Executive Suite

[Flopper]

If action-adventure is your thing, stop here — the action in Executive Suite takes place in the boardroom. Executive Suite explores the ruthless corporate environment and the clash between ambition and ethical behavior. Although it was released in the 1950s, the story’s premise remains as fresh and relevant today as when it was first written.

Everything about Executive Suite is stellar, from the cast, including William Holden, June Allyson, Barbara Stanwyck, Fredric March, Walter Pidgeon, Shelley Winters, Paul Douglas, Louis Calhern, Dean Jagger, and Nina Foch, to the direction by Robert Wise, the production by John Houseman, and a sharp script by Cameron Hawley.

The story opens in New York City, where corporate titan Avery Bullard is meeting with investment bankers about a future bond issue. Bullard, the president and driving force of the Tredway Corporation, a major furniture manufacturer based in the bustling industrial hub of Millburgh, Pennsylvania wires his secretary to call an executive board meeting for 6 o'clock. A short commuter flight will get him there just in time.

However, while hailing a taxi, Bullard suddenly drops dead in the street. What follows is an intriguing power struggle that reveals the character and shortcomings of the company’s top executives.

.Rotten Tomatoes gives it a score of 100%
It's available on Prime for few bucks, free on Max and probably available free elsewhere with ads.

 

[1srelluc]

I watched it on TCM last week.....I was not that impressed other than the acting.

 

[Flopper]

I watched it on TCM last week.....I was not that impressed other than the acting.

what type of movie do you like?

 

[1srelluc]

what type of movie do you like?

I just found it lacking compared to The Fountainhead of the same era which it tried to emulate.

 

[g5000]

William Holden is one of my favorite old-time actors. Not as much as Gregory Peck, but close.

Today's films about corporate intrigue are far more complex, and so Executive Suite looks dated, but was probably quite the sensation at the time.

The movie features a slimmer and only slightly less loud Shelley Winters.

Nina Foch bears a striking resemblance to Julia Garner who played Ruth in the Ozark series.

Foch's acting is too melodramatic.

 

[whitehall]

No corporations in the Country were more ruthless than the Hollywood studios in the 50's and yet they attacked and ridiculed real corporations who were dealing in hardware rather than fantasies.

 

[Flopper]

I just found it lacking compared to The Fountainhead of the same era which it tried to emulate.

Although I really like the cast, the book is better—as is usually the case. My issue with The Fountainhead, both the book and the movie, is that it’s overly idealistic in its condemnation of compromise and social conformity. But compromise is, in many ways, the foundation of society. Maybe the world’s greatest architect could afford to defy norms entirely, but the rest of us live in the real world, where maintaining our jobs, friendships, and place in the community often requires some degree of going along to get along. Unfortunately, that's just part of life.