The Secret of My Success
Brantley Foster, a well-educated kid from Kansas, has always dreamed of making it big in New York, but once in New York, he learns that jobs - and girls - are hard to get. When Brantley visits his uncle, Howard Prescott, who runs a multi-million-dollar company, he is given a job in the company's mail room.
Despite its tight budget of $12.0M, The Secret of My Success became a box office phenomenon, earning $111.0M worldwide—a remarkable 825% return. The film's bold vision attracted moviegoers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Secret of My Success (1987) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Herbert Ross's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Brantley Foster graduates from college in Kansas, confident and optimistic about his future in New York City. He drives away in his car loaded with belongings, ready to conquer the business world.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when After being rejected for jobs and working in the mailroom, Brantley is humiliated and desperate. His dream of corporate success seems impossible from the bottom rung.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Brantley makes the active choice to pose as Carlton Whitfield, an executive. He buys a suit, creates a fake office, and commits to living a double life as both mailroom worker and rising executive., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Brantley as Carlton successfully pitches a major merger idea to Howard Prescott and gains significant influence in the company. He's invited to present at the board meeting, but the stakes raise as his dual identity becomes harder to maintain., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Brantley's scheme collapses when multiple people discover aspects of his deception. Christy learns he's been lying to her, Howard discovers the fake executive, and Brantley is fired from both positions. His dream dies, and he loses everything including Christy's trust., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Brantley discovers evidence that Howard and Vera are embezzling from the company. He realizes he can use his insider knowledge (gained from both identities) to save the company and prove his worth through honesty rather than deception., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Secret of My Success's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Secret of My Success against these established plot points, we can identify how Herbert Ross utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Secret of My Success within the comedy genre.
Herbert Ross's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Herbert Ross films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Secret of My Success takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Herbert Ross filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Herbert Ross analyses, see Footloose, Funny Lady and Steel Magnolias.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Brantley Foster graduates from college in Kansas, confident and optimistic about his future in New York City. He drives away in his car loaded with belongings, ready to conquer the business world.
Theme
Brantley's mother warns him that "New York is a tough town" and success isn't always what it seems. The theme: authenticity vs. artifice in achieving the American Dream.
Worldbuilding
Brantley arrives in New York full of hope, stays with his aunt and uncle, interviews at various companies, and discovers the harsh reality of corporate America. His promised job at his uncle Howard Prescott's company is eliminated due to a merger.
Disruption
After being rejected for jobs and working in the mailroom, Brantley is humiliated and desperate. His dream of corporate success seems impossible from the bottom rung.
Resistance
Brantley debates his options while working in the mailroom. He observes the corporate culture, befriends Fred the mailroom supervisor, and learns the building's layout. He discovers an empty office and realizes he could create a double identity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Brantley makes the active choice to pose as Carlton Whitfield, an executive. He buys a suit, creates a fake office, and commits to living a double life as both mailroom worker and rising executive.
Mirror World
Brantley meets Christy Wills, an ambitious executive who embodies the corporate world he's infiltrating. Their romantic relationship begins, representing the thematic tension between who he really is and who he's pretending to be.
Premise
Brantley lives the double life, switching between mailroom clerk and executive Carlton Whitfield. He impresses with creative business ideas, dodges his aunt Vera's romantic advances, navigates office politics, and grows closer to Christy while keeping his secret.
Midpoint
False victory: Brantley as Carlton successfully pitches a major merger idea to Howard Prescott and gains significant influence in the company. He's invited to present at the board meeting, but the stakes raise as his dual identity becomes harder to maintain.
Opposition
The double life becomes increasingly complicated. Howard's wife Vera (Brantley's aunt) pursues him romantically, nearly exposing him. Office rivals become suspicious. Christy grows closer but doesn't know his true identity. The web of lies tightens.
Collapse
Brantley's scheme collapses when multiple people discover aspects of his deception. Christy learns he's been lying to her, Howard discovers the fake executive, and Brantley is fired from both positions. His dream dies, and he loses everything including Christy's trust.
Crisis
Brantley hits rock bottom, facing the consequences of his deception. He processes the loss of his job, his relationship, and his reputation. He must decide whether to give up or fight back with the truth.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Brantley discovers evidence that Howard and Vera are embezzling from the company. He realizes he can use his insider knowledge (gained from both identities) to save the company and prove his worth through honesty rather than deception.
Synthesis
Brantley crashes the board meeting and exposes Howard and Vera's financial fraud. He presents his legitimate business ideas, wins over the board with his authentic passion and intelligence, and proves his value as his true self rather than a fake persona.
Transformation
Brantley is offered a legitimate executive position on his own merits. He reconciles with Christy based on honesty. The final image shows him successful in the same New York skyline, but this time as his authentic self, having learned that real success comes from integrity, not deception.