Patterns
Directed by Fielder Cook
Written by Rod Sterling
1956/USA
Jed Harris/Michael Myerberg
First viewing/Amazon Prime

[box] Walter Ramsey: I’ll see you in the morning, Fred. Remember, you didn’t steal that promotion. You won it![/box]

This excellent, powerful look inside a big corporation shows Rod Serling could do more than write twist endings.

Fred Staples (Van Heflin) has been hired as the newest executive at a New York conglomerate.  Fred’s ambitious wife Nancy (Beatrice Straight) is thrilled with the move. When CEO Mr. Ramsey (Everett Sloane) first spotted him, he was working as plant manager of an Ohio company the corporation acquired.    The corporation rolls out the red carpet for Fred, providing him with a beautifully decorated office and a fully equipped house.  Fred is told that he will be working closely with Vice-President Bill Briggs (Ed Begley).  Soon he finds that he is getting Bill’s long-time secretary, who is not too thrilled to be leaving her boss.

The affable Fred quickly makes friends with Bill.  He is torn between his ethics and his ambition when he learns that he is being groomed as Bill’s replacement.  Fred’s angst becomes worse when Ramsey mercilessly rides Bill in an effort to make him so miserable he will quit.

I had never heard of this film before I did my research on 1956.  It was based on a teleplay by Serling and should be much better known.  The acting is fantastic.  I don’t think I have ever seen Begley in a sympathetic part and he is just wonderful.  There’s a lot to think about here.  Serling makes Ramsey despicable but at the same time you see the logic behind his every move and Fred’s decisions are believable every step of the way.    Highly recommended.

Clip – SPOILER