Great movie...until the end - Executive Suite (1954) Discussion

[–] wbf200 11 years ago

I think the right word is idealism. And the ending represented the fact that in the fifties there were still some businessmen who saw their workers as their most valuable asset and that the notion of making a profit and feeling a sense of responsibility for their employees well-being weren't mutually exclusive concepts. Today of course it's unfettered greed that motivates the execs in the Walmarts, etc. of this world.

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[–] hobnob53 11 years ago

wbf200 -- I started to reply to this post the other day before realizing that the OP was probably making an un-serious statement just to rile things up. (I could be mistaken but hope not!) I mean, "pouring on the liberalism"? What? Increased profits? Strong workforce? Forward-thinking management? Dedication to making quality products? Seeking the best people? Performance for pay? An ethical approach to the consumer, the worker and corporate affairs?

Come to think of it...yeah, I guess to the Mitt Romneys of the world, such a business ethos is "liberal" these days. His father would be spinning.

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[–] WyldeGoose 11 years ago

Actually, given the precedent, liberalism would be less than the status quo at Tredway. It would be the embrace of entropy that the company was in.

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[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

"Today of course it´s unfettered greed that motivates the execs in the Walmarts, etc. of this world".

Has it ´ever´ been any different, though?

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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[–] netshopper-2 11 years ago

Not thinking it was liberalism but more like messages being sent to the audience of ethical nature.

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[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

A bit preachy perhaps, but at least it´s preaching some sensible things. The only part that didn´t ring true, is the romanticized contention that high salaries aren´t enough for an average worker - that they´re yearning for some more "spiritual" reward for their work, that their "pride" comes before the dough. That´s hardly the case, is it?

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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[–] atlasmb 10 years ago

Studies have shown that it is not money alone that motivates workers or determines their degree of job satisfaction.

I thought the ending was brilliant. It had nothing to do with liberalism. It was, indirectly, about ethics. But Walling spells it out--it is about pride (of workmanship), something that both workers and consumers value.