The Barefoot Executive (1971) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is primarily set at United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), a struggling television network where Steven works in the mailroom. The Amazon rainforest also plays a key role as Raffles' original home and the location of the film's chaotic climax.

• setting
• location
• television network
• ubc
• amazon

The film is set in a modern corporate environment reflecting the late 20th century television industry, during a period when television programming was rapidly evolving and becoming a major force in entertainment and business.

• time period
• era
• 1970s
• television industry

The movie satirizes the television industry by exploring how executives desperate for ratings will embrace absurd methods to predict audience preferences. The central joke, that a chimpanzee's instincts about programming prove more successful than experienced executives, highlights the unpredictable, often irrational nature of what makes television shows successful.

• television industry
• satire
• tv programming
• ratings
• business

Steven Post is an ambitious mailroom worker at UBC who dreams of climbing the corporate ladder. Through his partnership with Raffles, a chimpanzee with an uncanny ability to predict television hits, Steven rises rapidly to become a high-level executive, using his cleverness to navigate the surreal world of television programming.

• steven post
• character
• kurt russell
• mailroom
• ambition

Raffles is a chimpanzee with a remarkable talent for predicting which television programs will become hits. Originally from the Amazon rainforest, Raffles belongs to Steven's girlfriend Jennifer and becomes the secret weapon that propels Steven from the mailroom to executive success, though his presence also attracts unwanted corporate scrutiny.

• raffles
• chimpanzee
• pet
• television predictions
• amazon

The film explores love and betrayal through Steven's relationship with Jennifer, who owns Raffles. When Steven secretly sells Raffles to capitalize on his success without considering Jennifer's feelings, it creates tension and conflict that tests their romance before they ultimately reconcile, leading to both marriage and career success.

• love
• betrayal
• jennifer
• relationship
• reconciliation

The main executives include E.J. Crampton, a cunning UBC executive who becomes suspicious of Steven's rapid rise and investigates his success, and Francis X. Wilbanks, the former vice president who feels threatened by Steven and attempts to uncover the truth. Both characters represent the cutthroat nature of corporate politics in the television industry.

• e.j. crampton
• francis wilbanks
• executives
• corporate politics

Jennifer Scott is Steven's girlfriend and the owner of Raffles. She represents emotional intelligence and compassion in the film, caring deeply for the chimpanzee while also challenging Steven's decisions when his ambition conflicts with their relationship. Her role highlights the balance between personal connections and career ambition.

• jennifer scott
• character
• heather north
• girlfriend
• emotional intelligence

The Amazon rainforest serves as Raffles' original habitat and represents his wild, unpredictable nature. The climactic scenes take place in the Amazon, where Steven must retrieve Raffles after selling him, bringing the story full circle and emphasizing the contrast between the corporate world and the natural world.

• amazon rainforest
• wild
• nature
• climax
• raffles origin

The film is a light comedy with a straightforward narrative structure. The conflicts arise from comedic misunderstandings and corporate farce rather than serious threats. Even the central relationship conflict is brief and resolved quickly, leading to an unambiguously happy ending with marriage and career success for the protagonist.

• tone
• comedy
• style
• lighthearted
• happy ending