Working Girl (1988)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Wade (written by)

Release Date:

21 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

For anyone who's ever won. For anyone who's ever lost. And for everyone who's still in there trying.

Plot:

When a secretary's idea is stolen by her boss, she seizes an opportunity to steal it back by pretending she has her boss's job.

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Screwball | Leap Of Faith | Accident | New York City Harbor

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Jack Trainer
Sigourney Weaver	...	Katharine Parker
Melanie Griffith	...	Tess McGill
Alec Baldwin	...	Mick Dugan
Joan Cusack	...	Cyn
Philip Bosco	...	Oren Trask
Nora Dunn	...	Ginny
Oliver Platt	...	Lutz
James Lally	...	Turkel
Kevin Spacey	...	Bob Speck
Robert Easton	...	Armbrister
Olympia Dukakis	...	Personnel Director
Amy Aquino	...	Alice Baxter
Jeffrey Nordling	...	Tim Rourke
Elizabeth Whitcraft	...	Doreen DiMucci

Also Known As:

Secretaria ejecutiva (Argentina) (Peru) (Venezuela) [es]
Waffen der Frauen, Die (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Armas de mujer (Spain) [es]
Dolgozo lány (Hungary) [hu]
Donna in carriera, Una (Italy) [it]
Femeie face cariera, O (Romania) [ro]
Podnikavá dívka (Czechoslovakia) [cs]
Pracujaca dziewczyna (Poland) [pl]
Quand les femmes s'en mêlent (Canada: French title) [fr]
Uma Mulher de Sucesso (Portugal) [pt]
Uma Secretária de Futuro (Brazil) [pt]
Working girl - Quand les femmes s'en mêlent (France) [fr]
Working girl - med huvudet på skaft! (Sweden) [sv]
Working girl - tieni huipulle (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

7 World Trade Center, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Something else that did not make the theatrical cut: in the restroom scene between Tess and Jack during the wedding reception, one can see a woman in white shoes in the stall next to the one Jack uses. That woman overhears the conversation between Tess and Jack about having crashed the wedding. That woman must be the one telling the bride afterwards which is why she tries to confront Tess and Jack while their are dancing.

Goofs:

Continuity: Color of Tess' pantyhose as she steps off the bus.

Quotes:

Mick: Tess, will you marry me?
Tess McGill: Maybe.
Mick: Ya call that an answer?
Tess McGill: You want another answer, ask another girl.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Little Black Book (2004)

Soundtrack:

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART

The best come-uppance story ever!

You know you've had a boss like this. Someone who stole your ideas, used you to advance their career, and did everything to keep you from getting the credit you deserve. I think of him every time I watch this movie, and although he got his come-uppance, as such people usually do, this one is still more satisfying.

Griffith is a little annoying as the giggly secretary with ambition, but it works. Weaver is the greatest comedic villain since Cruella DeVille. You know she's going to fall, and she does in more ways than one. While she's mending broken bones from a ski trip, her secretary finds a memo capitalizing on her idea the boss had pooh-poohed as a "secretary's notion."

In her boss's absence, Tess (Griffith) uses her boss's name, her office, her home, even her clothes, to break into the rarefied New York mergers and acquisitions world. She even falls for the boss's boyfriend.

Alas, the boss is a fast healer and comes home early. She finds an entry in her secretary's day planner, and it hits the fan.

It's hard to believe this gem was written by the same writer who inflicted Meet Joe Black on us, but we can forgive him. Harrison Ford is at the top of his game as the boyfriend, but Joan Cusack almost walks away with this one, as usual. Joan is the best comedic supporting actress around.

Weaver has one of the the greatest one-liners of all time. When asked if she's sure her boyfriend will propose, she says "We're in the same city now. I've indicated I'm receptive to an offer. I've cleared the month of June. And I am, after all, me."

The go-go 80's may be long gone, along with the power suits, the BIG hair, the Perrier, and the bull market, but this hilarious and heartwarming comedy still works without relying on nostalgia or sentiment!