Walling's selection of an executive vice-president?

I've thought about that. If I were Walling I'd name Fred Alderson (Pidgeon) as executive VP as a final reward before he retires in another year or two (and also as a holding action), and tell Shaw that I intend to name him to the post when Alderson leaves provided he works with the others and understands the other components of running a company successfully, which is of course what the final boardroom showdown was about. That keeps Walling's options open but holds out hope that the clearly talented if narrow Shaw could grow into the job.

Of course, since Shaw is older than Walling he might not think he'd ever get the top job anyway. In that case, he might decide to leave for a company where he'd have a better shot at becoming president.

I always thought the movie was better than the book in most respects, especially the finale, where in the book Shaw is so swept away by Walling's vision that he almost doesn't care about losing. That wasn't realistic or dramatic.

As for Calhern's character, Caswell....Well, I guarantee he'd be forced out of the company by the scandal, his manipulations, etc. Sometimes I've thought they'd cover his losses in exchange for his stock and resignation, other times that they'd just let him swing and demand his resignation. Either way, he'd be finished. It would also create a vacancy for Walling to bring in someone who could eventually become executive VP in case Shaw didn't measure up.

Did Grimm (Dean Jagger) stay on instead of retiring? (I think so.) Did Eva (Shelley Winters) come back to Dudley, or was he left with his shrewish wife? Other interesting points left open.

I had hoped the secretary would get EVP, She seemed like the most competent manager in the place.

I'd vote for Walter Pidgeon. I wouldn't want his wife mad at me!







Yes, sir, I'm going to do nothing like she's never been done before!