Madison Avenue

As far as I know this 1962 drama is unavailable on video but thanks to the Fox Movie Channel it is back in circulation. The always dependable Dana Andrews plays a big time "build-up man" who appears to be at the pinnacle of his ad man career when his boss double crosses him and he is forced to seek revenge by going to a rival agency. The story involves almost an excessive amount of crosses and double crosses but those who have spent time in corporate America should find these antics interesting if not thoroughly engrossing.

Visually, the film has the look of contemporary Billy Wilder widescreen B&W classics like "The Apartment" and "One, Two, Three" and while it is not in that pedigree it nevertheless keeps things brimming along for its running time. Many have suggested that its sexual politics (using sex to get what you want) are out of date. My view is that while some of the overt strategies of 1962 have evolved the basic premise still prevails.