The Barefoot Executive facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Barefoot Executive
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Butler
Produced by	Bill Anderson
Screenplay by	Joseph L. McEveety
Story by	Lila Garrett Bernie Kahn Stewart C. Billett
Narrated by	Kurt Russell
Starring	Kurt Russell Joe Flynn Wally Cox Heather North John Ritter Harry Morgan
Music by	Robert F. Brunner
Cinematography	Charles F. Wheeler
Editing by	Robert Stafford
Studio	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date(s)	March 17, 1971 (1971)
Running time	96 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Barefoot Executive (also known as The Rating Game) is a fun comedy film from 1971. It stars Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Heather North, and John Ritter. The movie is about a clever chimpanzee named Raffles. Raffles has a special talent: he can guess which TV shows people will love!

Walt Disney Productions made the film, and Robert Butler directed it. It was one of Disney's popular "gimmick comedies" from the 1960s and 1970s. These movies often had a silly idea that kids would enjoy. The Barefoot Executive was often shown on The Wonderful World of Disney TV show.

What the Movie is About

This movie makes fun of how TV networks work. It follows Steven Post (Kurt Russell), who works in the mailroom at a TV company called UBC. UBC is not doing very well.

Raffles' Special Talent

Steven finds out that his girlfriend Jennifer Scott (Heather North) has a pet chimpanzee named Raffles. Raffles was left with her by her neighbors. Steven soon learns that Raffles has an amazing ability. The chimp can tell if a TV show will be popular! If Raffles hates a show, he makes a funny noise. If he likes it, he claps his hands.

Steven's Big Idea

Steven decides to use Raffles' talent. He sneaks the chimp into the UBC building. There, new TV shows are being shown to the company bosses. Raffles watches the shows from a hidden room and gives his "vote."

The first show Raffles likes is a movie called "Devil Dan." Steven tells the bosses that this movie will be a huge hit. But the bosses don't agree. They decide not to show it.

To prove he is right, Steven secretly switches the movie reels. "Devil Dan" airs, and the bosses are very angry at first. But Steven is right! The movie becomes super popular. It makes UBC the top TV network!

Steven's Rise to Power

Steven keeps Raffles' secret. Everyone thinks Steven has a special gift for picking hit shows. He quickly moves up the ladder at UBC. Soon, he becomes a vice president!

However, the other bosses are suspicious. They think Steven is too young to be so successful. Their dislike grows when Steven wins "Television's Man of the Year." The award host even mistakenly calls him the president of UBC.

The Bosses Get Suspicious

The network bosses, E. J. Crampton (Harry Morgan) and Francis X. Wilbanks (Joe Flynn), worry about Steven. They think his amazing ability might make their own jobs useless. So, they try to find out his secret.

One of their helpers, Mertons (Wally Cox), sees bananas in Steven's apartment. This leads to a funny scene where the bosses eat bananas. They think bananas are "brain food" from a tribe in New Guinea. Mertons also hears noises from Steven's closet. He thinks Steven is hiding someone! This makes the bosses watch Steven and his new fancy apartment even more closely.

Discovering the Secret

One night, Mertons uses a spyglass to look into Steven's apartment. He sees the chimpanzee watching TV with Steven! Then, he sees the chimp get a beer from the fridge during a commercial break. That's when the bosses finally realize the truth about Raffles.

A Crazy Plan

The bosses are scared. They think if people find out a chimp is picking TV shows, it will ruin television! So, they decide to steal Raffles and send him back to the jungle.

Wilbanks and Mertons try to grab the chimp from Steven's apartment. They climb out on a narrow ledge. But their plan goes wrong! They get stuck on the ledge. The police, fire department, and even a priest have to come help them.

The Chimp's Escape

As a last resort, the network offers Steven $1,000,000 for Raffles. Steven agrees to the deal. But Jennifer is very upset. She can't believe he sold her pet without asking her. She breaks up with him. She also doesn't want Raffles sent into the wild.

Later, many bosses and camera crews are on a cargo plane. They are flying over the jungle. They plan to parachute Raffles into the Amazon. But Raffles is too smart! He doesn't want to go to the jungle. He pulls a lever that opens an emergency hatch. All the bosses get sucked out of the plane! They end up parachuting into the jungle instead.

Mertons, who now feels bad for Jennifer, tells Steven that Raffles outsmarted the bosses. The chimp is on his way back to the United States!

Happy Ending

Steven uses this chance to give back the $1,000,000. He says UBC will need the money to find the bosses lost in the jungle. Steven and Jennifer get back together. They even get married! They go on their honeymoon with Raffles as their pet.

The movie ends with Steven and Jennifer driving on a highway. A radio announcement says Steven has resigned from his vice president job. But everyone wishes him well in his future.

Cast

Remake

This movie was made again for the Disney Channel in 1995. It starred Nathan Anderson, Terri Evans, and Chris Elliot. Susan Seidelman directed this newer version.