Change Your Image
robertlynch-81023
Reviews
Patterns (1956)
The Retort to Death of a Salesman
Watching this movie, particularly the tension between Begley and Heflin on one side and Sloane on the other is like watching a morality play in a gladiatorial arena.
Perhaps Sloane's best performance. As the film proceeds, Sloane, who is detestable and onerous, emerges as also one who must be respected, but never trusted nor loved.
The dynamic interplay and character development is excellent. In Begley and Heflin, we can feel a little bit we know about ourselves and the internal conflicts we all feel in life.
Sloane is also quite believable, especially to those who've had to confront the lust for power in the worlds of politics and business.
The female supporting characters all aptly express the dilemmas they face with an admirable nobility not often seen in modern era movies.
The Power and the Prize (1956)
Dynamic Interplay of Characters
While there are some flaws in this movie, it has held up well over the years.
The plot inter-weaves a love story with a morality allegory -- no easy task. This movie does a credible job at both.
Miriam Linka, played by Elisabeth Mueller, is convincing and charming as she evolves from a frightened but strong concentration camp refugee torn between anger, hate, and disillusionment with an inner desire to love and be loved, while at the same time striving to maintain an inner idealism.
I suspect there were significant cuts in the story line between Mueller & Taylor that makes some of the scenes a bit jittery as Mueller moves from anger, bitterness, and hostility emerging from baseless prejudices to an almost adolescent romanticism. Maybe a bit over the top, but that's also a fallibility of the directing and screen writing. Still, her performance, in a difficult role, is laudable.
Sadly, Hollywood didn't call upon Mueller's charming and energetic talents after this movie.
Does this movie meet some important criteria for success?
It has aged well. It is reasonably well-written. It has credible characters that we can love or hate (or both simultaneously). The casting is well orchestrated. There is a dynamic tension between conflicting characters. There are no dull moments -- the story doesn't drag. There are sufficient plot twists to keep the viewer curious for the denouement. There are several very memorable lines worth quoting. It's worth seeing twice to capture its nuances.