Fun story, I initially “discovered” this film in the mid-80s while flipping channels and landing exactly where my… budding… interest in furs would best be served: the dyed fox scene. Back then, in the age of analog cable, I had to look up the movie's name, which I subsequently forgot. While I never forgot the scene, I did forget the name for years. Fortunately, I remember it now: The American Success Company.
The American Success Company – The Film
Early ‘80s dramedy about a guy who is a pushover at work (The American Success Company, or AMSUCO) and is humiliated by his wife. He “invents” a new persona who is basically an asshole to get back at his wife and company and get rich in the process. And he's the hero. What can I say? It was the ‘80s; I apologize for almost everything… except the furs.
The American Success Company – The Furs
We are primarily concerned with our “hero's” wife, Sarah, played by Belinda Bauer. We are to understand that she is a “spoiled little rich girl” thanks in no small part to her wardrobe. This hooded white mink coat is exhibit A.
Exhibit A get's a lot of screen time, the most screen time of any fur in the film. Harry does seem to pull the ole “fur inspector card” on it.
The couple goes to a party, where Sarah admires herself in the mirror while wearing the coat and declares she will keep it on. Good for her.
During the party, a case of mistaken identity causes Harry to receive some advances from Greta (Mascha Gonska). Greta is wearing a dark coat, probably a mink, but it is nearly invisible in the low lighting.
We get to see a little more of Sarah's white mink if only to prove that it is still very visible even in a darkened car at night.
The film peaks around a half hour in when Sarah strolls down the streets of Berlin wearing this dyed fox coat and matching fox stole as a headband. Trust me, if anything could get me to stop channel hopping, this was it.
I would complain the scene is far too short, but I would register that complaint if she wore this for the entire movie.
Fortunately, we get a closeup to fully appreciate the “head-wrapped stole,” which I think should make a comeback. Granted, might be getting a little ahead of myself because checks notes fur needs to come back first. Uh oh…
Clearly, she visits the same furrier as Fontaine Khaled. That or sleeveless fox coats enjoyed a bit of popularity in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
For the record, the mink shows up one more time in a very short scene. Overall, The American Success Company clocks in just short of five minutes of fur, but the one that includes the dyed fox combo is worth tracking down alone. Belinda Bauer looks excellent in all the furs, and you can root for her instead of the jerk protagonist.
- Fur Runtime: approx 4.75 minutes
- Film Runtime: 91 minutes
- On-Screen Fur Ratio: 5.18%
Find-a-Fur: The American Success Company, 1980
(all times are approximate and are affected by the cut of the film)
- 15:00 – 19:15 – hooded white mink coat, plus dark mink? briefly
- 36:30 – dyed fox coat and stole
- 1:06:45 – red fox sleeveless coat
- 1:09:05 – white mink coat again, brief
The Fur Fashion Gallery: The American Success Company, 1980
