Patterns (1956) ROD SERLING

I want that woody!

I thought he was saying neck scar....

Such a beautiful visit of better times when men were men with well deserved and reciprocated respect for each other and the women too… Well dressed on an average Tuesday afternoon… in support of their husbands and/or themselves. This exact thing happened to me. I was a legacy guy that fought my way up through the ranks to a Directors position. Very well respected and cared for by even deeper legacy executives. Then one day they all retired. And I was left with a boss that hated legacy and had zero respect for knowledge skills & abilities. Micromanagement, zero empowerment and only one motivation. Everyone works for him and only works on things that would advance him… He treated people exactly like this guy did in meetings and it was absolutely absurd, ridiculous, and disgusting. I was the only one to stand up to him and literally tell him to calm down and watch his tone. Fortunately I’d already banked 35 years of service and instead of dying I was only disabled… So I retired at 55. I’d probably still be working there if it wasn’t for him. With pension and social security I was able to retire with a small increase in income. So in that regard, I actually own him a special thanks. A big smiling thank you with both hands held high and both middle fingers straight up…. And by the way, I left one week before the vaccine deadline without getting that poison injected in me. Lol.

Can actors/actresses remember their scripts that are written like this- these days? No. they only need to show attitude and that get's them an Oscar,

Rod Sterling is a master at character development. Loved this film.

Exquisite work

A great, principled film. It's depressibg that such attitudes still exist is companies, where career comes first. But how many people will admit to doing that?.

Great learning in this movie.

this is the kinda movie I used to watch on TBS with my grandmother while she would smoke cigarettes and we would play cards. absolute masterpiece

No "discussion" between those two men at the end could even come close to happening in today's world. Hurt feelings, bruised ego's and a frantic call to human resources would see to that. My how we have fallen.

Excellent. So glad I watched it

The movie starts with TANTUM ERGO. Catholics who went to Friday Benediction will recognize it.

truly, an excellent production. it transcends the decades. Serling was truly brilliant.

70 yrs after this film was made, this type of psychological warfare STILL runs rampant in corp America. Rod Serling was a real visionary. He understood the assignment. And every corporation that exists and operates in this manner should be ashamed of themselves (but we know they'll never be ashamed). Kudos Rod Serling, amazing work.

Great movie and a good summary of the corporate world. However, the choice remains between a higher salary, a possible double stock option, and a short lifespan, or leaving the toxic work environment for your peace of mind, good health, and a long life. You choose. Most people who remain in this type of toxic environment usually don't live long; they are either taken by cancer, high blood pressure, heart failure, or ulcers... to name a few. Choose wisely, especially if you have young children less than 21 years old involved.

Some of the best acting, directing and script I've ever seen in a movie. Just the plot was over-sentimental.

I'm a bit baffled as to why the secretary (who was supposedly so fond of Bill) looked and sounded happy upon receiving the news of his death.

Absolutely brilliant scripting as if from today's reality

3:27 this looks like so much fun being with the girls and having coffee. I miss working so much and I miss my friends and making friends..

Nancy is a piece of work!!! Love movies of that era unbeatable

please tell me there is a second part to this film...

such a great movie Must have seen 4 times and I'm sure I'll watch it again.

Just think...this is what we would be proliferating if we were to get off this rock and start infesting other worlds....the creator must indeed be entertained by its creation.

Rod Sterling is an amazing writer with lots of insight into the human condition 👍❤️🇦🇺

.. and so the Pattern continues .... he thought he won a victory, but he just became .part of the Pattern. Still so relevant.

Whiplash has a TON of this in it. What a film. Wow. Just wow.

Wow, this movie hits hard. Intense expressions, lots of scowls.

The script was great, the story was ethical and the dialogue was intelligent, but it could have done without so many raised voices and emotional reactions.

The Rule of Two. Sith all the way at the end :).

When one lacks consciousness and heart humanity pays a high price.

