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The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)

PG-13  |   |  Comedy  |  10 April 1987 (USA)
6.4
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Ratings: 6.4/10 from 21,640 users  
Reviews: 70 user | 25 critic

A talented young man can't get an executive position without rising through the ranks, so he comes up with a shortcut, which also benefits his love life.

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
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Title: The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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...
...
...
...
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Barney Rattigan
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Art Thomas
...
Donald Davenport
...
Jean (as Carol-Ann Susi)
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Grace Foster
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Burt Foster
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Maureen
Barton Heyman ...
Arnold Forbush
...
Ira Wheeler ...
Owens (as Ira B. Wheeler)
Edit

Storyline

Brantley Foster, a well-educated kid from Kansas, has always dreamed of making it big in New York. On his first work day in New York, he is fired in a hostile take-over and learns that jobs - and girls - are hard to get. When Brantley visits his distant uncle, Howard Prescott, who runs a multi-million-dollar company, he is given a job in the company's mail room. Then Brantley meets Christy Wills, who happens to be one of the top executives. Brantley sees how poorly the company is being run and decides to create a position under the name Carlton Whitfield, to influence and improve the company's operations. Soon things get unexpectedly out of hand, not in the least because of his aunt, his girl and leading a double life. Written by watzdabigdeal

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

There's no such thing as an overnight success. Brantley Foster took two weeks.

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 April 1987 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Secret of My Success  »

Box Office

Gross:

$66,995,879 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The spelling of this movie's title The Secret of My Succe$s (1987) had the phrase stylized by forming a '$' symbol out of the "Success" word's second letter 'S' character. See more »

Goofs

When Christy hands the notes she stole from Brantley to Howard they are in a red folder. Howard returns the notes in a manila folder to Christy, but when Brantley discovers them in Christy's bag, they are once again in the red folder. See more »

Quotes

Brantley Foster: Whoa, whoa, listen, I'm going to need your help, both of you.
Fred Melrose: Is it something I could get fired for?
Brantley Foster: Absolutely.
Fred Melrose: I like it!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in A Planet Comicon Panel with Helen Slater (2011) See more »

Soundtracks

Geek Boogie
Written by Ira Newborn
Performed by Ira Newborn and The Geeks
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »

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User Reviews

 
good movie
14 May 2005 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

The Secret of my Success is one of my all time favorite movies. Michael J. Fox and Helen Slater look very well together and I know no one else could have played in the movie and looked that good. They played their parts extremely well and I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a (romantic) comedy. I wish that the directors would have done a sequel because I just couldn't get enough. I absolutely love this movie and I have to watch it every time I see it on TV. My 6 year old daughter really gets into the movie as well and says that she absolutely loves the movie also. It is a great family film. Michael J. Fox is just a wonderful actor and Helen Slater is great. I wish that they would have done more films like this one and with these two specific movie stars.


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Message Boards

Recent Posts
He had Sex with his Aunt!!!! nydude6009
Brilliant movie! i cannot believe that my mom let me watch it though. The_Humiliated_Grapes
Brantley's job search in the beginning - question gfnoyes
Name of the song which runs when he sit in the car with his aunt michaeleibich
one glaring goof... glxyjones
Red hair? dr_hendrix
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