Patterns

A simple and gripping morality tale about the human cost of ambition with three unforgettable characters embodied by a trio of wonderful character actors.

It's amazing, but not surprising, what purposeful and refined writing can do for a film. Serling wastes barely any lines and weaves a structure for a compelling narrative about business ethics, which Cook fleshes out through the trio of Heflin, Begley and Sloane (along with a highly competent supporting cast). One feels that if only Eric Gordon had watched this movie then he may have defeated Billy Madison at the academic decathlon!

This executive office politics movie was quite well made. The writing (Rod Serling), acting, direction, cinematography were all top notch. Great to see Van Heflin in a starring role. The supporting characters were particularly good, and there were some really heated scenes. Bravo!

For the most part, a great compelling story, (although I was confused as to why Ramsey hated Briggs and why he wouldn't fire him) but the ending almost completely ruined it for me. It made little to no sense. I have no idea what happened.

Love you Rod Serling

Very interesting flick, with a lot of similarities to Executive Suite (1954). But where Executive Suite wimps out in the final scene, this one drives the message all the way home. Both eschew a musical score completely, a trend I dearly wish had caught on. Ed Begley is fantastic as the aging executive being forced out. Van Heflin looks worried most impressively--he finally gets to do something in the final scene--and Beatrice Straight has a steely beauty as his Lady Macbeth. Worth seeking out.

Why is it so rare for movies to take on the workplace as its subject? We spend half our waking hours at work, and yet movies are mostly about sarcastic hitmen and hobbits. Moreover, why do the movies that do deal with the workplace get it so wrong? Corporations are inevitably potrayed as soul-destroying altars of greed. Executives are malicious Machiavellian overlords. Patterns displays these stereotypes to some extent, and is overly didactic in a 50s theater kind of way.

Insightful look at 1950's business, much of which is still (basically) applicable today. Anyone going into business and/or management should see this. It also gives a look at the same workplace and sexual hierarchy that we saw in such other period pieces as "Mad Men". It is didactic just as all Rod Serling-authored works are, along with a somewhat twist ending. This would also make an interesting double-feature if it were paired with Wall Street.