PATTERNS (1956)

Had Benjamin Franklin lived to see the ‘Golden Age’ of live tv drama in the 1950s & ‘60s, his most famous quip would go, ‘Nothing is certain except death, taxes & overrated tele-plays.’   PATTERNS, Rod Serling’s pre-TWILIGHT ZONE calling-card credit being a prime example.  (MARTY/’55, 12 ANGRY MEN/’57, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES/’62 likely the best known for going from small to large screen, with the latter an exception to the rule.)  Here, slightly recast/slightly opened up is the film version of the 1955 Kraft Television Theatre presentation, both from Serling & director Fielder Cook.  A corridors of corporate power drama, Van Heflin’s the fresh exec from the MidWest hired by CEOgre Everett Sloane as a stealth replacement for fast-aging Ed Begley.  Only problem, Begley & Heflin bond right away, agree on the issues and put people first.  Sloane all heartless bottom-line.  (Anyone who can’t see where this is going deserves to watch the film.)  Glib and pretentious at once, Serling can always be counted on to highlight the obvious.  That’s okay, but his morality tales (at least his originals) work better in half-hour format.  (No time to find him out.  Even TWILIGHT ZONE always better at 30" rather than 60".)  Worse, every story beat telegraphed; every character flaw set in neon (Begley might as well have LOSER printed on his forehead); every actor indicating like mad (‘The Method’ nowhere in sight, with loyal secretary Elizabeth Wilson all telltale twitches); and every piece of info repeated so we won’t miss it.  Plus, a copout ending to let us know capitalism is tough, but good for you.  (Today Sloane would be a stand-in Scott Rudin/Harvey Weinstein pariah.)  Made on the cheap, the film still managed to lose a boodle as M-G-M’s EXECUTIVE SUITE had pretty much swept this territory.*

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/ATTENTION MUST BE PAID/LINK:  *Playing much the same role she had in her Oscar®-winning turn in NETWORK/’76, Beatrice Straight is Heflin’s worried/supportive wife.  Funny since William Holden had the equivalent Heflin role in EXECUTIVE SUITE/'54 and would get Straight as his equivalent wife when he played something similar in NETWORK.    https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/06/executive-suite-1954.html