July 7th Movie of the Day: Executive Suite

Executive Suite is a movie unlike many others.  It is one of those movies that couldn't be made now.  It has a gallery of stars, even in minor roles.  I actually saw this the first time when shelly Winters passed away and TCM showed this as one of her more interesting movies.
.
Shelly was the Secretary used and cast aside by a married boss.  It was a minor part, but she was great.
.

Shelly Winters

Everyone in this was great actually.  The only real staring role was William Holden, who is kind of the main character.  Barbara Stanwyck is critical, but not in it nearly as much.  Juen Allison is William Holden's wife and pays the nebbish wife that infuriates me.
.
The other reason it couldn't be made now, is that it is a very anti-robber-baron theme. It starts as an industrialist dies of a heart attack (on a fRiday), but with no identification.  A Donald Trump type sees what happens and shorts the company like crazy.  Then the board tries to elect a new CEO over the week-end.
.

Walter Pidgeon and Barbara Stanwyck

William Holden is a factory supervisor that still wants to make quality product, and employ the workers.  Many others on the board want to continue to sell crappy knock-offs, put the employees out int he cold and take the cash.  Back then, William Holden type characters were the hero.  Now, we nominate the bottoming feeding sharks as Presidential Candidates or give them TV shows.

June Allison (standing by her man) and Bill Holden

.
That is why it is so interesting.  Not only is  it a fun little movie, the message is that our country can still be a land of good people if you play by the rules and are honest.  Back then it was melodrama.  Today it would be a fantasy.

Nona Foch gives the stink eye..