The Barefoot Executive

Synopsis: A young man who works in the mailroom at a TV network wants to move up the corporate ladder but finds himself stymied by his selfish boss. By chance he discovers that his neighbor's chimpanzee has a knack for picking successful TV programs. He uses the chimp's programming skills to land himself a job in the programming department of the network.
Genre: Comedy, Family
Director(s): Robert Butler
Production: Walt Disney Productions
 
IMDB:
5.9
Rotten Tomatoes:
83%
G
Year:
1971
96 min
242 Views


He's gonna make it right to the top

That crazy movin' groovin' kid

who just won't stop

He's gonna rearrange

the good ol' status quo

And get it all together

With the things he's got to know

He's gonna make it

He's gonna make it

He's gonna take this

cockeyed world and shake it

He's gonna show them

he's a winner in the end

With a little bit of luck

And a little bitty barefoot friend

When they start rappin'

that he's too young

He makes his mind up

that he'll wind up number one

And the whole wide world

will know that he's around

Though other cats get uptight

and try to put him down

He's gonna make it

He's gonna make it

He's gonna take this

cockeyed world and shake it

He's gonna show them

he's a winner in the end

With a little bit of luck

And a little bitty barefoot friend

When they start rappin'

that he's too young

He makes his mind up

that he'll wind up number one

And the whole wide world

will know that he's around

Though other cats get uptight

and try to put him down

He's gonna make it

He's gonna make it

He's gonna take this

cockeyed world and shake it

He's gonna show them

he's a winner in the end

With a little bit of luck

And a little bitty barefoot friend

- He's gonna make it

- Little bitty barefoot friend

Little bitty barefoot friend

Hi, Mark.

Come on, Jen.

It's almost over.

I'll be there in a minute.

I told Steve I'd wait for him.

I suppose he's at that

crummy night school again.

Roger, everyone can't be

a Stanford man.

Unfortunately.

But he drives everyone nuts.

Especially Uncle.

Well, he won't bother him tonight.

Anyone who graduates

from the Moonrise Night School

on Melrose Avenue

is certainly not gonna

make it at the network.

- Hi, Rog.

- Steve, it's about time.

Yeah. We had this guest lecturer.

This guy had a great idea about a story

on Abe Lincoln's doctor's dog.

It was a great idea.

- Don't mention it tonight.

- Yeah, okay.

- Hey, how's the show going?

- Not very well.

- I haven't heard any laughs.

- I'm not surprised.

I saw it, it's a bomb.

If Wilbanks'd just listen to me.

You promised

you wouldn't say anything.

- Who's saying anything?

- Shh.

Thank you. Thank you.

How'd you like...? What did you...?

Did you...?

Harry, what did you think?

Regardless of my personal

feelings, Mr. Wilbanks,

I think this show will have

a very good rating.

What do you mean, "regardless

of your personal feelings"?

Well, I... I just don't happen

to like TV very much, that's all.

He doesn't like TV.

He's the morning program director.

- Steve, please be quiet.

- Charming.

- I mean, simply charming.

- Ahhh.

- Loved it.

- Thank you.

- Some of them liked it.

- Jen, telephone.

Of course they seemed to like it.

He's vice president

in charge of programming.

Can you imagine what he'd do

if someone didn't seem to like it?

Yes, operator. Mr. Wilbanks,

international calling.

- It's Farnsworth.

- Farnsworth. That vulture.

- Now, really, he isn't that bad.

- Yes, he is. I know that man.

Every time he thinks I'm in trouble,

he calls me up and congratulates me.

I tell you, he does it every time.

Hello, Farnsworth.

What a show, Francis.

What a show.

- Thank you, Farnsworth.

- It was so, so... different.

- Different?

- Yes, absolutely.

Incidentally, Clifford dropped by.

He sends regards from his

entire staff at Continental.

- Hiya, Francis.

- Hello, Clifford.

Well, I'm glad you liked it, Farnsworth,

because, you see,

what I was trying to do...

We'll have lunch

and talk about it.

Well, good night, Francis,

you old scoundrel.

You've done it again.

Well, I know I'm in trouble.

They both congratulated me.

Oh, well, don't worry. It's what

our big brass thinks that counts.

But what do they think?

There hasn't been a word

from New York. Roger!

- Yes, sir?

- Don't sneak up on me.

Get me New York.

They're lolling around there

in the lap of luxury.

We put on a new show.

The president of the network

doesn't call and tell me

what he thinks of it.

- Hi-line, Crampton, New York.

- Good boy. He gets right...

- What did you think of it?

- Oh, well, the...

- The audience liked it.

- Yes, they did.

But I'm still worried.

Uncle Francis, I think you

always over-worry our first show.

Is that what you think?

Well, let's hope

that's the case this time.

Yes, sir, here he is.

Hello, chief!

How'd you like the show?

Just fine, Wilbanks. Fine!

Is there somebody there with you?

Our sponsors are here.

They watched the show with me.

Oh, the sponsors are there. Well,

what did they think of the show?

They thought it was fine too,

just fine.

- How'd the showing go out there?

- Fine, just fine.

Several people laughed so hard

they fell off their chairs.

In fact, some of them

are still applauding.

Well, the ratings

will be out in the morning.

- They'll tell us the story, Francis.

- Yes, they certainly will.

- Good night, Francis.

- Good night, chief.

Cut!

Not now,

for heaven's sakes.

Ratings. That's all

they think about are ratings.

We get great audience response.

You heard them clapping yourself.

And they're worried about the ratings.

It's enough to give a man

nervous prostration.

You look a little pale.

Maybe I should get your pills.

Yes, I feel a little pale.

Get my pills.

Love that casting, Francis.

Love that casting!

Yeah, wasn't it good? The fellow

with the hat? Didn't you like him?

Oh, Jen, uh, what'd you

think of the show?

Well, I thought it had

certain possibilities.

Did you? I'm glad to hear...

- I thought next time, you could...

- Post! Not tonight!

Oh, he never listens.

He'll never listen!

Steve, did you slip him a note?

Jen, all he needs

is one good program idea.

Steve!

Mertons, will you stop blowing

that infernal horn?

- Wanted you to know I was here.

- I know you're here.

The neighborhood knows. You'd

think you were picking up your date.

And will you stop with the dusting?

I'm in a hurry today!

Yes, boss.

Charlie, get off your bicycle,

and put that paper on the porch.

I'm just sick and tired of digging it

out of the bushes every day.

Careless,

incompetent kids,

grow up that way,

then come to the networks.

No wonder we're having these problems.

Say, boss, would you ask Wilma

to move her car?

No, Wilma can't move her car!

You've got a reverse gear

in this thing.

Oh, yeah.

Hey, my bike!

- My bike! My brand-new bike!

- Now look what you've done.

Yeah, careless,

incompetent kids, huh?

Not him. You!

Well, don't worry about the bike...

But the papers.

If I don't deliver them,

I won't win that trip to Catalina.

I've been working all year

on that trip to Catalina.

Well, he's been working

all year on the...

Oh, put the darn papers

in the car!

How I ever let myself get saddled with

my wife's relatives, I'll never know.

- Hi, Steve.

- Hi, Jen.

I, uh, got something here

for Wilbanks.

Steve, you're supposed to

deliver the mail, not read it.

- It doesn't hurt anything.

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