Executive Suite (1954)

More stars than there are big shots on Wall Street, that's the theme of this big MGM drama that deals with a sudden death in the board rooms of a New York City fortune 500 company. The sudden death of the chairman of the board, fights behind the scenes, and quite a bit of money and power on the line, leaving everybody wondering who will end up in charge. Having been through some complicated situations in my own big business career, I can relate to much of what goes on here. I have seen equal ruthlessness, lies, passing of the blame, and can say that working in the rat race of big business ain't no cake walk, regardless if you're in the mail room or C.F.O. Too complicated a plot to really describe and mention what every character does, this is far more interesting to go into not knowing really anything about it. The cast is a who's who of Hollywood greats, none really the lead, and certainly the best ensemble of 1954. It's a reunion for "Golden Boy" stars Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden, joining Walter Pidgeon, Fredric March, Louis Calhern, Paul Douglas, June Allyson, Shelley Winters and Nina Foch, who managed to get the single Oscar nomination as the dead man's executive secretary. Of course, there's the shocking death scene, witnessed only by one of the main cast, who sets into motion a really evil scheme.Stanwyck gives what I consider the very best performance that easily could have won her a Supporting Actress Oscar. She is a combination of elegance, neurosis and vulnerability as not only the potential heiress to the company, but the holder of the largest amount of stock, too. Everybody gets a little moment to shine so it's starless even when filled with stars. I've heard people compare this to the equally excellent "Patterns", but films like this date back to the silent era. The big business world holds so much power over so many people, it's no wonder that these themes are the subjects of many novels, plays, TV series and movies. The themes touch practically the entire world, not just one company in one city in one country.

Sure it is set in 1953, and the details have changed, but somehow it all feels quite contemporary what with maneuvering in the stock market by way of insider information, getting ahead on the corporate ladder via blackmail, threats and general sweaty-palmed conniving. All that modern "stuff". It's got an all star 1950's cast with those fantastic sonorous voices, Walter Pigeon, Dean Jagger, William Holden, Paul Douglas, Barbara Stanwyck. Plus particularly slimy Louis Calhern and Fredric March (hiss-boo!) Shelley Winters lends a touch of glamour. Nina Foch is the picture of efficiency as the executive secretary and is actually one of the most "real" of the characters. June Allyson, as always is "long suffering" and "oh so understanding" .. ugh. Even if you are not "into" corporate workings or 50's drama, it may just catch and keep your attention because it is not clear who will actually get the job until the very end... and this ensemble cast is outstanding.

Corporate America went through a growth acceleration in the 1950's. So it's not surprising that this would be reflected in the movies. Such films as The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956), Cash McCall (1959), and especially Patterns (1956) focused on boardroom jockeying for their storyline drama. This is very much the case here, and if I'm not mistaken, Executive Suite was the earliest (1954) and most ballyhooed of the pack. Audiences just weren't used to seeing the human drama that often goes on behind boardroom doors.Fresh material or not, this is a typical MGM product: star-studded, slickly produced, with a pat, sunny ending. Nonetheless, it's a fascinating trip along the way as managerial contenders jockey to succeed the suddenly deceased company president. I should mention that the subjective camera used at the beginning, showing us only what the company president Bullard is seeing, was a brilliant touch. Anyway, we get a peek into the personal lives of the Board members, their wives, kids, and in some cases, their mistresses, even as they connive with and against one another. Holden is direct and honest, Calhern calculating and greedy, March smug and confident, Pidgeon loyal and company-minded, while Douglas gets a rare non-blustery role as a yes-man. Meanwhile the women secretaries (Foch) are tight-lipped and efficient, while Stanwyck is Stanwyck in a lesser role, probably for marquee value. On the whole, the acting is commendably first-rate.Of course, the most topical part is the showdown between two philosophies of corporate management—short-term profits and dividends vs. long- term growth. It's not surprising that the accounting manager March would emphasize the centrality of numbers, while the hands-on engineer Holden would emphasize the broader picture. My only complaint is that Holden's character is a bit too stagy in presenting his case. Nonetheless, I suspect these competing approaches remain as relevant today as they were then.On he whole, the movie remains both dramatically entertaining and topically relevant, even 60-years later. And if ES ultimately lacks the gritty bite of Rod Serling's classic Patterns, it's still a revealing 90-minutes.

Just enjoy this movie. And/or use it for a great teaching lesson. On great drama, On great classic actors, On maybe moral concerns facing all corporations!All fine actors... The devious guys can out Gecko - Gecko (of "Wall Street" fame).The good guy speaks at the meeting...better watch out for flying furniture...as he makes his point.Let's see ...Insider trading (not even sure if it was illegal back then) will destroy someone...Corporate Backstabbing...Power Plays...Lobbying Committee Votes... Trying to sway the company heiress...Quality products made versus...bigger profits. The business suit-clad vultures start circling minutes after the Big Exec is dead!!!Executive Suite could be a good film for your high school (or home school) business class. But if you just want a quality drama...just watch and enjoy!