Review of Executive Suite (1954) by Tonypolito — 13 Nov 2010

Powerful mid-Century drama, starring a full boat of A-listers, delivering a plotline dwelling on what's gone wrong with American industry.

Mr. Bullard, president of Tredway Furniture, drops dead on Wall Street, leaving no groomed heir apparent in place. In 24 hours, the Board meets to appoint one - and the five key men (manufacturing, finance, sales, research & development and accounting) start jockeying for position.

Bean-counter Fredrick March holds a night-school degree and a myopic, numbers-driven view of the company. He takes the lead out of the gate by hitting below the belt with every punch. He had already talked Prez Bullard into building junk, instead of quality furniture, just to save a dime on paper - and he has also been gunning to take back monies spent on R&D toward future product as well.

The R&D manager (William Holden) holds a quite different vision for the growth of the company, one based on product quality and product innovation. Will he play for the corner pocket office, and if he does, can he take it?

There's a solid five-star cast for its day - March, Holden, June Allyson, Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Pidgeon and Shelley Winters.

And there's a script almost totally driven by intelligent dialogue regarding how a company ought best be run. One factory worker cuts to the chase, shaking a flimsy occasional table and asking "What happened to Bullard? What will happen to all of US?".

The film's payoff is a boardroom battle of wills and rousing words that will persuade any reasonable viewer as to which is the better future for Tredway - and for any corporation.

This 1953 film was extraordinarily visionary in well anticipating the rise of finance/accounting driven management - and the decline of quality product and operations - in the central role of Western corporations.

First out on DVD in late 2007. Oliver Stone delivers an insightful commentary track.

RECOMMENDATION: A must-see for any viewer wishing to better understand the shortcomings of current Western management philosophy.

Said another way, watch this, and when you're done, you'll understand a lot more about why the American economy is in the toilet today.