Musicals of the 60's: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

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Of all the years that took place in the 60's from a movie standpoint, 1967 was among the most pivotal. And especially for the musical. Because it was in that year the foundation of the Broadway musical and the concept of the show tune began to crack. It was cracking because of three words: Rock and Roll. That leads me to my next movie which is How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Based on the huge Broadway musical from Frank Loesser (Bob Fosse did the choreography) Robert Morse stars as Jay Pirepoint Finch-

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a young man who discovers a book at the library that bears the film's title. He starts out as a window washer for a organization called the World Wide Wicket Company.

One day while taking a break, Finch enters an office buiding and it is there he meets J.B. Bigley (Rudy Vallee) the company's boss. Liking his character Bigley lets Jay stop his duty as window washer and promotes him to personal department.

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It is here that Finch meets Mr. Bratt (John Mhyers) and he gives him the job of working the mailroom. Before long, Jay gets the job of corner exceutive and meets a young girl named Rosemary Pilkington (Michelle Lee). What he doesn't know is that he could be risking his chance for a good career.

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The movie was directed by David Swift while some believe Morse's role was a prelude to what Michael J. Fox would play 20 years later in The Secret of My Success. While in recent years the play would become a Broadway revivial with Matthew Broderick playing Finch.