Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Kirandeep Yoder The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

movie-viking Just enjoy this movie. And/or use it for a great teaching lesson. On great drama, On great classic actors, On maybe moral concerns facing all corporations!All fine actors... The devious guys can out Gecko - Gecko (of "Wall Street" fame).The good guy speaks at the meeting...better watch out for flying furniture...as he makes his point.Let's see ...Insider trading (not even sure if it was illegal back then) will destroy someone...Corporate Backstabbing...Power Plays...Lobbying Committee Votes... Trying to sway the company heiress...Quality products made versus...bigger profits. The business suit-clad vultures start circling minutes after the Big Exec is dead!!!Executive Suite could be a good film for your high school (or home school) business class. But if you just want a quality drama...just watch and enjoy!

vincentlynch-moonoi It seems that this is a little remembered film, but it's certainly one of the finest films you can watch dealing with corporate intrigue.Just think, to begin with, about the cast: William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck, Fredric March, Walter Pidgeon, Paul Douglas, Louis Calhern, Dean Jagger, June Allyson, Nina Foch, and Shelley Winters. Add to that director Robert Wise ("Somebody Up There Likes Me", "West Side Story", "The Sound Of Music"). Add producer John Houseman (famous for his work with Orson Welles). Add to that writer Ernest Lehman ("Sabrina", "The King and I", "North by Northwest", "West Side Story", "The Sound of Music", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". I mean...wow! The biggest criticism I can find for this film is that it sometimes has the taste of a stage play because it mostly takes places in just a couple of sets. But, it doesn't seem stiff, as some movies are when they are translated to the big screen.William Holden is superb as an executive who lives more on the manufacturing line than in the board room, but who decides to campaign for CEO. Barbara Stanwyck is appropriately hysterical, when needed. Fredric March is excellent as the board member ready to grab the CEO-ship. Walter Pidgeon is great as a board member who realizes time has passed him by. Paul Douglas -- not usually one of my favorites -- is excellent as the head of sales, whose private life is worming its way into his job performance. Louis Calhern is great as a board member who is just a little too slick for his own good. Dean Jagger isn't really given enough to do here, and that's a shame. June Allyson, as Holden's wife, is very good...treading the line between being a nag and being supportive. Nina Foch is superb as the cold secretary who actually has a heart.The story is intense, though some audiences today may find it a little slow. The script solid.A top notch film that I highly recommend.

irvberg2002 As most other reviewers, I found this a delightful watch; all the actors are right on and the story is gripping. But I am amazed by the number of reviewers who labor under the notion that this is a film about "big business." Given the numbers of the shares of stock and their prices, even at 1954 rates, this is quite a small business and most of the shares are closely held (by the daughter of the founder); it's puzzling how the SEC would permit the shares of such a business to be publicly traded. It's also puzzling how the profits of such an outfit could support the salaries of the executives/board members shown in the film. In this respect, this film is similar to Cash McCall, based on a novel by the same author,where the business involved is tiny compared to the scale of, e.g., the top thousand American corporations by any measure, sales, capitalization, etc.

MartinHafer This is a story of a fictional corporation that makes furniture. It's apparently a huge one--with enormous sales. That's why when the president of the company dies that the board of directors is in a tizzy. Various men want to control the company and to do so, they need to create alliances and connive to get the majority of the board members to vote for them. However, despite the conniving and maneuvering, the film ends with a few surprises.This is a highly unusual film. The biggest difference is that it's an "actor's film" with little of the adornment you'd find in other films--forcing the writers and actors to carry the entire film. The first way you realize it's this sort of film is that the film is missing a sound track! Yes, when the opening credits roll and there is no music whatsoever, you know this is NOT your typical film! And, when you see the wonderful cast of leading men and women as well as noted supporting actors, you also know it's a film built around people--not action. Imagine being a director who's given the likes of Fredric March, Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden, Paul Douglas, Louis Calhern, and the rest as a cast! The only film that immediately comes to mind with less adornment and an even better cast is "12 Angry Men"...and that's a truly great film.Overall, I liked this film a lot but also think that some may not appreciate all the machinations and the cerebral plot. If you want explosions, romance or comedy, this film certainly is not for you!