Review of Patterns (1956) by Dave J — 12 Mar 2014

Wednesday, March 12, 2014.

(1956) Patterns.

DRAMA.

An 'In your face' explicit movie about how corporate America works in real life, which may also be a reflection how the writer of this movie, by the name of Rod Serling of the "Twilight Zone" fame experienced from his own top executives. It's one of the examples about how employees can be dicked around. This movie requires 'no' irony as Serling is best known for, but rather a movie that is ahead of it's time, that is happening as of right now as we speak. It's an example about how corporate greediness can sometime overshadow human principle. And everybody has either seen or know someone like this, where if a fellow employee who has just started, and he is making twice the amount of money than the veteran worker does, who's been there for a really long time and still couldn't make anymore than what s/he is getting- that sort of thing.

It stars Van Hefflin as Fred Staples, who has just started to work for a wealthy corporation on his very first day, with all of it's employees there to greet him and so forth- including the second man on top, William Briggs played by acting legend Ed Begley as William Briggs. And immediately, William begins to like Fred as they begin to work together on a project. And it was at this point, would be the perfect example of 'don't give any credit, where credit is due', when Fred's boss, Walter Ramsey (Everett Sloane), wanted only Fred to take full credit on this particular project, even though William also helped him on it. Then the film turned to 'the main boss doing whatever it takes to drive the old fella out'. And the funny thing is, that it's like that in real life too, since they're many people who take great pride into stealing other peoples work or ideas before calling it as their own, such as J.K. Rowling of the "Harry Potter" fame, and Disney stealing plots, ideas, and characters to make the financially successful "The Lion King". Which anyone who's open minded can see for themselves that "the Lion King" is just the shorter equivalent version of a long running syndicated show in Japan called "Kimba, the White Lion", with the only difference is that not many North Americans had ever seen nor had heard of it. And at the same time, Disney executives turning it around, claiming that "The Lion King" came from MacBeth. They go, 'can't you see the similarities'. Or when long time faithful employees are laid off or fired just one day before retirement.

And yes, the ending of "Patterns" is also a revelation of what happens to people in general as well, as Fred stands tall claiming to be paid a bigger salary than the others. otherwise he'll walk.

3 out of 4 stars.