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What's After the Movie?
Drama

Patterns (1955): Cast & Plot

Patterns (1955) movie poster

Patterns is a 1955 drama directed by Fielder Cook, starring Richard Kiley as Fred Staples, Ed Begley and Ronnie Welsh. It runs 53 minutes.

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Patterns (1955) movie poster
Released
Runtime
53 min
Director
Fielder Cook
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Patterns About?

The premise of Patterns without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

“Patterns” began as an American live television play aired on January 12, 1955 and was adapted into a film the following year with several original cast members. Fred Staples, the newest executive at a large corporation, befriends Vice‑President Andy Sloane, his nominal supervisor. Their hard‑nosed president, Walter Ramsey, praises Staples’ performance, then offers him Sloane’s position—a role Sloane has sacrificed his family for. As Ramsey’s machinations become clear, Sloane refuses to resign, and a tragic crisis forces Staples to choose between ambition and conscience.

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Cast & crew

Patterns Cast & Characters

Richard Kiley leads the cast as Fred Staples, with Ed Begley as Andy Sloane and Ronnie Welsh as Paul Sloane. Directed by Fielder Cook; 19 actors are credited in all.

Plot

Patterns Plot Summary

What happens in Patterns from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Ruthless Walter Ramsey runs Ramsey & Company, a Manhattan-based industrial empire he inherited from his father. He brings Fred Staples, a youthful industrial engineer whose performance at an Ohio factory recently acquired by Ramsey has impressed him, into a top executive role at the headquarters. Though Staples is initially unaware, Ramsey is grooming him to replace the aging Bill Briggs as the second-in-command at the firm.

Full summary

The whole story of Patterns, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Patterns?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the ruthless head of the industrial empire at the center of the story?

Cars

Cars in Patterns

6 cars on screen, including the 1950 Ford Custom De Luxe Station Wagon and the 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88.

All 6 cars
  • 1950 Ford Custom De Luxe Station Wagon in Patterns 1950 Ford Custom De Luxe Station Wagon Important role
  • 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 in Patterns 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Minor role
  • 1953 De Soto Powermaster in Patterns 1953 De Soto Powermaster Background role
  • 1955 Ford Mainline in Patterns 1955 Ford Mainline Background role

Seen Patterns?

FAQ

Patterns FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Patterns, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Patterns?

Patterns runs 53 minutes.

When was Patterns released?

Patterns was released on January 12, 1955.

Who directed Patterns?

Patterns was directed by Fielder Cook.

More films by Fielder Cook

Who is in the cast of Patterns?

Patterns stars Richard Kiley as Fred Staples, Ed Begley as Andy Sloane and Ronnie Welsh as Paul Sloane, among 19 credited actors.

Does Patterns have a post-credit scene?

No. Patterns has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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