The Secret of My Success

Original title: The Secret of My Succe$s

1987
PG-13
1h 51m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

38K

YOUR RATING

Michael J. Fox and Helen Slater in The Secret of My Success (1987)

Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Play trailer0:31

1 Video

82 Photos

Comedy Romance

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

38K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Videos1

Trailer 0:31

Watch The Secret of My Success

Photos82

+ 74

More like this

6.2

For Love or Money

6.3

Doc Hollywood

5.7

Bright Lights, Big City

6.4

The Hard Way

6.1

Teen Wolf

6.3

Greedy

5.1

The Secret of My Success

6.6

The Legend of Billie Jean

5.6

7.1

6.0

6.9

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
When Brantley, a non-smoker, puts his feet up on the desk, he reveals dozens of burn marks. At the time, Michael J. Fox was a heavy smoker. The burn marks are the result of Fox extinguishing cigarettes with his shoe.

Goofs
When Brantley answers the phone in the office for the first time before starting his "con" as Carlton, his hair length and color change during the course of the call.

Quotes
[after sex]
Brantley Foster: Can I make a personal observation?
Vera Prescott: Um, anything but the thighs.
Brantley Foster: You know, somebody sold you a bill of goods and convinced you you had to be 21 forever. That's bullshit. I think you're terrific; I think the only thing wrong with you is your husband is a jerk. You're beautiful, you're intelligent, you're sensuous...
Vera Prescott: Say that again!
Brantley Foster: Which part?
Vera Prescott: All of it!
[sounds of car]
Vera Prescott: Oh, no.
Brantley Foster: What, what is it?
Vera Prescott: It's the jerk.
[Brantley rushes to the window]
Vera Prescott: My husband.
Brantley Foster: My uncle!
Vera Prescott: Your what?
Brantley Foster: Oh God, that makes you...
Vera Prescott: Auntie Vera?
Brantley Foster: Oh! God!
[Vera laughs]
Brantley Foster: Oh God, oh God, oh God! What's my mother going to say? I've disgraced my whole family!
Vera Prescott: Oh, the hell you did!

Alternate versions
There are two different ending sequences. In the first, after they leave the boardroom Fred and Vera meet and start to flirt. Christy and Brantley go into the elevator which stops between floors. In the second version, this scene is ommitted and we cut to several weeks later where the two couples climb into a limo and go the opera. The first shows up on the video releases, whereas the second shows up in broadcast versions.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Making Mr. Right/Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn/Secret of My Success/Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

Soundtracks
Riskin' a Romance
Written by Siobhan Fahey, Ollie Marland and Paul Weller
Performed by Bananarama
Produced by Daryl Hall and T-Bone Wolk (as Tom 'T-Bone' Wolk)
Bananarama appears courtesy of London Records Ltd.

User reviews115

Review

Featured review

Very funny movie...

Ok, so maybe some people may call this movie your typical 80's comedy. I don't think so I love this movie. I've seen it many times and laugh at it every time. It's a movie filled with things that you wonder if that could happen, most likely not but hey it's fiction. Michael J. Fox is cute as always and Helen Slater is great as the female lead. It's a comedy with some drama in it too and I love the ending. Rent, watch, and enjoy.