How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967): Cast & Plot
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1967 romantic comedy starring Robert Morse as J. Pierpont Finch, Michele Lee and Maureen Arthur. It runs 2 hours 1 minute.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 1m (121 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Mirisch Company
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying About?
The premise of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An eager former window cleaner uses a cynical self‑help guide titled “How to Succeed in Business” to climb the corporate ladder, exploiting every loophole and out‑witting his superiors. His rapid rise exposes the absurd, cut‑throat tactics praised as “ruthless advancement” in a sly satire of office ambition.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- scene during opening credits
- long title
- based on broadway musical
- job promotion
- satire comedy
- singer
- song
- dance
- dancer
- dancing
- actor recreates his stage role
- actress recreates her stage role
+38 more Show fewer
- distancing oneself
- climbing the corporate ladder
- coffee break
- cigarette smoking
- book
- business
- how to
- secretary
- office
- window washer
- executive
- success
- advertising
- new york city
- based on stage musical based on novel
- roof
- clue
- holy bible
- treasure hunt
- costume
- tv show
- slapped in the face
- resignation
- cityscape
- name on door
- passionate kiss
- marriage proposal
- wrapped in a towel
- alma mater
- memo
- guillotine
- yellow rose
- cigarette butt
- advertising department
- golf club
- blackmail
- steno pad
- hearing characters thoughts
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Cast & Characters
Robert Morse leads the cast as J. Pierpont Finch, with Michele Lee as Rosemary Pilkington and Maureen Arthur as Hedy LaRue.
- Robert Morse as J. Pierpont Finch
- Michele Lee as Rosemary Pilkington
- Maureen Arthur as Hedy LaRue
- Rudy Vallee as Jasper B. Biggley
Also Starring in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
· 68 more- Anne Seymour Gertrude Biggley (uncredited)
- Erin O'Brien-Moore Mrs. Frump (uncredited)
- Scooter Teague Bud Frump
- Justin Smith Jenkins
- Arthur Tovey Minister with Large Bible (uncredited)
- Paul Bradley TV Board Member / Junior Executive / Dancer (uncredited)
- George DeNormand TV Board Member (uncredited)
- Hal Taggart TV Board Member (uncredited)
- James Gonzalez Party Guest (uncredited)
- Paul Power Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- George Bruggeman Party Guest (uncredited)
- Walter Bacon Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- Bernard Sell Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- Virginia Sale Cleaning Woman (uncredited)
- Dick Cherney Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
- Norman Stevans Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
Show all 72 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Kenneth Gibson Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- John Holland Matthews
- Charles Fogel Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- George Boyce Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- Victor Romito Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- Patrick O'Moore Media Man No. 1
- George Holmes Party Guest (uncredited)
- Robert Osborne Junior Executive (uncredited)
- David Swift Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- Bud Cokes Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- Albert Cavens Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- George Golden Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- Robert Strong Elevator Man (uncredited)
- Murray Matheson Benjamin Ovington
- Bobby Gilbert Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- Anthony Redondo Bartender (uncredited)
- Hy Averback 2nd Junior Executive
- Robert Cole Executive (uncredited)
- Paul Hartman Toynbee
- Al Roberts Party Guest (uncredited)
- Dan Tobin Johnson
- John Myhers Bert O. Bratt
- Joey Faye Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Jerry Rush Executive (uncredited)
- Mark Russell Worker (uncredited)
- Kathryn Janssen Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- Jack Berle Treasure Hunter (uncredited)
- Richard Elmore Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- George Fenneman TV Announcer
- Sheila Rogers 1st Girl
- Robert Q. Lewis Tackaberry
- Janice Carroll Brenda
- Carol Worthington Lucille Krumholtz
- Ron Charles Broker (uncredited)
- Tucker Smith Passerby / Dancing Executive (uncredited)
- Helen Verbit Mrs. Needlebaum - Finch's Landlady (uncredited)
- Carl Princi 1st Junior Executive
- Kathryn Reynolds Miss Smith aka Smitty
- Sammy Smith Twimble / Wally Womper
- Norman Palmer Party Guest (uncredited)
- Ruth Kobart Miss Jones
- Barry O'Hara Executive (uncredited)
- Al Nesor Newseller (uncredited)
- Frieda Rentie Worker (uncredited)
- Don Koll Executive (uncredited)
- Bart Greene Reunion Guest (uncredited)
- Lory Patrick Receptionist
- Ivan Volkman The President
- Howard Parker Dancer (uncredited)
- Jeff DeBenning Gatch
- Wally Strauss Media Man No. 2
- Robert Sweeney 3rd Junior Executive
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Plot Summary
What happens in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
J. Pierrepont Finch discovers a legendary manual, How to Succeed in Business, and treats its pages as a blueprint for moving up the ladder at the World-Wide Wicket Company. The book lays out a step-by-step philosophy that blends charm, timing, and a keen eye for office politics, and Finch, a young window cleaner, decides to put its guidance to the test in real life. What begins as a quiet, calculated experiment quickly becomes a full-blown ascent as he tests each rule in the chaos of a busy corporate environment.
Full summary
The whole story of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, scene by scene
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Trailers & Videos
The trailer of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
How Well Do You Know How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the full name of the ambitious protagonist who follows a famous manual to climb the corporate ladder?
Cars in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
2 cars on screen: the 1964 Dodge 330 and the 1965 Dodge Coronet.
-
1964 Dodge 330 Minor role -
1965 Dodge Coronet Minor role
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Cómo triunfar sin dar golpe” and “Как преуспеть в бизнесе, ничего не делая”.
- Also known as
-
- Cómo triunfar sin dar golpe
- Как преуспеть в бизнесе, ничего не делая
- Wie man Erfolg hat, ohne sich besonders anzustrengen
- Як досягти успіху в бізнесі нічого не роблячи
- Come far carriera senza lavorare
- 一步登天
- Como Vencer na Vida Sem Fazer Força
- איך להצליח בעסקים מבלי להתאמץ
Seen How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?
Movies Like How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The American Success Company, Strictly Business and Big Business Girl.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast and post-credit scenes of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, each answered in a sentence.
How long is How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).
When was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying released?
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was released on March 9, 1967.
Who is in the cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying stars Robert Morse as J. Pierpont Finch, Michele Lee as Rosemary Pilkington and Maureen Arthur as Hedy LaRue, among 72 credited actors.
Does How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying have a post-credit scene?
No. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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