BEHIND THE LIGHTED TOWER WINDOWS THE CONFLICT OF LOVE AND POWER IS RECKLESS AND DARING!
When the president of a major furniture company drops dead on Wall Street, a struggle begins among those who may or may not replace him. One of the first boardroom films of the 1950s has a very unusual beginning, with no music score and events filmed with a handheld camera, representing the eyes of the executive who suddenly croaks. What follows is more conventionally portrayed but with a firm grip; as Robert Wise moves us closer to the climactic boardroom meeting, we’ve gotten a clear picture of what’s at stake. There are no real villains here; the choices are still topical. Very good cast, but Fredric March is outstanding.
1954-U.S. 104 min. B/W. Produced by John Houseman. Directed by Robert Wise. Screenplay: Ernest Lehman. Novel: Cameron Hawley. Cinematography: George J. Folsey. Cast: William Holden (McDonald Walling), June Allyson (Mary Blemond Walling), Barbara Stanwyck (Julia Tredway), Fredric March, Walter Pidgeon, Louis Calhern… Shelley Winters, Nina Foch, Dean Jagger.
Trivia: Henry Fonda was allegedly considered for the part of Walling. Followed by a TV series, Executive Suite (1976-1977).
Last word: “They all knew each other, they had occasionally worked together in other films previously and whatnot. And they were very professional, very good. And maybe when we were relighting a shot or maybe between takes or reloading the camera, they would sit there and kid each other with, ‘remember this time, when we were there?’ Just swapping yarns or whatever. But the minute the bell rang, they were right back into character and played their parts. It was a fine experience, fine cast.” (Wise, interview by Harry Kreisler)
