Your Favorite Movie Business Theme

[Charmed]

Dear Covers:

Here's a list of top 10 business movies reviewed recently in MSNBC. You can vote for your favorite one. I will go with Office Space. I have seen it at least twice, and parts of it more than once on TV. The list includes some movies from the 1930s to 1950s which many of the younger generation would probably not relate to.

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5497582

Finance lessons from American cinema

“Office Space” (Mike Judge, 1999). The creator of “Beavis and Butt-Head” made this wry “Dilbert”-style comedy about a computer programmer (Ron Livingston) who revolts against the soul-crushing nature of the workplace. The unexpected consequence: Efficiency experts recognize middle-management potential and recommend promotion. A box-office disappointment five years ago, it’s become an essential cult movie.

Charmed

 

[D.Scott]

I voted for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" which I have always thought of as one of the best musicals of all time. For those of you who have never seen it, you are really missing something. If you like musicals and like poking fun at big business, I recommend you rent it and watch it.

Dave

 

[Rachel]

I will go with Office Space.

Check my signature.
Office Space is the greatest "little movie" ever. If you haven't seen it, then take the rest of the day off and rent it immediately. It's that funny.

"Samir Na-ga....Na-ga....well, he's "nah-gonna" work here anymore, anyway..." [chuckles all around]

 

[little__cee]

Don't get it

A previous employer asked all of us to watch Glengarry Glen Ross. I didn't get it! I mean, I watched it and understood the concept but thought that the movie was horrible. Just horrible!

I can't remember the name of the OTHER movie that former boss asked us all to watch but it starred Alan Alda and they went white water rafting - was it called White Water? Anyways, that was supposed to have a "business message" also and I didn't figure that one out either.

Maybe it is just me. I guess I should stick to South Park and things that I understand and enjoy!

 

[Hershal]

For all of us in the ST universe......

Deep Space 9 (DS9) is the obvious choice. After all, who better than the Ferengi to run a business? Ever read the Rules of Acquisition?

Of course, there is also the Vegas of the ST universe: Risa.

Interesting examples of business set into a different format, but the underlying philosophy remains.

 

[ddunn]

I like Miracle on 34th Street. In one scene Santa tells a mother that Macy’s ice skates are good but not good enough. The skates must provide better support for young ankles.

This highlights the importance of focusing on customer success rather than customer satisfaction.

 

[Randy]

For all of us in the ST universe......

Deep Space 9 (DS9) is the obvious choice. After all, who better than the Ferengi to run a business? Ever read the Rules of Acquisition?

You're behind the powercurve here. Check out the Star Trek thread here in the Coffee Break chatter. I've actually used the "Rules of Acquisition" as an approach to teaching ISO 9001 implementation

 

[Greg B]

The guy that put this list together has got faaaarrr tooo much time on his hands and a very poor grasp of business. Were these supposed to motivate us to do better in business? The best business movie is the set of Short Training Videos by John Cleese!!! They are funny and very good

However, I do like 'It's a Wonderful Life' not for any business reasons but for the fact that it IS a great movie.

 

[AllanJ]

Business movies? Hmm? Perhaps my top ten would be:

"Castaway" an allegorical movie starring Tom Hanks dedicated to the everyday life of a Quality Manager.

"A Shot in the Dark" starring Peter Sellers, a stirring biographical metaphor of the typical registrar, engaged in an audit trying to determine root cause.

"The Greatest Story Ever Told", starring Charlton Heston, parodying the arrival of ISO 9000 from Mount Geneva. (The first edition was smashed when he realized the stones did not have a "Rev Number" or evidence that the creator was "qualified".

"Gone With the Wind" starring Clark Gable delivering those famous lines now used by the typical CEO confronted by its Q Manager with the need for product quality.

"Modern Times" starring Charles Chaplin, famously demonstrating how a business improvement program is usually conducted.

"Frankenstein" starring Boris Karloff, proving what happens when a new design has not been validated before production.

"The Alamo" starring John Wayne, gets an award for a script that is so far removed from what actually happened it resembles the typical Quality Manual. But it is good box office stuff!

"Some Like It Hot" starring Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, showing how survival in business necessitates occasional cross-dressing when one is confronted by more powerful people.

"Forrest Gump" another Tom Hanks great showing how "You too can be successful in business, life and writing quality standards."

"All Quiet on the Western Front" proving if you try to wear another man's boots, you'll die!

 

[Al Dyer]

Not on the list but I will go with:

Wall Street, followed closely by
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, and
One, Two, Three (James Cagney as a Coke exec in Germany)

Al...