Word: holden
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...failure of these hastily-sketched characterizations might be permissable if the central figure, played by William Holden, had any depth or truth in him. But MGM's conception of a youthful engineer who doubles as vice-president in charge of research is more embarrassing than inspiring more Hollywoodish than Ciro's. Everything that the movie does to make Holden the hero produces the opposite reaction. His nuzzling wife (June Allyson) is sickening in her devotion, and his slimy son is repugnant in his Little League uniform...
Executive Suite. Star-studded scramble for the presidency of a big corporation; with William Holden, June Allyson, Barbara Stanwyck, Fredric March, Walter Pidgeon, Shelley Winters, etc., etc. (TIME...
Meanwhile, the opposition, although dead-set against March, can't get together on a candidate. Walter Pidgeon, the senior in point of service, doesn't feel up to the job, thinks William Holden (Design and Development) should have it. But Dean Jagger (Production), who dislikes Holden, won't stand still for such a deal, and Holden himself, arm-tugged by his wife (June Allyson), is not sure that he wants any part...
...tension is brilliantly built by all hands. The script maintains the mood with a cold, mechanical finesse: each new scene thrusts out the one before with a brisk push-pull, click-click. Yet curiously, only one actor really seems to get his blood up in the contest. Holden, Douglas and Calhern are fine in their characterizations of U.S. businessmen. But as the "night-school C.P.A." who tries to charm, scheme, jostle and bluff his way to power, Fredric March is magnificent...
Actor March's performance is so convincing, in fact, that by contrast the upbeat ending seems a little silly. At the big board meeting, Holden hits the sawdust trail for bigger and better production, full employment, community service, and some sort of universal good. Exciting as the scene is, it leaves the spectator wondering whether business really needs such frenzied philosophic justification. The trouble with some of the boys in this executive suite may be that they secretly agree with Sinclair Lewis. They still feel vaguely ashamed of making money, and perhaps they try to salve their consciences...