William Holden (McDonald Walling), June Allyson (Mary Walling), Barbara Stanwyck (Julia Treadway), Fredric March (Loren Shaw), Walter Pidgeon (Frederick V. Alderson), Shelley Winters (Eva Marderman), Paul Douglas (Josiah Dudley), Louis Calhern (George Caswell) Dean Jagger (Jesse Q. Grimm), Nina Foch (Erica Martin)
"No use. I tried. It's only water."
One of the more interesting movies about corporate America, Executive Suite boasts not only one of the finest casts of the 1950s, but an excellent script by Ernest Lehman. Adapting Cameron Hawley's novel, this was Lehman's first screenplay, and he went on to pen them for Sabrina, Sweet Smell of Success, North By Northwest and The Sound of Music among others. Producer John Houseman noted that within a few years, the writer was earning close to one hundred times what they'd paid him.
Executive Suite is a rarity, in that the movie has no score. The only music in the picture are when the company's clock chimes, and then the situation has to do with death. The filmmakers chose to use the sounds of the city, this MGM's sound department chief Douglas Shearer served as their 'composer.'
Her star power not what it used to be, Stanwyck had an extremely small role compared to the others. The actress stated, "Size has never bothered me. If it had, I would not have done Executive Suite. I liked the role and I wanted to do it, no matter how short it was." Her work on the film lasted one week, according to her.
Don's the guy from the other side of the tracks who makes it to the top, proving that in America, each and every individual has an opportunity. The made has made it where he is via hard work, and has earned every accolade he has. Yet he wants the company he'll be leading to be profitable, but also wants them to take pride in what they do, something they haven't been able to do for a long, long time.
Fred and Jesse are tired, both worn down by the manipulative Bullard, whom they won't miss. Both would have made a good president, but Bullard has the men mentally exhausted. They realize the man pretty much has wrecked the company with his 'leadership,' but were unable to do anything about it. As Don speaks at the meeting, he's supported by both men who are suddenly energized, and Jesse--who was about to retire--is ready for action.
Erica is a lonely figure. We don't know much about her, but can tell she loved Bullard quietly. (The man kept Julia as a mistress, then discarded her.) Yet it seems her family's her job, and Don understands this, letting her know he'll need her assistance as well. The woman knows it will be lonely, as her aid will be only in a secretarial sense. Yet that's really all the woman wants--to be wanted. And at the end of the day, this dear woman will go home--alone.
Executive Suite has proven to be highly influential over the years, as Oliver Stone stated it had a direct bearing on Wall Street As they developed the script for the latter film, Stone and his collaborators viewed the earlier film several times. When the 1954 movie was released on DVD, Stone provided the commentary, and showed his fandom not only for Executive Suite, but each of the actors.
Director Wise and a powerhouse cast provide a fascinating look into the way corporate America turns its wheels. With Lehman's script and powerful performances, this is a must.
No comments:
Post a Comment