Perfect 🎉

May I suggest two other fantastic b&w dramatic movies

Manchurian candidate

Judgement at Nuremberg 1961

Both are jaw dropping good of course if you are film buffs you've probably already seen them ❤

I coded the code, that created a company. Yet, I had bosses (of course). Oh, the games they would play. The company had an empty office, that they dangled to nearly all the employees that they were looking to fill that office, with someone in a promotion. In truth, the company was run by someone lower on the totum pole. The president was a figure head. The entire company was founded, because someone else held a patent, and they were ignoring it, and removing liability in the owning companies. But the unpaid OT, got the company in trouble with the young female employees, since they were child bearing age, some with children at home, working 80 hours a week, was something they were not able to do. They got sued. But the company, was a one trick pony, and the code was written, so, they just ousted the men working 80 hours a week, and "promoted" the woman, into their positions. Some women immediatly quit, because, they wanted money, not work. Others actually, did amazing, in the weirdest social experiment ever conducted, the women working 37 hours a week, took the ball and ran with it. Still, a man doing the documentation and falling asleep in meetings, rose higher and higher, and higher. Weird. And they literally CHANGED patent law, (who was I working for, lol). Now, if corporations dont like your patent, if enough of them get together, they can take it from you.

Wonderful acting, plot, and development. This has been happening for years and years. We are slaves of our jobs for just nothing. Personally I resign from my job and my country U.S. and now I am happy in another country living the best time ever in my life. Freedom has a price but when you are free whatever troubles happens in our lives actually doesn't matter.

This was a great movie. I been watching all these black and white movies just to get away from all the cgi and AI and I’m loving this escape. Any suggestions 😊✌️

They sure don't make them like this anymore, do they?

Women were most beautiful in the 1950s.

How prescient.. great writing by Rod Serling. Very well produced. Acting was great as well

Is there a more profound psychological analysis to this story? Cutthroat realities of corporate culture seem to be norm in our society. Few seem to question this because it is part of our system of "doing business" as usual.
"Yes, looking below the surface of Patterns reveals a profound psychological analysis of how corporate structures function as closed psychological ecosystems. Rod Serling was not just critiquing bad behavior; he was exploring how institutions manipulate human vulnerabilities—like the need for identity, security, and purpose—to ensure their own survival."
About the author: "Serling's [had his own] real-life battles with corporate network censors, where he faced these exact power dynamics while trying to write meaningful television."

This is a masterpiece and a tough pill.

I worked in the fortune 100, and I'm probably being too cry baby and literary about it, but I remember a line that people who can afford to hire gardeners, housekeepers and cooks learn to cross. I retired early and am still learning to live on 1/3 what I earned at the peak of my working life. It's a line that cuts both ways. I saw a Jeff Bezos interview recently and he said people who earn <75K a year pay 3% of taxes but for us it's still about 24% of income. His argument was that govt could find 3% under its couch cushions if it wanted to.

If Rod had put his story's into book form 1st, he would have been the best-selling author on Earth at this time

Not one F word Wow what a well produced film.

Had to do a replay of when Fred drove up and said something about Mansfield. Im from Mansfield haha.

Serling saw the 1950's corporate work environment so clearly and portrayed it with such sublety that it makes all the other portrayals look like cartoons.
I was especially taken by Serling's gender roles' portrayal. Women were not weak, but rather held sway in their relegated role - that of being caretakers of knights doing battle, cradling the energy of the knight inside the armor and, when necessary, redirecting that energy for the purpose of sustained battle.
The battle was between men. Men seeking worthy opponents and their superiority to others through tough fisted battle. Money, power, and self-respect are the chips that keep score, and there are few things more poignant than a defeated bull who has aged out of primacy.
The patterns? When one knight is defeated and loses his life, the next knight steps into the arena - in this case with his approving and supportive adjunct. Her competence can be determinative. She is an alpha female.
I think Serling saw 1950's corporate work environment as essentially no more sophisticated than bull bison establishing breeding rights on the plains - a Darwinian struggle grinding out in skyscraper offices. Serling portrays it as if the men are compelled by the same volition as moths to the flame. He leaves us at the beginning of round 2 between morality and amorality on this capitalist stage.
I really wish Rod Serling were here today to help us understand today's quagmire - or maybe I'm just not willing to admit what I think should be blatantly obvious to everyone about today's world of finance, business and economics, ie. the rats are not only deserting the sinking ship, but they're the ones who gnawed the holes in the hull, and are gobbling up every bit of food on board before they jump.

He could see.. I don't believe he legitimately died of an illness.. knowing what I know now..

This film NEEDS to be remade for the gruesome stress in today's society/work related areas are just as gruesome and unkind as back then. People are still experiencing death, work suicides, and stress related illness due to horrific stress & anxiety in work related areas or related issues.