PATTERNS (1956)

[diane]

I was thinking about the topic "did films of the 50s cut the mustard"!!!
- I think I mentioned "Marty" and "Bad Day at Black Rock".
We were looking around for a film to watch the other night and I
suddenly thought of "Patterns". It is a brilliant movie about big business
ruthlessness that I think is still relevant today.
With an incisive script by Rod Serling (who created "The Twilight Zone")
- it was initially a TV play. Van Heflin plays Fred Staples, who is bought
to New York from Ohio to take over a top executive position held by
William Briggs. Ed Begley is brilliant as the likable Briggs who has
outlived his usefulness to the company. From the start Briggs takes Staples
under his wing - even though neither of them know the real reason that
Staples has been hired. Everett Sloane is sensational as Walter Ramsey
- the ultimate in ruthlessness. "I didn't hire you to like me", "So I'm not
nice - so what". !!!
Beatrice Straight, who I think won a Best Supporting Actress award for
"Network' 20 years later, plays Fred's wife Nancy, whose head is turned
by the upmarket world she has been tossed into. Elizabeth Wilson is also
very good as Brigg's secretary (she is reassigned to Staples, that is when
she realises that something is wrong).
It is the actor's performances that make the film so memorable. Briggs
talking about what life was like when he first joined the company - "the
first time I went home I was wearing "spats", my father said "you went
to New York to see the sights, now you've become one"!!!
Van Heflin is also excellent as Staples - he is caring but also ambitious as
well. The film doesn't end the way you would think but it is extremely
satisfying .

[Ann Savage]

Thanks for your terrific review Diane. I have never heard of the film Patterns before but know I am to looking foward to see it. I will see if the video stores have it to rent and I will also check with my local library.
Thanks again.