This obscure (at least until the Fox Movie Network unearthed it recently) drama revolving around the advertising world pales in comparison to other movies featuring corporate intrigue like "Executive Suite" and "Patterns". Andrews plays a hot shot ad exec who's too bright for his own good, which gets him canned by his employer. Seeking revenge, he decides to use every trick he can think of to climb to the top and steal away his former employer's biggest account. Along the way he uses and sometimes abuses a variety of people. The film is not quite as exciting as this description may lead one to believe. Andrews (never the most expressive of actors) gives a pretty straightforward performance with little creativity or style. Crain plays an on-again/off-again squeeze of Andrews. She is in just slightly over her head as the calculating and worldly character, but comes out fairly well. Parker has, perhaps, the showiest role as a partner to Andrews. She goes from glum and drab to ultra-sophisticated and gorgeous in just a day or so under his tutelage. (Oddly, there is no credited costume designer even though she sports one particular stunning ensemble and the film has an array of suits and dresses throughout that SOMEONE had to have worked on!) Albert effectively plays a child-like dunderhead who is built up by Andrews as a tool for greater power. The great Daniell is shamelessly wasted in a tiny part as a curmudgeonly executive, but manages to impress despite this. The inimitable Freeman has a nice little part as a secretary. The film is as slick as the sort of ads it purports to ruminate about. Unusual for a movie about advertising, there is never so much as a glimpse of any artwork or campaign designs. Instead, there's a horrid little ditty called the Milk Song sung in harmony by three ladies dressed in what appear to be Crain's old costumes from 1945's "State Fair". These chickadees chirp their sweet little song as a row of ad execs glow with appreciation. Yeah.....It's a real jungle out there! Though watchable, the film doesn't really catch fire and the various names of the businessmen become confusing at times since the script is so pedestrian. Attempts at shorthand, snappy dialogue often just leave the viewer wondering what the characters are even talking about. (A plot like this shouldn't be so hard to follow!) "Bewitched" viewers may get a lift out of seeing White ("Mr. Tate") in a straight role.
Review of Madison Avenue
