MikeMagi "How to Succeed..." is proof once again that it takes more than expanding the scenery to turn a hit musical into an entertaining movie. There's lots of shots of Robert Morse as the tale's corporate clamberer dancing giddily through Manhattan traffic. And the key setting, the headquarters of the Worldwide Wicket Company, contains a colorful array of cubicles, offices, washrooms and board rooms. But the style is pure proscenium arch. The acting is stagy, the Frank Loesser songs are shoehorned in on cue, the choreography is mannered and the comedy is aimed at the patrons in the third balcony. Only Michelle Lee as the secretary who falls for Morse's puppy-dog appeal brings a touch of romantic reality to the proceedings. Compare "How to Succeed..." with a superb adaptation like "Chicago" and despite a few things to enjoy -- starting with Loesser's lyrical send-up of office politics -- the result is pretty darned dated.

mark.waltz Definitely a product of the 1960's, this film version of one of the longest running shows of that decade hasn't done bad for one that seemed to be almost forgotten until the release of the video in the early 1990's and the two subsequent Broadway revivals. The movie isn't totally faithful to the original show, and several of the show's best songs are cut out to be heard simply over the action. But to cast the show's original star, Robert Morse, repeating his role as J. Pierpont Finch, was a testament to how the producers really made an effort to transfer the show to screen with dignity. Certainly, Morse had gone onto a fairly successful film career, and even if he's a bit older than when he created the role, his boyish charm is certainly present.Finch is a window washer who reads the title book and longs to make it as an employee of World Wide Wickets (whatever wickets are.....) and hired to work in the mail room, he soon schemes his way out of there, gaining the attention of practically everybody in the company, including the romantic aspirations of secretary Michelle Lee. With that gorgeous smile and winning personality, Lee (who took over the role of Rosemary in the original Broadway production), is excellent, and those who only know her as Karen from "Knot's Landing" will find her totally down to earth personality refreshing. Rudy Vallee adds charm to his otherwise pompous character of J.P. Bigley, the big boss, and Ruth Kobart brings an earthiness to the otherwise hardboiled executive secretary. When she breaks out in her beautiful singing voice in the 11:00 number, "Brotherhood of Man", she may have you cheering! Anthony Teague is appropriately smarmy as the company snitch, and Kay Reynolds adds "the perfect pal" quality to Rosemary's friend, Smitty, especially playing matchmaker in the delightful "Been a Long Day" where three characters express their thoughts out loud in song as they prepare to leave for the day and find a way to get Finch and Rosemary together for their first date. Busty Maureen Arthur adds a Lorelei Lee like sensibility to her otherwise dumb sexpot Hedy LaRue. Individual performances playing the various secretaries and executives are too many to mention, but everybody contributes. Frank Loesser's score is brilliantly rousing, a fine successor to his most remembered Broadway show, "Guys and Dolls", and includes one of the finest songs about self-confidence ("I Believe in You") which actually reveals the lead character's hidden insecurities.Of the songs cut from the show, "Paris Original" is perhaps the most missed, but it really didn't move the plot along, so I can understand why it ended up being cut. In a movie era where most movie musicals were epics or lavish spectacles, "How to Succeed" is a simple delight, filled with many fun moments, and is certainly worthy of repeat viewings.

MartinHafer This is an interesting musical. Unlike many movies that were originally Broadway musicals, this film does little to try to make it look like a movie. Instead, it plays a lot like watching a play--complete with many musical and dancing numbers where you can easily see how it was performed on stage. Now this is NOT meant an a negative--just stating how it's almost like watching a filmed version of the play. And, because of this, the sets are often very surreal--like sets from a play that are easily moved and disassembled. And, if you are interested, this play is currently playing on Broadway--with Daniel Radcliff in the revival. I am not sure if tickets are now so expensive because of its star or because it's a darn good musical--but I suspect it's both.The innocuous looking Robert Morse stars in the film (he played the same role on stage previously). He's a very, very cynical young man who used a book entitled "How To Succeed in Business"--and follows it for his meteoric rise through the ranks of a corporation. In fact, in only a matter of days, he moves from the mail room to a vice president...and his stock keeps on rising. Along the way are a lot of peppy and cynical songs--my favorite of which is "A Secretary is NOT a Toy" though "I Believe in You" has become a standard. And, to get ahead, he sucks up, manipulates and lies--all which the movie seems to heartily endorse, as in every case Morse is wildly successful! As a result, it's a funny comedy and ultimate movie for cynics! I thoroughly enjoyed it--and I really don't even like musicals all that much! Apart from good songs, a fun and goofy plot and good acting, the film manages to be entertaining and new. There just aren't any other films like it--and it's a bit surprising that it didn't make Morse a star, as he was very good here. Ironically, he's been brought back to the small screen for a recurring role on "Mad Men"--a drama that seems, at times, inspired by this film.By the way, George Fenneman plays himself. If you wonder why his face is familiar, he was the announcer for the TV show "You Bet Your Life". Also, doesn't the boss' nephew look a LOT like a 1960s version of Napoleon Dynamite?! Look at him yourself--you'll see what I mean.

blanche-2 Today, at 77 years old, Robert Morse is still going strong as Mad Men's Cooper, but there's no question that his heyday was the late '50s to the early '70s, when his toothy grin, amiable tenor and boyish acting made him the toast of Broadway. Here, he repeats his Broadway success as J. Pierpont Finch in "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying," a 1967 film also starring Michele Lee, Rudy Vallee, and Anthony Teague. Lee and Vallee also repeat their Broadway roles.With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, "How to Succeed" is the story of window washer J. Pierpont Finch, who in a matter of days, thanks to a book he carries around by the same name as the film title, has risen through the ranks of the Worldwide Wicket Company without doing any work. He has his enemies, but one very good friend in Rosemary (Lee), a secretary with a crush on him who wants Ponty, as he is called, to make good.I'm not all that familiar with the musical, but I understand that there are several songs missing, including "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm." The standouts are "I Believe in You," which became a hit song, and the rousing "Brotherhood of Man." What makes the music for me is the wonderful orchestrations.Sexist today in some of its themes, this is a brightly-colored musical, done the old-fashioned way, without cutting the numbers to pieces. Morse is delightful and never had any trouble adapting to film. Ditto a young, pretty Lee who sings "I Believe in You" like a dream. Vallee is well cast as the head of the company who has a girlfriend on the side. Anthony Teague is very good as the boss' nephew, but Charles Nelson Reilly played this role on stage, and I can only imagine how hilarious he was in the role.Good movie, and director David Swift keeps the pace moving.