Blu-ray Review: Patterns

I’ve been getting into Van Heflin’s work lately. I was really impressed by his performance as Jim Hessler in Till The Clouds Roll By, and was excited to finally get a chance to see him in Patterns, which is now available on Blu-ray thanks to The Film Detective. Here he turns in another incredible performance, this time as Fred Staples, a man who starts a new job in industrial relations in New York, only to find he’s being groomed to replace an older employee who is no longer valued. This film boasts an excellent cast that includes (in addition to Van Heflin) Everett Sloane, Ed Begley, Beatrice Straight and Elizabeth Wilson, and a screenplay written by Rod Serling, the man responsible for writing and narrating The Twilight Zone television series.

It has an interesting opening, showing us the women of the office, the secretaries who seem to know at least as much as the men they work for. From them we learn bits about the men from their conversations and interactions. And there is some excitement over the new man, Fred Staples, whom they have not yet met. Their office is the top floor of a crowded building, so some prestige is attached to the corporation even before we see the men in action. And then, when we meet Mr. Staples, he is saying goodbye to his wife, who has driven him to work on his first day – a really nice touch, for it gives us immediately a different impression of the man than we might otherwise have had, a more human one. And it aligns him in our eyes with Bill Briggs (Ed Begley), a friendly older man who has been with the firm for decades.

Biggs voices concerns over the way another company is going to be purchased, with its workforce put out of work for a period of some months while the plan is implemented. It is clear his views are not appreciated by Mr. Ramsey (Everett Sloane), who now runs the company. What is not yet clear is precisely what Fred’s voice will be within the company.

There is some wonderful composition of shots, as in the moment after the meeting when Mr. Ramsey speaks with Fred. Ramsey and Staples are on the left side of the screen in the background. Dominating the shot is Mr. Briggs, who faces out toward us and is still seated, giving us the impression that he is truly the topic of the conversation, that he and his job are somehow being affected by the niceties exchanged by the two men behind him, and perhaps that he was where Staples is now, and thus that Staples may become what Briggs is now.

And indeed, Staples soon learns that he has been hired as Briggs’ replacement. What is interesting and compelling is that Ramsey is given good points to make, and isn’t simply portrayed as a corporate villain. That of course is due in no small part to Everett Sloane’s performance. Also excellent in this film is Beatrice Straight as Nancy Staples, particularly in the scene with Fred after a dinner party. This is one of the most dynamic and exciting scenes in the film, and indeed is reason enough to view this film. Another remarkable scene is that with Fred Staples and Bill Briggs one night in the office, when Briggs should be at a Red Sox/Yankees game with his son. Briggs says: “This business didn’t grow, not since old man Ramsey passed on. It’s been added to. That’s not growth. It’s just plain acquisition.” And when Fred says, “Well, times change, Bill,” Bill responds, “But do they always change for the better?”

There is a lot going on in this film, about how dedication to a company affects one’s humanity and family life. It’s an incredible film with captivating performances.

The film is presented in its 1.66:1 aspect ratio, and the picture looks fantastic for this Blu-ray release. Patterns was directed by Fielder Cook and was released on Blu-ray on September 27, 2016 through The Film Detective. The disc contains no special features.