Patterns

Released Mar 27, 1956

1h 23m

Drama

List

86%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

christopher c. m

It was based on a story by Rod Serling, but I know he can do better than that. It must have been rewritten by some exec or director Fielder Cook to save money. Because you tell the budget was tiny. As the entire movie happens in an office building with people in offices having meetings or board meetings having meetings. Talking the most generic business talk, nothing specific of what the factory makes. Furniture? Cars? Televisions? Video game consoles? WHAT! They talk about the town needing the factory but seeing the town or someone from the town would have been nice. Forced melodrama without seeing the stakes involved is boring. It starts at a dead stop and never really gets going. The moral is good but it fails in delivery. I for a party of one was bored with board meetings.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Ken R

Patterns – A Powerhouse Classic It doesn't get much better than this, a look-you-in-the-eye denouement of what killed the American corporate Dream...GREED. Many contemporary viewers will even miss the real message of this classic because today's business ethics have become tainted with the very divisive lack of morals this story is warning us to avoid. I unfortunately, bought the poor quality Roan DVD release of this pic that's transferred from an old TV print - with splices, fleck, and commercial cue dots all through it - the suss extras actually offer commentary which also misses the true point of the story! I now hope to find the remastered version to see it properly presented. Director of photography Boris Kaufman (On the Waterfront) brings powerful images to Fielder Cooks sensitive direction – Rod Serling's searing script/story doesn't miss a dramatic beat. All the principal performances are as good as they can possibly get with Van Heflin perfect as the new man in the company wanting to hold true to his values. This comes with a strong recommendation for viewers wanting an intelligent study of corporate greed, and the disintegrating humanity that hangs off it. Hold off purchasing, till you locate the quality re-mastered DVD, taken from the new print made for a latter TCM screening.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/21

Full Review

jerry p

A superb business drama that captures the real life tensions of a recently promoted executive, coming to terms with his own success, working under a hard driving owner.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

william k

Electrifying business drama based on an excellent Rod Serling play convinces with its intensity and high-class performances.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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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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Myles Standish

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A strongly made, well-knit, and absorbing drama.

Mar 21, 2024

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

Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

A inteligente discusso final entre os personagens de Heflin e Sloane j o bastante para que este filme merea aplausos.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 18, 2004

Full Review

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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
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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