The Power and the Prize * (1956, Robert Taylor, Elisabeth Müller, Mary Astor, Burl Ives, Charles Coburn, Cedric Hardwicke) – Classic Movie Review 12,010

Charles Coburn plays Guy Eliot.

Director Henry Koster’s 1956 MGM CinemaScope black and white drama film The Power and the Prize is based on the novel by Howard Swigett, and stars Robert Taylor, Elisabeth Müller, Mary Astor, Burl Ives, Charles Coburn, and Cedric Hardwicke.

When successful American businessman Cliff Barton (Robert Taylor) has achieved the power and attained the prize, it is too late to realise that they do not give satisfaction, which could be provided if he married a lonely waif, Austrian refugee Miriam Linka (Elisabeth Müller) in London. But his wicked boss, New York company CEO George Salt (Burl Ives), who he is primed to succeed, has other ideas about who Taylor should marry – his niece.

A carefully constructed role well within the ageing Taylor’s limited acting range is wasted because of the ham-fisted nature of Robert Ardrey’s screenplay. But it is a smart-looking, startlingly filmed drama, with some intelligent ideas and interesting ambitions, plus some very good veteran support actors.

The Power and the Prize runs a long-seeming 98 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, the film bombed at the box office, resulting in a hefty loss for MGM of $883,000 on a $1,455,000 cost.

Also in the cast are Nicola Michaels, Cameron Prud’Homme, Richard Erdman, Ben Wright, Jack Raine, Thomas Browne Henry, Richard Deacon and John Zaremba.

Robert Taylor in 1957.

Gossip queen Hedda Hopper and Taylor were members of the anti-Communist organization the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, as were Taylor’s friends John Wayne, Walt Disney and Gary Cooper. For this reason Hopper always spoke favourably of Taylor.

Taylor named names and ruined lives and careers when he was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities regarding Communism in Hollywood In October 1947.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,010

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