The Barefoot Executive

The Barefoot Executive is a liveaction Walt Disney Productions film released by Buena Vista Distribution in 1971 starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Heather North and John Ritter in his film debut, about a pet chimpanzee, named Raffles, who can predict the popularity of television programs. It was one of the gimmick comedies geared towards children with a touch of adult humour for older viewers Disney was known for in the 1960s and 1970s, and was frequently shown on the Wonderful World of Disney in the 1980s.

Steven smuggles the chimp into the UBC building when he is being shown various movies to show, and watches as the chimp gives his vote from the camera room. However his first attempt proves unsuccessful as the executives do not agree with the chimps prediction through Steven that a movie named Devil Dan will draw large audiences, so Post has to secretly enter UBCs footage room to switch the films, causing the executives to realize Steven was right in the first place when Devil Dan propels UBC to first place in the ratings war. Post successfully masks the chimps abilities as his own and rises to vice president of UBC, now the top rated area network. However, this also creates suspicion and resentment among UBC executives, mainly because they believe Post is too young to merit the title of vice president. Their resentment reaches a breaking point at a television award ceremony where Steven Post receives the title of Televisions Man of the Year and the emcee mistakenly identifies Post as the president of UBC.Fearing that Posts seemingly miraculous abilities will make their own jobs unnecessary, network executives E. J. Crampton Morgan and Francis X. Wilbanks Joe Flynn attempt to discover his secret to success. One toady sees a bunch of bananas in Posts apartment, which leads to a humorous scene where the executives are seen eating bananas as they believe an idea that a New Guinea tribe considered bananas to be brain food. The flunky also hears sounds coming from Posts closet, and believes he is holding a hostage, which serves to intensify the surveillance of Post and his new luxury apartment. ........

Source: Wikipedia