The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
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How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Comedy · Romance · 1967
A young but bright former window cleaner rises to the top of his company by following the advice of a book about ruthless advancement in business.
Movie details
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
“Nothing Succeeds Like "Succeed" ! !”
1967 Comedy · Romance 2h 1m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.7 / 10
Community rating
A young but bright former window cleaner rises to the top of his company by following the advice of a book about ruthless advancement in business.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Watching the Detectives
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A Hollywood Christmas
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
David Swift
Written by
David Swift
Robert Morse
Finch
Michele Lee
Rosemary
Rudy Vallee
J. B. Biggley
Scooter Teague
Bud Frump
Maureen Arthur
Hedy
John Myhers
Bratt
Carol Worthington
Lucille Krumholtz
Court is in session
Put How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.