The Barefoot Executive (1971)
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83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(1,575 ratings)
At last the secret has been revealed! Prime-time network programming is determined by a chimpanzee! That's the premise of Disney's The Barefoot Executive, a highly amusing spoof of the TV bizz. Kurt Russell plays a page boy at a bottom-rated TV network. Stuck with his girl friend's… More At last the secret has been revealed! Prime-time network programming is determined by a chimpanzee! That's the premise of Disney's The Barefoot Executive, a highly amusing spoof of the TV bizz. Kurt Russell plays a page boy at a bottom-rated TV network. Stuck with his girl friend's (Heather North) pet chimp, Russell discovers that his hairy friend has a genuine gift for picking hit TV series. Appointed head of programming, Russell keeps the fact that the chimp is doing all the work hidden from the public. But when his former boss Joe Flynn and his rival John Ritter find out, all heck breaks loose (we'd say "all hell", but this is a Disney flick). A strong supporting cast of comic "regulars"-Wally Cox, Harry Morgan, Alan Hewitt, Hayden Rorke et al.--keeps The Barefoot Executive moving at a fast clip ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Butler
- Written By
- Joseph L. McEveety, Lila Garrett, Bernie Kahn
- Genres
- Television, Kids & Family, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Mar 17, 1971 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Howard Thompson, New York Times
In this genial but strained and arch frolic, the one real joke is not only "in" but it wears thin and even frantic.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This is a very funny satire of television.
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Joly Herman, Common Sense Media
Classic chimp shenanigans are fun for Disney fans.
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Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A trenchant satire on corporate greed . . . oh, not really. Funny, silly chimp movie.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Kurt Russell
as Steven Post
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Joe Flynn
as Francis X. Wilbanks
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Harry Morgan
as E.J. Crampton
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Wally Cox
as Mertons
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Heather North
as Jennifer Scott
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John Ritter
as Roger
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Iris Adrian
as Woman Shopper
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Tom Anfinsen
as Dr. Schmidt
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Hal Baylor
as Policeman
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Tristram Coffin
as Sponsor
- Howard Culver
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Bill Daily
as Navigator
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Fabian Dean
as Jackhammer Man
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Glenn Dixon
as Sponsor
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Morgan Farley
as Advertising Executive
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Edward Faulkner
as Reporter
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James Flavin
as Father O'Leary
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Sandra Gould
as Mrs. Wilbanks
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Alan Hewitt
as Farnsworth
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George N. Neise
as Network Executive
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Judson Pratt
as Policeman
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Ed Prentiss
as Justice Dept.
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Raffles Harman
as Himself
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Ed Reimers
as Announcer
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Pete L. Renoudet
as Policeman
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Hayden Rorke
as Clifford
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Robert Shayne
as Sponsor
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Anthony Teague
as TV Saleman
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Dave Willock
as Doorman
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Jack Bender
as Tom
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Eve Brent Ashe
as Mrs. Crampton
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Vince Howard
as Policeman
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J.B. Douglas
as Network Executive
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"Smiling" Jack Smith
as Clatworthy