There were quite a few musicals made in the mid- to late-1960s but my favorite among them has to be the one with the longest title, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967).  It’s more a comedy than a musical, sharply satirizing Big Business with a devil-may-care attitude that remains just as delightful today.

I love the fact that the hero, J. Pierpont Finch, is played by gap-toothed Robert Morse (who, along with Rudy Vallee and others, reprise their Broadway roles).  Morse is not a matinee idol; his goofy charm and bounding energy propel the film forward and give hope to every aspiring actor that they don’t have to look like Brad Pitt to become a film star.

David Swift’s film is impeccably staged, showcasing 1960s decor, bright colors and wonderful widescreen cinematography.  The film (and play) has been labeled sexist due to one song (“A Secretary is Not a Toy”), and the then-prevalent roles of women in corporate America, but it accurately reflects the conventions of the time.  Other than its lack of female executives, I feel its take on the pettiness, gossip, maneuvering and oneupmanship that no doubt occurs in corporations is still painfully relevant today.

Then there’s the music.  Frank Loesser’s great songs include “The Company Way,” “Gotta Stop That Man,” “Grand Old Ivy,” “Brotherhood of Man” and my favorite, the romantic affirmation “I Believe in You,” sung by Morse and Michele Lee, both times to Morse!  My rating:  ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2.  (9:4).