Directors' Favorite Movies
from November/December 2007
Gone With the Wind
I identify with Rhett Butler. I believe in chivalry and doing the right thing.
Douglas W. Baena, 64
CEO, CreditAmerica Corp., Melville, New York
Directorship: SeaBoard Corp.
Patton
He had this passion for what he did, which was summed up when he was looking out across the desert at his forces being pummeled and he said about war, “I love it. God help me, I do love it so.” That’s the way I feel about my job and about the companies on whose boards I serve. I find it enormously exhilarating, and I can’t wait to get up in the morning and get started.
G. Chris Andersen, 69
Founder and Partner, GC Andersen Partners, New York City
Directorships: Millennium Cell, Terex Corp.
Barbarians at the Gate
It should be a must-see for anyone dealing with governance issues. Also,
Out of Africa
. I admire the leading character trying to establish a business and trying to make it succeed.
William Lerner, 72
Attorney and Corporate Governance Consultant, Washington, Pennsylvania
Directorship: MTM Technologies Inc.
Die Hard,
Casino
I like action movies. James Bond. CPAs have this secret desire to do something far more adventurous than look at financial statements. Did you ever see an exciting movie about a CPA?
CPA Walks?
Nobody’s going to go see that.
Joseph M. Cianciolo, 68
Former Managing Partner in the Providence Office, KPMG LLP
Directorships: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., United Natural Foods Inc.
Field of Dreams
I was raised on a farm down in Iowa, and
Field of Dreams
was filmed about 10 miles from there. So I’ve toured that and taken people there. It’s really an excellent story. The field and the house are still there; the kids get a kick out of playing ball there.
Larry Matthews, 79
Entrepreneur, Richfield, Minnesota
Directorship: Veritec Inc.
The Godfather
Because it relates to running a large organization, however corrupt it may be.
Jock Patton, 61
Private Investor, Phoenix, Arizona
Directorships: Janus Capital Group, JDA Software Group
Stagecoach
I like the old movies, especially John Wayne, all the way back to his early stuff like
Stagecoach
. I grew up going to the Saturday matinees and watching double features.
Eric James Burton, 60
Dean of the College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Directorship: Piedmont Natural Gas
Contact,
Bugsy,
Other People’s Money,
Wall Street,
Gun Shy,
The Producers
They all have great business lessons, from ideas about raising money to business ethics and corruption. They all provide great material for my classes.
Paul D. Lapides, 52
Director of the Corporate Governance Center, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
Directorships: Internet Commerce Corp., Sun Communities Inc.
Amazing Grace
It’s a wonderful movie about William Wilberforce, a member of Parliament in England in the late 1700s who made it his life’s goal to get the English merchant marines to quit moving slaves to the New World.
Jack W. Eugster, 62
Former Chairman and CEO, MusicLand Stores Corp., Minneapolis
Directorships: Black Hills Corp., Donaldson Corp., Graco Corp.
The Good Shepherd,
The Queen
Recently,
The Good Shepherd
,
The Queen
, and—this is a girl thing—
Something’s Gotta Give
. All these movies give you information and knowledge about handling people. And that’s what it’s like when you sit on a board: It’s about handling people—sealing with the people and personalities, and in the two or three days you have, getting things accomplished.
Louise C. Forlenza, 58
President, Louise Forlenza CPA PC, Mamaroneck, New York
Directorship: Innodata Isogen Inc.
Chariots of Fire
I like movies where people accomplish things by working hard, movies like
Chariots of Fire
.
William I. Jacobs, 66
Former Senior Executive Vice President for Strategic Ventures, MasterCard International, Purchase, New York
Directorships: Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., Global Payments, Investment Technology Group
The Mission
The Mission
, a 1986 British film starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, about the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in 18th-century South America. It’s a story about leadership, transformation, courage, and the essence of human nature.
Donald L. Krahmer Jr., 49
Co-chair of the Technology and Business Practice, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt PC, Portland, Oregon
Directorship: Pacific Continental Corp.
Harry Potter
The Harry Potter series. If I’m not current, I’ll get in trouble with my six grandchildren. I have a race with my grandkids to read the books, and when we’re done we see the movies.
Jerre L. Stead, 64
Chairman and CEO, IHS Inc., Englewood, Colorado
Directorships: Brightpoint Inc., Conexant Systems Inc., Mindspeed Technologies Inc.
