even less than the same year's more roundly panned musicals Camelot and Doctor Dolittle. That's a shame.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 16, 2022

Full Review

Penelope Houston

The Spectator

It least as funny as the old gamesmanship routines, and amiably dedicated to the proposition that any true company man is a rabbit in weasel's clothing.

Nov 19, 2018

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

The breezy manner with which the musical sends up the era's corporate chicanery and heedless sexism... couldn't be further from Mad Men's deadpan cool.

Aug 14, 2016

Full Review

Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

Rated: 3/5

Sep 20, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 14, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) is a lowly window cleaner with dreams of making it big in the business world. After finding a copy of the book "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Finch decides to apply the tactics in the book to his own life. Soon, he's working as a mail-room clerk at the World Wide Wicket Company and quickly fighting his way up the corporate ladder with relative ease in this quirky musical based on the hit Broadway production.

Director: David Swift
Producer: Walter Mirisch
Screenwriter: David Swift
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: The Mirisch Corporation [us]
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 1967, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Runtime: 1h 59m

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