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Patterns

Play trailer Poster for Patterns Released Mar 27, 1956 1h 23m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Businessman Fred Staples (Van Heflin) is plunged into the rough-and-tumble of office politics at his new job when he discovers that he is meant to replace the decent but ailing vice president, Bill Briggs (Ed Begley). A battle of wills ensues between Fred and the ruthless company president, Mr. Ramsey (Everett Sloane), who is intent on humiliating Bill into resigning. Despite the urgings of his pragmatic wife, Nancy, Fred resists losing his soul to the cold calculations of naked ambition.
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Patterns

Critics Reviews

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Myles Standish St. Louis Post-Dispatch A strongly made, well-knit, and absorbing drama. Mar 21, 2024 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Although it claims credible paternal rights for decades of boardroom melodrama and still carries a flame with strong performances, 1956's "Patterns" is but a controlled burn that struggles to transcend its proscenium roots on a larger screen and canvas. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 6, 2025 Full Review Craig Schroeder Battleship Pretension Patterns succeeds most as a showcase for its actors. Jan 7, 2021 Full Review Peter Canavese Groucho Reviews The main draw remains Serling, whose story seems every bit as relevant-indeed, more so-today. There is efficiency but also music in his theatrical language... [Blu-ray] Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 29, 2016 Full Review Matthew Sorrento Film Threat Depicts a call of humanity caught in a competitive world. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 16, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jun 12, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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DanTheMan 2 Taking the viewer into the pits of a big corporation's boardroom politics, backstabbing, and the tough way of doing business, Patterns almost feels like an American precursor to the later British TV series, The Plane Makers and The Power Game. Concerning the dangers and temptations of corporate culture in America, a film that claws at the beast and the greed that grips us all. The main draw is obviously Rod Serling's writing, whose story seems every bit as relevant today; capturing all the machinations and power ploys at home in this world, there is efficiency but also music in his theatrical language, backed up by some decent direction from Fielder Cook. It relies, and often succeeds, on spiky dialogue and a trio of superlative acting performances, a forceful melodrama. The lack of music and confined interior setting does make it feel a little on the small side, one perhaps befitting of its more live TV drama roots, but for the most part, Patterns succeeds most as a showcase for its actors. One that's strongly made, well-knit, and ultimately absorbing if a little on the slow side. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/06/25 Full Review Gary T Great movie. Rod Serling was the best. Acting, story all outstanding. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Madam D Rod Serling writes beautifully from the heart about real human beings. Greed is the center of the plot. Ambition is the subplot. Every actor did a job so real it was like a documentary. What a drama! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/23/25 Full Review David S Definitely! solid work by the main 5 in the acting lineup Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/25 Full Review nick s The acting performances were good across the board. I'm sure a lot of that was due to competent directing. The subject matter of the film - life in head office - should have been a drag but this movie made it work. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/21/23 Full Review Dan P I watch the movie for free on Youtube - what a bargain! - and found it very entertaining. Not sure where the title came from, but the acting, storyline and photography was excellent. The famous named actors did a great job as usual, but I was very impressed with the secretary character Marge Fleming, who was played by Elizabeth Wilson ♥ It's a must see Rod Serling story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/13/22 Full Review Read all reviews
Patterns

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Cast & Crew

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Fielder Cook

Director

Van Heflin

Fred Staples

Everett Sloane

Walter Ramsey

Ed Begley

William Briggs

Beatrice Straight

Nancy Staples

Elizabeth Wilson

Marge Fleming

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Patterns

Patterns (1956) Patterns (1956) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Businessman Fred Staples (Van Heflin) is plunged into the rough-and-tumble of office politics at his new job when he discovers that he is meant to replace the decent but ailing vice president, Bill Briggs (Ed Begley). A battle of wills ensues between Fred and the ruthless company president, Mr. Ramsey (Everett Sloane), who is intent on humiliating Bill into resigning. Despite the urgings of his pragmatic wife, Nancy, Fred resists losing his soul to the cold calculations of naked ambition.
Director
Fielder Cook
Producer
Michael Myerberg
Screenwriter
Rod Serling
Production Co
Jed Harris
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 27, 1956, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 23m
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