glengarry glen ross - dumb question (1 Viewer)

[andrew markworthy]

Sorry if this sounds really dumb, but am I right in assuming that the guys in Glengarry Glenn Ross are trying to sell plots of land in Florida, and that basically these plots of land are worthless pieces of swamp? Is this a widespread scam in the USA? Sorry to sound so stupid, but the practice of cold-calling to sell a person land is unknown in the UK.

 

[Rob Gardiner]

Hi Andrew,
Remember, there are no stupid questions, but many flippant answers.
It's been a while since I've seen the movie (will watch the new DVD with my roommate soon) but if I remember correctly, your summary is basically correct. Yes, we are greedy scum.

 

[Alex Spindler]

I don't know if they are worthless per se, but they are certainly selling them as though they were priceless opportunities.

They are likely uninteresting plots of land that don't look as enticing as the brochure.

 

[Peter Kim]

The movie strikes me as a brutal yet honest portrayal of cold sales. I attempted this back in my college years and bailed after one day.

Some people may believe GGR is another example of David Mamet's 'pornographic', overbloated writing style, but he really hit the head on the nail with this one.

After so many years laboring in this industry, I can only imagine how the toil might warp away the psyche of a salesman.

 

[andrew markworthy]

Yes, we are greedy scum.

No greedier or scummier than Brits - you just sell different things. Our cold-callers try to interest you in double glazing, conservatories and time-share apartments in Spain.

Undeveloped land here is somewhat rarer than in the USA. When land is developed (and there is talk that we will need to build several hundred thousand new homes over the next few years to cope with a housing shortage) it is done by big developers who sell you the finished product.

 

[DonMac]

The fact that these salesmen are selling something that's basically worthless leaves viewers really conflicted. On one hand, there's a lot of sympathy built up in the movie for these men under enormous pressure to sale. But, on the other hand, it's very easy to identify with any potential buyers in the movie and not want them to throw their money away on this worthless property. The way the movie is able to pull the viewer's sympathies in both directions is remarkable and the main reason I think it's a great film.

 

[Lew Crippen]

Andrew, you might be interested in watching Salesman, a documentary made in the mid-60s and released in 1968 by the Mayseles Brothers (same guys who made the documentary on the Stones, Gimmie Shelter).

This is a brilliant film about selling Bibles, door-to-door. But more about those individuals selling the bibles and one in particular, Paul, who is often viewed as a real-life Willy Loman. This film goes to the core of what we all do to survive and the compromises that we make in our lives.

 

[Seth Paxton]

Remember, these aren't "cold calls", but rather follow-up calls on leads. Those leads in this case appear to have come from people coming to browse at some showplace, booth, etc. At least I inferred that from one of the comments Baldwin made. These are people that showed a passing interest (which was a big mistake it would seem ).

 

[andrew markworthy]

Lew, I've seen the movie 'Salesmen' and I agree, it's superb.

Seth, apologies - I was using 'cold call' as shorthand.
I must admit I'm rather confused as to why anyone in their right mind would want to buy a patch of land in Florida (or anywhere else for that matter) just from looking at a brochure. I'd love to know what constituted the 'good leads' in the movie - were these people who were certified simpletons as opposed to merely half-witted?

Incidentally, I do have some sympathy for sales people (especially when they're saddled with selling junk) but I couldn't sympathise with the guys in Glengarry, simply because they were selling something morally dubious and they knew it. Nonetheless, a great movie. I love David Mamet's work. His feeling for the nuances and tempos of speech is remarkable. Folks who think the language is stilted are, IMHO, missing the point.

 

[Seth Paxton]

I think "good leads" simply meant people from a better demographic. For example, people that have already bought land, people with a certain income, people with a certain lifestyle, etc. (though I guess you understand this and are just having some fun with it).
Mamet doesn't write real dialog, he writes entertaining dialog. And of course that is exactly his job.
Andrew, I agree on sympathy, but I don't think we are supposed to anyway. I especially found Lemon's house call to be uncomfortable just knowing how full of shit he was, trying to BS them into anything.

 

[Paul_D]

I couldn't sympathise with the guys in Glengarry, simply because they were selling something morally dubious and they knew it.

While watching, I found it very difficult to even think about what they're selling, because for me, the script feels like its designed to 'sell the legitimacy' of what they do to the viewer. The constant barrage of complex, intricate dialogue, coupled with the absolutely dire situation most of them are in distracts you from how morally reprehensilbe their business actually is.
The viewer is so intimately connected with each of the characters' emotional journey throughout the very short space of time the film is set in, that they can't afford to spend too much time evaluating how 'clean' they are. For maybe the first 4 or 5 viewings, I was too wrapt up in the dialogue and verbal sparring that I didn't think about what they were selling. It seemed to me that this was what the filmmakers/Mamet intended. Or maybe I'm jsut stupid.
Anyway, one thing's for sure. I know what you need to sell real estate!