Wall Street (1987)

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Stanley Weiser (written by) &
Oliver Stone (written by)

Release Date:

11 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Every dream has a price.

Plot:

A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider whom takes the youth under his wing.

Plot Keywords:

Lovemaking | World Trade Center New York | Money | Cell Phone | Hooker

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Charlie Sheen	...	Bud Fox
Tamara Tunie	...	Carolyn
Franklin Cover	...	Dan
Chuck Pfeiffer	...	Chuckie (as Chuck Pfeifer)
John C. McGinley	...	Marvin
Hal Holbrook	...	Lou Mannheim
James Karen	...	Lynch
Leslie Lyles	...	Natalie
Michael Douglas	...	Gordon Gekko
Faith Geer	...	Natalie's Assistant
Frank Adonis	...	Charlie
John Capodice	...	Dominick
Martin Sheen	...	Carl Fox
Suzen Murakoshi	...	Girl in Bed
Dani Klein	...	Receptionist

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

21 Club - 21 West 52nd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Amercent Films

Trivia:

Sir Larry Wildman, the British takeover artist played by Terence Stamp, is widely believed to be modeled after Sir Gordon White of Hanson PLC. Hanson is a company that does nothing but acquisitions, liquidations, and wholesale deconstruction of companies.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gordon Gekko is walking away from Bud Fox in the dressing room, Bud Fox says, "I am not just another broker..." If you look at Gordon's shoes as he comes around the lockers he is wearing a suit with a pair of tennis shoes (full screen)

Quotes:

Carl Fox: "I came into Egypt a Pharoah who did not know."
Gordon Gekko: I beg your pardon, is that a proverb.
Carl Fox: No, a prophecy. The rich been doing it to the poor since the beginning of time. The only difference between the Pyramids and the Empire State Building is the Egyptians didn't allow unions. I know what this guy is all about, greed. He don't give a damn about Bluestar or the unions. He's in and out for the buck and he don't take prisoners.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Hellcats (#3.9)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

AMERICA IS WAITING

Wealth at the price of humanity, or humanity at the price of wealth?

Wall Street is about those for whom material wealth takes precedence over morality, and those for whom it does not. Moreover, it is the story of one who is struggling to decide which of the two he is: greedy or ethical.

Bud Fox is a young stock broker who only wishes to excel in life. His father, Carl, provides a strong moral foundation, prioritizing human life and well being over profit. Bud's mentor, Gordon Gekko, is a ruthless and legendary Wall Street player whose values couldn't conflict with those of Bud's father more perfectly. So caught in the middle is Bud, who pitches his father's airline to Gekko with the intentions of saving the company while everyone gets rich in the process. This business deal sets the stage for the conflict of interests Bud faces, and whether in the end it is his moral father or his greedy mentor he would most like to become.

Wall Street is impeccably directed and perfectly cast. Oliver Stone really captures all the elements necessary to the telling of this story, with all its moral, economic, and legal implications. Michael Douglas is almost frightening as the ghastly Gordon Gekko, a role for which he took home the Oscar for best actor. And the casting of Martin and Charlie Sheen as father and son lends authenticity to their numerous emotional exchanges. We see what seem to be genuine hurt, pride, and shame from the two of them together. John C. McGinley makes his customary appearance in yet another of Stone's movies as Bud's coworker, and as always he shines, contributing his unique personality to the film. The combined efforts of talented individuals in a powerful story of human strength and weakness makes Wall Street a must see movie.

I rate it 10/10.