Working Girl

Working Girl
source
Name	Working Girl
Director	Mike Nichols
Producer	Douglas Wick
Writer	Kevin Wade
Starring	Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack
Music	Carly Simon
Cinematography	Michael Ballhaus
Editing	Sam O'Steen
Studio	20th Century Fox
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Runtime	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Working Girl is a 1988 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Kevin Wade. The film stars Melanie Griffith as a determined secretary from Staten Island who seizes an opportunity to advance her career on Wall Street, navigating a world of corporate intrigue and personal betrayal. With a supporting cast featuring Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, and Alec Baldwin, the film explores themes of class, gender, and ambition in the late-1980s financial world, set to an iconic soundtrack by Carly Simon.

Plot summary

Tess McGill, a savvy but undervalued secretary at the investment firm Parker & Company, concocts a major business deal after discovering her boss, Katharine Parker, has stolen her idea while recovering from a skiing accident in Europe. Posing as a junior executive with the help of her friend Cyn, Tess partners with Jack Trainer, a charming mergers and acquisitions specialist at another firm, to pitch the deal involving a radio network to the powerful executive Trask. The plot thickens as Tess must maintain her deception, navigate a budding romance with Jack, and ultimately confront Katharine upon her return, leading to a climactic confrontation at a high-stakes meeting with Trask Industries. The resolution sees Tess achieving professional success and personal independence, cementing her transformation.

Cast

The film features a celebrated ensemble cast led by Melanie Griffith in her Academy Award-nominated role as Tess McGill. Harrison Ford portrays Jack Trainer, offering a departure from his typical action-hero roles, while Sigourney Weaver delivers a memorable performance as the villainous and privileged Katharine Parker. Alec Baldwin appears as Tess's unfaithful boyfriend Mick, and Joan Cusack provides comic relief as her best friend Cyn. Notable supporting roles include Philip Bosco as the firm's managing director Oren Trask, Nora Dunn as Tess's colleague Ginny, and Oliver Platt as a fellow investment banker. The cast also features Kevin Spacey in a minor early role as a colleague of Trainer's.

Production

Development began with screenwriter Kevin Wade, who drew inspiration from the evolving role of women in the 1980s corporate landscape. Director Mike Nichols, known for films like The Graduate and Silkwood, was brought on to helm the project, with Douglas Wick producing for 20th Century Fox. Principal photography took place largely on location in New York City, capturing the iconic skyline of Manhattan and the culture of Wall Street, with additional scenes shot in Staten Island and at the World Trade Center (1973–2001). Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and editor Sam O'Steen helped craft the film's polished aesthetic. The soundtrack, featuring the hit song "Let the River Run" by Carly Simon, became a defining element, with Simon winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Reception

Upon its release, the film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its sharp script and Griffith's performance. It grossed over $100 million worldwide against a modest budget and received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Griffith, and Best Supporting Actress for both Weaver and Cusack. Critics from publications like The New York Times and Variety (magazine) highlighted its timely commentary on workplace dynamics and feminist undercurrents. The film also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Carly Simon's anthem earned the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Legacy

*Working Girl* endures as a quintessential film about ambition and female empowerment in the corporate world. Its famous line, "I have a head for business and a bod for sin," entered the cultural lexicon, and Tess McGill's transformation from secretary to executive became an aspirational narrative. The film is frequently cited in discussions about workplace ethics, the "glass ceiling," and the portrayal of women in 1980s cinema. It influenced later television shows and films about professional women, such as *9 to 5* and *The Devil Wears Prada*. The film's style, from its power suits to its iconic soundtrack, remains a nostalgic touchstone for the era, and it is regularly featured in retrospectives on the work of Mike Nichols and the careers of its ensemble cast.

Category:1988 films Category:American romantic comedy-drama films Category:Films directed by Mike Nichols