EMPLOYEES’ ENTRANCE
US, 1933, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Warren William, Loretta Young, Wallace Ford, Alice White, Ruth Donnelly.
Directed by Roy Del Ruth.
Employees’ Entrance is an interesting drama seen in the light of the 20th century, capitalism, the Depression, business ethics. The film was pre-Code – which means then that it had a more open attitude towards language, relationships, frankness.
The film was based on a play but is opened up somewhat although the dialogue is strong and the settings are mainly in a big department store in New York City.
Warren William (who played many of these roles in the early 1930s, Beauty and the Boss…) is Kurt Anderson, the ruthless, even fascistic manager of a successful department store. He lives an isolated life, is intense in his business ethic, dominating of personalities, having no human respect – yet also an indulger in his relationships with women. Loretta Young, in one of her earliest roles, exhibits great poise in her performance. Wallace Ford, a regular in films like this at the time (with Joan Crawford in Possessed) is the up-and-coming manager of the store.
The film shows the success of the store over a period of fifty years, especially during the 1920s. However, crisis comes with the Depression and the plans for increasing sales during difficult times.
The film was directed by Roy Del Ruth, prolific director at the time who also directed William in Beauty and the Boss. During the 1930s and 1940s he directed a number of westerns and musicals.
1.An interesting film? From the early 1930s? The cinema techniques? The plots – and adapted plays? The moral issues? A film of its time?
2.The New York settings, the scenes in the department store, in the various offices? The enclosed atmosphere of the film?
3.The black and white photography, the camera movement – for the early years of sound? The sound engineering? The editing and pace? The musical score – the echo of various songs of the period like “Million Dollar Baby”?
4.The title, the focus on capitalism, the role of the employees, the dictatorial manager? The American dream of success?
5.The focus on Kurt Anderson, his background, his rise from nothing, working for the store for many years, becoming manager, his success, the statistics of success, the impact of the Depression? His harshness with the members of the board, with the owner? Their angry reaction to him? His not caring? His ruthlessness in action, firing people after thirty years of work? His cancelling the contract for the tailor with the suits (and the later confrontation, hiring him, pushing him on, making him his assistant)? The encounter with Madeleine, in the model house, the seduction, his taking her home? His attitude towards women? His liking Martin West, liking his ideas, promoting him to his assistant? The demands he made on him? The disappearance of the owner, his despising of him? Denton Ross, his antagonism towards Kurt, his getting Polly and employing her to keep him occupied? His promises to Polly, wanting her to seduce Martin? His change of heart? The bank managers, the difficulties with the store, the confrontation, the build-up to the board meeting, his desperately wanting the owners’ votes, persuading Ross to be on his side? The party, his drinking, the seduction of Madeleine again? Her being ashamed? His trying to get Martin angry, letting Martin listen in to the conversation? His being successful with the store – and continuing his ruthlessness? An interesting portrait of the ugly face of capitalism?
6.Madeleine, unemployed? In the store? The encounter with Kurt, not knowing who he was? Going out, the night with him? Her meeting with Martin, attracted to him? The work in the store, model, friendship with Polly? The love for Martin, going out with him, the plans for the wedding, watching the wedding and getting the licence, the minister and the marriage at night? The secrecy of the marriage? Their meetings and their avoiding detection? The party, her feeling that Martin was neglecting her, Kurt and his charm, her drinking, going to spend the night with him? Her being ashamed? Her shame for Martin? Kurt and his manipulation, its backfiring on him, Martin and his despair, the hospital, love for Madeleine? Their leaving the store together?
7.Martin, young, enthusiastic, full of ideas, the meeting, Kurt and his appreciation, putting the men’s wear next to the women’s wear, the women as buying the goods…? Higgins and his being there thirty years, his being fired, his desperation, throwing himself out the window? Kurt and his cynical remark about that being appropriate when one was no longer useful? Martin and his work, available, admiration for Kurt? Love for Madeleine, the wedding, trying to juggle business with his home life? The anger at the party, his drinking, not knowing what had happened to Madeleine, his apology, discovering the truth? Madeleine and her attempted suicide, his going to the hospital? Their future?
8.The presentation of the managers, the commodore and his pomposity, Ross and his reading the messages from the commodore, his dalliance with Polly, the plan to get married, his getting the votes? The bank members and their hostility towards Kurt?
9.Polly, friendship with Madeleine, her seduction of Ross, playing chess with him, the hopes for the travel with Kurt, his thwarting her plans?
10.Miss Hall, witnessing Kurt and his actions, her buying the dress at another store, Kurt using this to check on the staff and to take other stores’ patterns etc?
11.The overall picture of life in the United States in the 1930s, prosperity and then depression? The rise of the department stores? Management and big business? Ruthlessness? Lack of humanity – and individuals and employees standing up against authoritarianism?
