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Big Business | Vice President
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Best Art DirectionSet Decoration BlackandWhite | 1955
Best Actress in a Supporting Role | 1955 | Nina
Best Cinematography BlackandWhite | 1955
Best Costume Design BlackandWhite | 1955
1954 | Robert
Best Written American Drama | 1955 | Ernest
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 1955 | Robert
This was one of the few Hollywood films of the era not to have a musical score. The opening credits are shown to the accompaniment of traffic noises and the tolling of a bell.
While the practice of including a large, all-star cast had been popular in the 1930s, particularly with films such as Grand Hotel (1932) and Dinner at Eight (1933), it was a relatively rare occurrence in the 1950s. Producer John Houseman admitted many years after the film's production that the decision to cast so many recognizable stars was part of an effort by MGM to compete with the soaring popularity of television.
Producer John Houseman wanted Henry Fonda for the role of McDonald Walling. Fonda turned him down to star as Doc in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway musical "Pipe Dream." Ironically, though Fonda engaged in singing lessons for months ahead of time, Rodgers and Hammerstein ultimately decided that his voice was not strong enough to grant him the role, which freed Fonda to recreate his iconic stage role in the screen version of Mister Roberts (1955).
In an interview with TCM, Nina Foch said she resented being cast in such a minor role. When she spoke with director Robert Wise about wanting out of doing this film, he advised her to "make the most" of the opportunity - and she wound up getting her only Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actress) for her performance.
The Tredway Corporation headquarters building seen in exterior shots is actually the Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL) building in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"McDonald Walling: The force behind a great company has to be more than the pride of one man; it has to be the pride of thousands. You can't make men work for money alone - you starve their souls when you try it, and you can starve a company to death the same way. McDonald Walling: [picking up a small, flimsy table] And that's when we started doing things like this: the KF line. Walt, are your boys proud when they go out and sell this stuff? When they know the finish is going to crack, the veneer split off and the legs come loose? Loren Phineas Shaw: Wait a minute, wait a minute. That's priced merchandise - it serves a definite purpose in the profit structure of this company. We're not cheating anyone. McDonald Walling: Ourselves! Loren Phineas Shaw: At that price, the customer knows exactly what he is going to get. McDonald Walling: This! [flips the table over, and easily tears off one of its legs] McDonald Walling: This is what Tredway has come to mean! [violently throws the leg against the wall] McDonald Walling: And what do you suppose the people think of us when they buy it? How do you suppose the men in the factories feel when they make it? What must they think of a management that is willing to stoop to selling this kind of junk in order to add a dime a year to the dividend?"
"McDonald Walling: Turn your back on experimentation and planning for tomorrow because they don't contribute to dividends today, and you won't have a tomorrow..."
