EXECUTIVE SUITE
US, 1954, 103 minutes, Black and white.
William Holden, Fredric March, Barbara Stanwyck, June Allyson, Paul Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Shelley Winters, Dean Jagger, Louis Calhern, Nina Foch.
Directed by Robert Wise.
Executive Suite was one of the best films of 1954. There was an interest in Hollywood in business films at this time including Woman’s World and Patterns. This film has excellent dialogue, interest in interactions between the characters and their power struggles.
The film has a very strong cast of top players of the 1950s and they interact very well. William Holden was an established hero in films of the time, the noble visionary. Walter Pidgeon, getting older, had moved from leading man to strong supporting character. Fredric March stands out as the manipulative and ambitious vice president. June Allyson is always sweetness and light and contrasts well with Barbara Stanwyck in a strong and intense role and with Nina Foch, Oscar nominated, as the secretary. Paul Douglas appears as the sales manager having an affair with his secretary, well played by Shelley Winters. Dean Jagger is the veteran who is retiring, and Louis Calhern is the calculating and corrupt executive. The film was directed by Robert Wise, a director of a range of films, beginning with horror in the 1940s, moving too many dramas in the 1950s, and finally winning Oscars as best director for West Side Story and for The Sound of Music.
While the film represents the values of the 1950s in the business world, and might be compared with Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, it is still of interest given the battles in corporations in the 21st century.
1. The film is considered a classic, why? From the 1950s? American business, executive offices and executives? The politics and business?
2. The strong cast, MGM production values, New York setting, the American city with the executive office? Airport? The factory? Homes, baseball fields? The atmosphere of the 1950s? No musical score? The bells at beginning and end?
3. The title, the focus? Management, the CEO and his power, the vice presidents, the sales rep, the production line and chief, the inventor and designer? The secretary? The executive for statistics and profitsd? The executive and his speculation with shares?
4. The pivotal accident, George seeing it, his decision to sell his shares and buy them back, giving information to the police about the executive’s identity, his plans? Going to the meeting, his anxiety about the information on the identity of the dead man? The wallet having been stolen?
5. The roles of the vice presidents?
6. Fred, his years of service, second in charge, his wife’s ambitions, his friendship with Don, with Jesse, wanting Don to succeed? Jesse not wanting it? His interactions with Shaw, the discussions with Julia and the repercussions of her past, the relationship with the dead man, his age, his decisions? Knowing that he was always a second?
7. Shaw, introduced to the company through George, three years of service, his interest in profits, profit sheets and statistics, allowing poor production, his ambitions, taking charge at news of the death, his organisation, Fred and Don taken aback? The system, information for the press, the financial report and profits so that shares would not go down, his following Walt, intruding into the apartment, the deal with George, his selling his shares, Shaw knowing? His hold over George? The discussions with Julia, credible to her, getting her proxy? His presumption, presiding at the meeting, calling for the ballot, his nomination, the reaction of Miss Martin? George abstaining and his not winning the vote?
8. Walt, jovial, sales, his reputation, his work with Eve, the implications about his wife, his weekend plans, the flight? The news, waiting for the meeting, going to the airport, Shaw giving him a lift, his being followed, in the apartment, with Eve, his being caught, cowardly manner, Eve’s reaction, his having to support Shaw, finally backing down? Some moments of integrity? Eve as secretary, in love with her boss, seeing his behaviour, deciding to leave him?
9. Jesse, in charge of production, his age, talking with his wife, planning the time in retirement, going fishing, his return with Fred, not supporting Don, listening intently to Don’s speech, changing his mind?
10. George, business, seeing the collapse of the boss, his approach to shore, an opportunist, the issue of the newspapers, searching for the news, ringing the police after seeing the initials, his girlfriend, not letting her eat, then happily eating? Going to the meeting, talking to Shaw, wanting his help, Shaw’s knowledge, the issue of the vote, the irony of his abstention, his being forced to vote for Don, Shaw tearing up the promise?
11. Don, his hopes for design, the tests and his relationship with the men, the meetings, his being absent during the tests, the phone calls, his relationship with Mary, love, at home, the son, the baseball, with Fred and the meeting with Shaw, surprised at Shaw taking over? His experiences and his success? His admiration for the CEO, his idealism? Staying up late, Mary asking what he wanted, not wanting Shaw, meeting Julia and his harsh words to her, admiration for Bullard, the vote and his against Shaw, the final confrontation with Shaw, his style? The long speech and its values, in terms of idealism in business in the 1950s? Vision, creativity, inspiration, values, production? The poorly-crafted table and his breaking it? Saying Bullard had lost his way?
12. Julia, her relationship with her father, his suicide, the firm, her relationship with Bullard, being upset, and contemplating suicide, selling her shares, the visit to the office, talking with Shaw, impressed by him, the talk with Don, voting yes for Shaw and the ballots, tearing up her proxy, listening intently to Don, thanking him? Her meeting with Mary and her support?
13. Miss Martin, Bullard as an ideal, her efficiency, sadness, arranging meetings, taking the minutes, her staying?
14. Mary, as wife, playing baseball with her son, not telling Don about Fred’s message to delay the vote, her coming with an apology, listening, the meeting
with Julia?
15. The film as a successful drama, intense characters, good dialogue, interactions, politics and power?
