The Movie
The problem with a film where the plot sees its hero push forward with success through either luck or favor is the lack of genuine conflict. That's exactly the issue when it comes to J. Pierpont Finch (Robert Morse) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Starting out as a window washer guided by the titular book, Finch climbs the corporate ranks by either manipulating those above him by appealing to their greed, self-absorption or stupidity or taking advantages of mistakes and coincidences. At some point, however, the end game becomes obvious and the fun starts to leach from the experience, as the drama decreases and things become unfortunately predictable. Once characters establish that they are susceptible to Finch's masterful manipulations, the precedence is set and the only thing left to do is see how he pulls off his tricks again.

Stretch that out over two hours and one's patience becomes well-tested.

This is a musical though (based on the Bob Fosse-choreographed, Tony-winning Broadway show) which means there are a number of song and dance numbers to help pass that somewhat lengthy runtime a bit more enjoyably. There's not that big, breakout number though, with most of the songs, like "I Believe in You" and "Brotherhood of Man" falling firmly in the pleasant range, rather than remarkably memorable, humming-it-as-you-leave-the-theater great. A few flirt with that level of quality, like the opening "How To" or the adorably classic-Broadway tune "Been a Long Day" (which gives Kay Reynolds' crush-worthy Smitty a spotlight), but for the most part, the songs are better noted for their orchestral instrument arrangements than the sum of their parts. There's nothing wrong with the performances, but the songs just don't have that "it" factor.

Written and directed in adaptation by David Swift (the TV veteran who brought us The Parent Trap), the film has all the hallmarks of a Broadway musical, with full-cast dance numbers like "A Secretary is Not a Toy" and monologue-like solo songs, but the film feels like too much of a literal adaptation of the stage source, rather than a film that takes full advantage of the possibilities of cinema. Except for the few moments when the movie steps outside the offices of World Wide Wickets, the feel that the film is shot in a studio, and all the constraints and artificiality that brings is hard to shake. Yes, there are laughs to be had and there are some clever moments of absurdity and surrealism, but the film as a whole feels too loyal to the genre to really reach the heights it's capable of.

The Quality
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying received a limited Blu-ray release earlier this year, courtesy of Twilight Time, so this DVD was bound to pale in comparison, but the anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer here has plenty of juice in its own right, giving full life to the film's candy-colored palette. The level of fine detail is quite good for standard definition, and there are no concerns about dirt, damage or digital distractions. Everything about the image works in the film's favor.

The audio arrives with a center-balanced Dolby Digital 2.0 track, which gives Nelson Riddle's wonderfully era-appropriate tunes the delivery they need, while dialogue is solid, showing no signs of distortion and enjoying good separation from the film's music and sound effects. There's a good weight to the audio across the board.

The Extras
While Twilight Time's Blu-ray offered up a music-only track and a pair of good-sized interviews, the only extras here are a quintet of trailers, including How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine and Buona Sera Mrs. Campbell.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.