SECRET OF MY SUCCESS

US, 1987, 110 minutes, Colour.
Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan, Margaret Whitton, John Pankow, Mercedes Ruehl.
Directed by Herbert Ross.

Secret of My Success is a star vehicle for television actor Michael J. Fox - who attempted to move to the big screen with Light of Day and Bright Lights, Big City. Only this film was a commercial success.

It is a variation of the working girl plot (which was a variation on the All About Eve plot). The young ambitious man from Kansas moves to the big city, expects success, initially fails, takes extraordinary initiatives and beats the business people at their own game. He is a mixture of unscrupulousness and sensibility.

The film is a glossy presentation of New York and the business world from director Herbert Ross, best known for a number of musicals and versions of Neil Simon's comedies. Richard Jordan enjoys himself as the weak boss, Margaret Whitten is excellent as his dominating wife, Helen Slater is charming as the executive whiz caught up in business and emotions.

Much of the film is played with the speed and style of French farce, especially the ending with bedroom farce. This gives an amoral tone to the amoral plot -which, of course, has the touch of American moralising. There is a bright musical score and a use of songs with lyrics like 'Walking on Sunshine' to the plot and the hero's development. There is also a lot of sexual imagery and symbolism which also gives a tone to American success in business.

1. A yuppie film? The yuppie ethos? The American dream? Success from rags to riches, from Kansas to New York?

2. The Kansas settings, the cross-cutting to the opening in New York? Use of New York City, the skyline, the buildings? The contrast with the country estate? The importance of editing and timing for the fanciful elements? The use of the score and songs, lyrics 'Walking on Sunshine', 'Secret of
My Success'?

3. The title, the focus on Brantley? On success? The variation on The Sweet Smell of Success and its irony?

4. The Kansas sequences: Brantley at work, his parents, the plan, their warnings? Tickets? His phone call from New York, the robbery in the street and the shootings, his telling his mother it was television?

5. The portrait of Brantley: Michael J. Fox and his presence, size, style, humour? In Kansas, his ambitions? The arrival in New York, the voice over and comments, the failed business? His range of interviews and being the exception? His mother and the letter to his uncle? Going to the firm, story, his uncle seeing him, giving him the job? In the mail room, the boss wanting to be God, his friends? Learning the work, starting to read the memos, getting an understanding of what was going on? His warnings against becoming a 'suit'? Driving Vera home, flattering her, the swim, the sexual encounter? Discovery of who she was? The beginning of the sex farce? His seeing Christie and being infatuated by her? Her memory haunting him? His decision to become Whitfield? Getting the office, his brazen ness in getting into the suit, ordering all the equipment for his office, Jean as secretary? The timing for his change from mail room to office, the holding of the lift, getting caught with his clothes off and pretending to exercise? Going to the movies, his contribution about fund cuts? The encounters with Christie, awkward? Discussions, the espionage for his plans? His persuading Christie over a meal, their attraction, sexual encounter? His double life, the pursuit by the boss? Covering his identity? With Uncle Howard? Howard inviting him to the weekend to be with Vera? The weekend, the complications, meeting contacts with Vera, with Christie? The bedroom farce, in bed with Howard, the mix-ups and solutions? Fired, reconciliation with Christie, the new plan, his financial friends, the takeover, the clash with Davenport? Vera as president and his success? The American dream story?

6. Howard and his presidency, ignoring of Vera, infatuation with Christie? Interview with Brantley, giving him the job? The puzzle about Whitfield? His exercising, the executives on the roof, the treading machine? The pressure on Christie to spy? The weekend, the proposal? His setting up Brantley? Search for Whitfield? The bedroom farce, the solution? The irony of his being ousted from the job by Vera?

7. Vera and her wanting to be young, her vanity, the car ride, flattered by Brantley, the swim, sex, the truth? Visiting him in his apartment? The search for Christ-le? The weekend, introducing Brantley to her friends? The bedroom farce and the truth? Business as business and her becoming president and sacking Howard?

8. Christie and her attractiveness, the executive, In the male world? Her seriousness, clash with Brantley? Listening to him as Whitfield, the clashes, the meal and being persuaded? Discussing with Howard, his proposal? Confusion, the weekend, the bedroom farce and the solution? Brantley angry with her about the espionage? Reconciliation, the takeover?

9. The workers in the mail room, the boss and his dominance? The friend and his help, the chase, Vera infatuated with him?

10. The minor characters, Sheila and her being an actress, her comments about expense in the restaurant, the members of the board and their behaviour, Howard's assistant and his domination of Davis, Davis's vindication?

11. The mixture of business comedy, the American dream, mixed identities, bedroom farce? Sexual symbolism and tone? The message of the film - tongue in cheek morality, amorality?