“I have a head for business and a bod for sin.”
synopsis
Ambitious secretary Tess McGill seizes an opportunity to pitch her own idea while her boss is incapacitated, climbing the corporate ladder through nerve and timing.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Warm and aspirational, the film blends workplace ambition with romantic energy. It’s less biting satire, more upward-mobility fairy tale — but a charming one.
Upward momentum.
Absurdist's Corner
The corporate ladder appears surprisingly scalable with confidence and a well-timed opportunity.
fun facts
Directed by Mike Nichols, the film captured late-’80s corporate ambition at its shoulder-padded peak.
Melanie Griffith earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as Tess McGill.
Sigourney Weaver’s polished antagonist performance was reportedly inspired by real Wall Street executives.
Carly Simon’s song “Let the River Run” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became inseparable from the film’s upward-striving spirit.