The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956)

Director:

Nunnally Johnson

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (writer)
Sloan Wilson (novel)

Release Date:

8 May 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The year's most dramatic book...the year's most distinguished picture!

Plot:

An ex-soldier faces ethical questions as he tries to earn enough to support his wife and children well.

Plot Keywords:

Family | Illegitimate Child | New York City | Rome Italy | Adultery

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 22

3:30 AM

AMC

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Tom Rath
Jennifer Jones	...	Betsy Rath
Fredric March	...	Ralph Hopkins
Marisa Pavan	...	Maria Montagne
Lee J. Cobb	...	Judge Bernstein
Ann Harding	...	Helen Hopkins
Keenan Wynn	...	Sgt. Caesar Gardella
Gene Lockhart	...	Bill Hawthorne
Gigi Perreau	...	Susan Hopkins
Portland Mason	...	Janey Rath
Arthur O'Connell	...	Gordon Walker
Henry Daniell	...	Bill Ogden
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Manter
Joseph Sweeney	...	Edward M. Schultz
Sandy Descher	...	Barbara Rath
Mickey Maga	...	Pete Rath
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tristram Coffin	...	Byron Holgate (scenes deleted)
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Antonio Bulaga (scenes deleted)
Dorothy Adams	...	Mrs. Hopkins' maid (uncredited)
Leon Alton	...	Cliff Otis (uncredited)
Mary Benoit	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Robert Boon	...	German soldier (uncredited)
Jim Brandt	...	German soldier (uncredited)
John Breen	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Alfred Caiazza	...	Italian boy (uncredited)
Alexander Campbell	...	Walter Johnson (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford	...	Florence (uncredited)
John Crawford	...	Italian boy (uncredited)
Johnny Crawford	...	Italian boy with groceries (uncredited)
Robert Fuller	...	Extra (uncredited)
Paul Glass	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Roy Glenn	...	Sgt. Matthews (uncredited)
Phyllis Graffeo	...	Gina Gardella (uncredited)
Lee Graham	...	Crew chief (uncredited)
Jerry Hall	...	Freddie (uncredited)
Joy Harmon	...	Extra (uncredited)
Michael Jeffries	...	Alfred J. Sims (uncredited)
DeForest Kelley	...	Medic (uncredited)
Harry Lauter	...	Army corporal on leave (uncredited)
King Lockwood	...	Business executive (uncredited)
Nan Martin	...	Polly Lawrence (uncredited)
Jack Mather	...	Police Sgt. Haggerty (uncredited)
Dorothy Phillips	...	Mr. Hopkins' maid (uncredited)
William Phipps	...	Army sergeant (uncredited)
Otto Reichow	...	German soldier (uncredited)
Mario Siletti	...	Carriage driver (uncredited)
Lomax Study	...	Elevator starter (uncredited)
Kenneth Tobey	...	Lt. Hank Mahoney (uncredited)
Renata Vanni	...	Italian farm wife (uncredited)
Geraldine Wall	...	Miriam (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox	...	Ralph Hopkins' physician (uncredited)
Raymond Winston	...	Italian boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Nunnally Johnson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nunnally Johnson		writer
Sloan Wilson		novel

Produced by
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	producer

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Charles G. Clarke

Film Editing by
Dorothy Spencer

Art Direction by
Jack Martin Smith
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by
Stuart A. Reiss
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Charles Le Maire

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hal Herman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Harry M. Leonard	....	sound

Special Effects by
Ray Kellogg	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
John Intlekofer	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Leonard Doss	....	color consultant

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (1956) (Germany) (theatrical)

Runtime:

153 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Westport, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 16 seconds

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the end of the movie, when Betsy's at the police station, Tom asks Betsy over the phone if there are any charges against her. The policeman answers, "Just bring the license" before Betsy can ask him if there are any charges.

Quotes:

Tom Rath: I don't know anything about public relations.
Bill Hawthorne: Who does? You've got a clean shirt and you bathe everyday. That's all there is to it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The X Files: Terms of Endearment (#6.7)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech

Suburbia circa 1950s

The novel by Sloan Wilson, in which this film is based, offered an innovative view of the life in a small "bedroom community" in the Connecticut of the 50s. Nunnally Johnson, the director, and adapter, tried to bring the essence of the book to a film that would make sense of the text. At times, Mr. Johnson succeeds, but the film he gave us is a bit dated when one looks at it today.

Granted, some things never change, but the conflicts that made the basis for this melodrama, have been dealt with, more effectively in other, more distinguished films.

If you haven't seen the film, perhaps you should stop here.

In the center of the story we are presented with the epitome of decency: Gregory Peck. This great man was an excellent actor, his honesty exudes from every pore of his body. As Tom Rath, the former Captain of WWII, he has kept a secret that comes to haunt him at a crucial point of his life. Tom is ambitious, but he will not play the game until the kind president of the corporation has a heart to heart talk with him, recognizing Tom is a rare commodity in the business world.

The film offers a view of the complexity that is the corporation, as we knew it then. Greed had not taken over business yet. But what comes across clearly is the ambition of the people in the game of climbing the ladder of success.

Tom is happily married to Betsy, who shows signs that maybe she'll become either an alcoholic, or a Stepford wife. Her life goes into a tail spin because of the reality she must face in accepting what Tom has kept hidden inside. Betsy is not an endearing character; she doesn't elicit our sympathy until the end of the film, in which she comes to accept her lot in life. Jennifer Jones' interpretation of Betsy is not as effective in this film, perhaps because of the direction given by Mr. Johnson.

The cast if first rate. Fredric March and Lee J. Cobb, two of the best all time actors of the American stage and screen give life to both of the characters they play. Seen in the pivotal role of Maria, Marisa Pavan, the gorgeous Italian actress makes an impression on us. Keenan Wynn, also, has a small, but important part in the film.

View this movie as a curiosity piece, as it has lost some of the appeal it might have caused when it first came out.