Executive Suite WS Laserdisc starring William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck, June Allyson, Fredric March, Walter Pidgeon, Shelly Winters, Louis Calhern & Paul Douglas.
When Avery Bullard, President of the Tredway Corporation dies, it's discovered that he failed to name a successor. Now, it's up to the board to choose one. The result is a corporate power struggle. While some Board members politic for Loren Shaw, the skilled, if not slick, businessman. In the other corner, those in support of Don Walling duke it out. He's a talented engineer with a love for the corporation's product line. Based on a Cameron Hawley novel, this film the inspiration for a 1970's TV series.
Executive Suite is an often overlooked drama, but I beleive it to be one of the best films of the 1950's. The death of the president of a large furniture company creates a power struggle among the remaining board members. Competing for the top job are William Holden as an idealistic designer and engineer, and Fredric March as the company's chief acccountant. These two spend much of the film jockying other members of the board for their votes. The climactic showdown comes in the form of a board meeting where one man snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, not by force or cunning or even any kind of cleverness, but simply by telling the truth. One of the finest scenes you'll ever see in any film.
Holden and March are both outstanding, with straightforward direction by Robert Wise. One interesting note: this film has no musical score, very rare for a film from the 50's--only the bell from the company's clock tower.
*Laser disc is in great almost new condition.
