# Working Girl

> 1988 film by Mike Nichols

**Wikidata**: [Q126183](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126183)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Girl)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/working-girl

## Summary
Working Girl is a 1988 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Melanie Griffith as a secretary who rises through the corporate ranks after her boss's injury. The film explores themes of ambition, class, and gender dynamics in the workplace.

## Key Facts
- Release date: December 21, 1988 (United States)
- Director: Mike Nichols
- Lead actress: Melanie Griffith
- Genre: Romantic comedy-drama
- Production company: 20th Century Fox
- Country of origin: United States
- IMDb ID: tt0096463
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- Metacritic score: 73/100
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 83%
- Box office gross: $96,878,393
- Academy Award nominations: 6 (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Griffith)
- Academy Award wins: 1 (Best Original Song for "Let the River Run" by Carly Simon)

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Working Girl?**
The film follows Tess McGill, a Staten Island secretary who seizes an opportunity to advance her career when her boss Katharine Parker is injured. Tess impersonates Katharine to pitch a major business deal, navigating corporate politics and a romantic relationship with investment banker Jack Trainer along the way.

**Who are the main cast members?**
The principal cast includes Melanie Griffith as Tess McGill, Harrison Ford as Jack Trainer, Sigourney Weaver as Katharine Parker, Alec Baldwin as Mick Dugan, and Joan Cusack as Cyn.

**What awards did Working Girl receive?**
Working Girl received six Academy Award nominations, winning Best Original Song for Carly Simon's "Let the River Run." It also earned five Golden Globe nominations, with wins for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actress for Griffith, and Best Supporting Actress for Joan Cusack.

**How was Working Girl received by critics?**
The film holds an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 70 reviews, with an average score of 7.1/10. Critics praised its sharp screenplay, strong performances, and its blend of romantic comedy with workplace drama.

**What themes does Working Girl explore?**
The film examines class mobility, gender dynamics in corporate America, ambition, deception, and the challenges women face in male-dominated industries. It contrasts working-class authenticity with upper-class privilege.

## Why It Matters
Working Girl matters as a cultural touchstone that captured the zeitgeist of late 1980s corporate America while delivering a compelling underdog story. The film provided a rare female-centric perspective on workplace ambition during an era when such narratives were uncommon in mainstream Hollywood. Its success demonstrated commercial viability for stories about women's professional aspirations, influencing subsequent workplace comedies and dramas. The film's exploration of class consciousness through Tess's Staten Island background versus Katharine's privileged upbringing added depth beyond typical romantic comedy fare. Working Girl also showcased Mike Nichols' skill at balancing humor with social commentary, cementing his reputation as a director who could make commercially successful films with substantive themes. The movie's enduring popularity has made it a reference point for discussions about workplace dynamics, gender roles, and class mobility in American society.

## Notable For
- **Box Office Success**: Grossed nearly $97 million worldwide against a $28 million budget
- **Critical Acclaim**: Holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 73/100 on Metacritic
- **Award Recognition**: Six Academy Award nominations and one win for Best Original Song
- **Cultural Impact**: Became a defining film of the late 1980s workplace comedy genre
- **Female Empowerment Narrative**: Presented a strong female protagonist pursuing career advancement
- **Class Commentary**: Explored class differences through Tess's working-class background versus corporate privilege
- **Fashion Influence**: The film's power suits and professional attire became iconic 1980s fashion statements
- **Soundtrack Success**: Carly Simon's "Let the River Run" won an Oscar and became a hit single
- **Director's Achievement**: Demonstrated Mike Nichols' versatility in handling commercial comedy with social themes
- **Career Milestone**: Helped establish Melanie Griffith as a leading actress in Hollywood

## Body

### Production and Release
Working Girl was produced by 20th Century Fox and released on December 21, 1988, in the United States. The film had a production budget of approximately $28 million and went on to gross $96,878,393 worldwide. It premiered during the 1988 holiday season, positioning itself as both awards-season fare and mainstream entertainment.

