Console best movie i've ever seen.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

A_Different_Drummer 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.

dimplet Don't let the 1967 release date fool you. This is really a 60s musical spoof of the 50s. The book and the original draft of the Broadway version were written in the 1950s, and the Broadway musical came out in 1961. One of the clues of its 50s roots is in the treasure hunt TV show's concern over proving it wasn't rigged -- a reference to the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. I saw the original Broadway show, and had listened to the Broadway cast LP album, when I was a kid. I enjoyed it, but it's so long ago, I can't really compare the two reliably. I do think the Broadway version had more power, and the album seemed to have more music. I see that the movie dropped some numbers of Rosemary's, and gave her the first version of "I Believe in You." This was a big mistake. Finch singing "I Believe in You" to the mirror was the highlight of the show. It was a love song to himself, a sign of his total narcissism. The movie's approach makes it seem like he is thinking of Rosemary, and that Rosemary believes in him. Plus, there is too much dancing around in the men's room while he sings -- he should be looking at himself in the mirror, singing it to himself, as though he is in love with himself. So the movie took some of the edge off; it could have been better. I think it is easier to tell a story like this, absurd and surreal, on stage more easily than in a movie, where the viewer, especially a modern one, expects a bit more realism. You really have to suspend disbelief totally and go along for the ride to enjoy this movie. If you do, you can enjoy it, and really laugh, even thinking about it when it is over. We know where the story is going, but there are enough twists and turns to make it surprising and amusing. It is interesting looking back on this movie so many decades later. There is real wit here, not just gimmicky slapstick, if you pay attention:Finch reading The Book as he begins his day as a window washer: "If you have education, intelligence and ability, so much the better. But remember that thousands have reached the top without any of these qualities."It is humor that stands the test of time, especially in light of what we have seen of Wall Street in recent years -- you get the feeling there are a lot of Finches who have risen to the top without qualifications running the show in many businesses. It is sad, but this movie is an opportunity to laugh at them.The American 50s and 60s were actually pretty hip, and capable of a satirical look at itself. A year after this movie came out, Mel Brooks released The Producers. I see there is a recent revival of the Broadway version of How to Succeed. Robert Morse really defined the part, though he reminds me of a young Jim Carrey. But I don't think he's such a lock, as Zero Mostel was with The Producers. So I think this could be one of the better revivals, if done right. When you watch How to Succeed, at first it seems like a look back at a simpler time of clearly defined male and female roles in the workplace, etc. But really what you are seeing is art making fun of those roles, and the beginning of more modern values, for the 60s were the beginning of our modern world. And in some ways, the 60s were more modern and hip than America is today, for a large portion of America is becoming more conservative, and less willing to laugh at itself. So when you watch How to Succeed, think about some young yuppie climbing the corporate ladder today, and it will all make sense. Of course, Hedy LaRue didn't need The Book to succeed; she had other assets. I've got to add that I loved the scene of Morse dancing down Park Avenue, with a film truck driving alongside him, secretly filming him. New Yorkers are so cool and nonchalant that nearly everyone just ignores him. Maybe they thought he was doing a Teaberry Shuffle ad.And did you notice that World Wide Wickets is abbreviated WWW? Cool.

Amy Adler Finch (Robert Morse) is a greenhorn, just arrived in Manhattan. However, on the shelves of the corner refreshment stand is a small book. Entitled How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, it puts forth a step by step plan to rise quickly to the top of a major corporation. What a discovery! And, soon, Finch puts the book into action as he arrives at the threshold of a big firm. Before long, he has a job in the mailroom, although the company is "not really hiring at this time" and he is not there long. In the wink of an eye, he is a junior exec! That book knows its stuff. However, because Finch is working his way up by flattering the head honcho's (Rudy Vallee) secretary and devoting himself to knowing the personal likes of the other important bigwigs, he is really an exec with feet of clay. How long before they give him the boot? Also, although Finch doesn't want any romantic attachments at the moment, he can't help but notice the lovely secretarial worker, Rosemary (Michelle Lee) who, likewise, has eyes for him. Will there be an office romance, too? This is a nice film version of the classic musical with songs like "A Secretary is not a Toy" and other sly digs at the corporate environment. The cast is nice and can truly sing. What a treat to see Vallee, who was entertaining folks before the second World War! Lee does a fine job, too, and Morse is enjoyable as the astute "faker", with a demeanor and hairstyle that recalls Jerry Lewis. All students of the sixties will savor the sets, costumes, and amenities as a quick trip back in time and the direction is lively and sure. As for the songs, they are definitely hummable. Since musicals are truly a rare animal in the 21st century, why not look for this one on the next trip to the store, all you fans of showtunes? How to have fun in the home theater is this flick's credo.

Poseidon-3 A popular hit on Broadway, the film version has much to offer, even though some of the songs were reassigned or left out. Morse plays a scamp who picks up (the real life!) book "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." He goes from a window washer to a high-level executive at the World Wide Wicket Company in record (make that farcical) time. Referring to the book for advice he plays out scenario after scenario to his advantage, ruthlessly clawing his way to the top (much to the consternation of fellow worker and management relative Teague) while stopping occasionally for a flirtation with pretty Lee, a secretary with the firm. Eventually (and predictably), however, he realizes that success in business isn't all there is to life. The world this film takes place in is a day-glo, candy-confection dream-scape in which everyone is clean, neat, stylish and always ready to break into song or dance. Morse, whose stage version of this character was somewhat less sympathetic and more driven, has here the role of his career. He perfectly suits the goofy, ambitious, resourceful part he was given to play. Lee is appealing and talented, with a very nice singing voice. Oddly, she receives some questionable lighting, at times having a shadow over her face and with catch-lights in only one eye during her solo. This is something she would more than take care of during her 12 year run on "Knots Landing", infamous for its flattering lights. Vallee appears to good effect as the preoccupied president of the company. Arthur provides plenty of pneumatic comic relief as his curvy, air-headed, yet resourceful, mistress. She's a sort of goofy blend of Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe and Gracie Allen. Teague gives a broad, but enthusiastic performance. Hobart, who plays a stern employee with a secret soft spot, would later turn up as a bus driver in "Dirty Harry'! The musical numbers tend to be dispersed fairly evenly among the cast, with many folks getting a crack at a song rather than the leads getting most of them. There's a lot of ensemble work, both in the songs and in the impressively staged (by Fosse) dances. Sadly, one of the memorable dances from the stage show – "Coffee Break" – was eliminated from the finished picture due to a quality issue with the film. Another, "A Secretary is Not a Toy" should drop the jaws of some modern-day audience members with its jubilant incorrectness. The script begins to overstay its welcome and veer off into tiresome subplots, but overall it's a pretty lively and entertaining affair. The opening shots of a shimmering and vintage New York City are to be treasured.