Upon starting his new executive position at the "Ramsey" building, "Staples" (Van Heflin) is greeted warmly by his boss, "Briggs" (Ed Begley), and the owner of the company (Everett Sloane). It doesn’t take long for him to understand that "Briggs," who has recently recovered from an illness, is being targeted for removal, and he's expected to be instrumental in facilitating this change. The difficulty arises because, despite his considerable ambition—a trait shared by his wife, "Nancy" (Beatrice Straight)—"Staples" finds himself genuinely liking "Briggs" and appreciating his more personable business style. Things become even more complicated when Briggs’ secretary is unexpectedly assigned to work with the new arrival, suggesting a clear trajectory of events and raising questions about how far “Staples’” moral compass will stretch. I thought Van Heflin gave one of his stronger performances here, successfully conveying his character's internal struggles. Begley also delivers a solid portrayal as a man who might be nearing the end of his career, while Sloane perfectly embodies the corporate titan driven solely by a desire for power. The story poses questions about the decisions "Staples" will make and what he truly desires. It’s a briskly moving exploration of human nature—flaws and all—and prompts reflection: how would any of us behave if offered double the salary and an unrestricted spending allowance?

Source on TMDB