SUCCESS / THE AMERICAN SUCCESS COMPANY

US, 1980, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Belinda Bauer, Ned Beatty, Steven Keats, Bianca Jagger, John Glover.
Directed by William Richert.

The American Success Company had many production problems. It was re-edited, called Success, as well as Good as Gold (American video title) and The Ringer. The film was recut and a narrative by Jeff Bridges added. Most of the favourable comment is on the re-edited version.

The film was written by its director, William Richert (who also had great difficulties with his previous film, Winter Kills, from Richard Condon’s novel about the assassination of J.F. Kennedy – and was financed by cocaine dealers, one of whom went to prison, the other was shot). Richert also directed A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon and appeared as an actor in several films, including My Own Private Idaho.

The film focuses on Jeff Bridges, considered a loser by his CEO father-in-law and boss, played by Ned Beatty, as well as his wife, the CEO’s daughter, played by Belinda Bauer.

The young man decides to get his life in order, disguises himself, sets up an abduction situation – and becomes a financial success. The film is quite ironic.

One of the co-writers was Larry Cohen, a prolific writer from films such as It’s Alive to The Private Lives of J. Edgar Hoover and Phone Booth.

This makes the film a curiosity item.

1. A little-seen film? Its impact – in its time? The re-editing, changes of title?

2. The work of William Richert, of Larry Cohen? The production in Germany, German settings?

3. The title and the focus, the irony, black comedy?

4. Germany and Munich, the moods? The musical score by Maurice Jarre, the jaunty tone, its comment?

5. Harry, his voice-over, the information, tone, his reflections and explanations? His motivations? The plan, the change in himself? The impact of the visuals and the words?

6. Harry as a loser? Mr Elliott, the prologue? Sarah, in herself? The mirrors? Going out, her style? Limp, following? The idea, the challenge?

7. Harry at work, the Kansas couple, Herman and Ernst? The report? Intrigues?

8. Mr Elliott and Sarah, vegetarian...? Control? The newspaper? Promoting Harry? The staff and their acquiescence? Mr Elliott, flirting, the girl, secrets? Firing?

9. Harry and Gunter, power, money, sex and the transformation? The mask? The apartment rent? The gay bar? The alligator shoes? At the office, rough? With Corinne, the sexual rapport, the clock, sport, orgasm, the character of Corinne? Going to Sarah, rough? His treatment of Elliott, the board?

10. The setting up of the robbery? People believing? Duprez? Eluding pursuit, the handcuffs? The success? Sarah and the shooting? Harry’s return, his future?

11. Sarah and her vanity, relationship with her father, the mirrors? The bullet? Reaction? Cooking, sexual rapport (Fridays)? Following Mac?(**??) The shooting and the end?

12. The characters of Herman and Ernst? Relationship with Harry?

13. The realism, the robbery? Music? The surrealist touches? Mac and Harry? And the ironic message?