Patterns

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Patterns

1956,

1h 23m,

Drama

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89%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

83%

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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Myles Standish

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Mar 21, 2024

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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 20, 2025

3/4

The film’s uncompromising look at boardroom bloodletting remains relevant.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Sep 6, 2025

3.5/5

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.

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Craig Schroeder

Battleship Pretension

Jan 7, 2021

Patterns succeeds most as a showcase for its actors.

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Sep 29, 2016

3.5/4

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]

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Matthew Sorrento

Film Threat

Jul 16, 2009

3.5/5

Depicts a call of humanity caught in a competitive world.

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Kylo W

Mar 12, 2019

Just as relevant today as it was in 1956! Excellent acting by all and Rod Serling's writing adds humanity as he does to all his work as the force that keeps us having faith in each other. Rod Serling was a seer.

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Finn W

Feb 10, 2019

Hard-hitting, raw and un-soothing look at corporate America. Very well written and acted if a little hard to watch. But then, Blobbo pretty sensitive.

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Kylo G

Dec 9, 2018

This story of corporate power rings as true today as it ever did. Superb script and heartfelt performances.

Harry R

May 28, 2017

Film version of Rod Serling's Emmy-winning teleplay targeting the cutthroat world of business and the moral lapses of those at the top (or the lapses necessary to get to the top). Also known as "Patterns of Power", as in "behavioural patterns", we are treated to the machinations that CEO Walter Ramsey (Everett Sloan) goes through in order to force Bill Briggs (Ed Begley Sr.) to resign as Vice President. You see, Briggs is too humane, carrying about people and not just profits, and Ramsey is not. We follow Fred Staples (Van Heflin) who is brought in from Ohio to the New York City headquarters as he discovers that he is meant to replace Briggs, even though Briggs has not left. This puts Staples into a moral quandary which he tries to solve by befriending Briggs and giving him credit at every opportunity, especially with the boss (although he does catch himself damning Briggs with faint praise at times). When Ramsey eventually hounds Briggs to the point of nervous breakdown, Staples tries to take a stand but finds himself agreeing to take over as Vice President, telling Ramsey he'll always speak truth to power. Since this is Serling, we can't exactly take Staples at face value; we wonder whether it is even possible not to be influenced by money and power, not to lose one's focus on people when profits are at stake, not to play politics with coworkers' lives. Powerhouse acting by all concerned (particularly Begley) and a sharp script keep things tense and biting, never didactic. Still relevant today.

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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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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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