### Creative Team
The film was directed by Mike Nichols, an acclaimed filmmaker known for works including The Graduate, Silkwood, and Heartburn. The screenplay was written by Kevin Wade, based on a story by Douglas Carter Beane. The film's cinematography was handled by Michael Ballhaus, with production design by Patrizia von Brandenstein and costume design by Ann Roth.

### Cast and Characters
Melanie Griffith stars as Tess McGill, a secretary from Staten Island with ambitions to succeed in the world of finance. Harrison Ford plays Jack Trainer, an investment banker who becomes both Tess's professional ally and romantic interest. Sigourney Weaver portrays Katharine Parker, Tess's sophisticated but injured boss whose identity Tess temporarily assumes. Alec Baldwin appears as Mick Dugan, Tess's blue-collar boyfriend, while Joan Cusack plays Cyn, Tess's best friend and confidante.

### Critical Reception
Upon release, Working Girl received generally positive reviews from critics who praised its sharp screenplay and strong performances. The film holds an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 70 reviews, with the consensus noting it as "a buoyant corporate Cinderella story with a smart script and a splendidly matched cast." Metacritic assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."

### Awards and Nominations
Working Girl received six Academy Award nominations at the 61st Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Mike Nichols), Best Actress (Melanie Griffith), Best Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack), Best Original Screenplay (Kevin Wade), and Best Original Song ("Let the River Run" by Carly Simon). The film won the Oscar for Best Original Song. At the Golden Globe Awards, it won three awards: Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Melanie Griffith), and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Joan Cusack), with five total nominations.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
The film became a cultural touchstone of the late 1980s, particularly for its portrayal of women in the workplace and its fashion aesthetic. Tess's transformation from secretary to corporate player, symbolized by her power suits and big hair, became iconic 1980s imagery. The film's theme song, "Let the River Run" by Carly Simon, won an Academy Award and became a hit single, further cementing the movie's place in popular culture.

### Themes and Analysis
Working Girl explores multiple themes including class mobility, gender dynamics in corporate America, ambition, and authenticity versus pretense. The film contrasts Tess's working-class Staten Island background with Katharine's privileged Manhattan lifestyle, using these differences to comment on American class structures. The workplace setting allows the film to examine gender roles and the challenges women face in male-dominated industries, while the romantic subplot adds complexity to Tess's professional ambitions.

### Box Office Performance
The film performed well commercially, grossing $96,878,393 worldwide against its $28 million production budget. Its success demonstrated the commercial viability of female-driven workplace comedies and helped establish Melanie Griffith as a leading actress in Hollywood.

### Technical Specifications
Working Girl has a runtime of 109 minutes and was distributed by 20th Century Fox. The film was shot in various locations in New York City, including Wall Street and Staten Island, to capture the contrast between corporate and working-class environments. The cinematography by Michael Ballhaus helped establish the visual language of corporate America that would influence subsequent workplace films.

### Music and Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack features Carly Simon's "Let the River Run," which became the film's signature song and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song's inspirational lyrics about ambition and self-discovery perfectly complemented the film's themes. The soundtrack also includes other contemporary songs that help establish the film's 1980s setting.

### Related Works and Influence
Working Girl influenced subsequent workplace comedies and dramas, particularly those featuring female protagonists. Its success helped pave the way for more films exploring women's professional lives and ambitions. The film's structure - combining romantic comedy with workplace drama - became a template for similar films in the following decades.

### Distribution and Home Media
Following its theatrical release, Working Girl has been released on various home media formats including VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray. The film remains available through digital platforms and continues to be broadcast on television, maintaining its presence in popular culture decades after its initial release.

### Industry Context
The film was released during a period when Hollywood was increasingly interested in stories about women's experiences in professional settings. Working Girl arrived alongside other female-centric films of the late 1980s and early 1990s, contributing to a broader cultural conversation about women's roles in the workplace. Its success helped demonstrate that stories about women's ambitions could achieve both critical acclaim and commercial success.

## References

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