This film has an all-star cast that you don’t see everyday: Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Ed harris, Alan Arkin, and Jack Lemmon, create a unique drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Glengarry GlenRoss is a 1992 independent film, based on the acclaimed 1984 Pulizer Prize and Tony winning play of the same name by David Mamet, who adapted it into a screenplay for the film. The title refers to Glengarry Highlands and Glenross Farms, two properties represented in the film.

The synopsis goes like this: The film shows parts of two days in the lives of four real estate agents (played by Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, and Alan Arkin). Richard Roma (Al Pacino), is a slick, highly successful, fast-talking salesman who excells at selling undesirable real estate. The other three are largely unsuccessful. They become desperate when the hard-nosed corporate office sends “Blake” (Alec Baldwin) to announce that, in one week, all except the top salesmen will be fired if they don’t get their act together and close some deals

Shelly Levene (Jack Lemmon) has been in a major slump, and hasn’t made a sale in some time. He’s desperate for money, and knows he’ll lose his job soon if he doesn’t turn things around. He tries in every way to convince the office manager, Williamson (Kevin Spacey) to give him some of the Glengarry leads (names and phone numbers of promising potential clients for expensive properties the firm will be selling in the near future). Williamson refuses.

Dave Moss (Ed Harris) and George Aaronow (Alan Arkin) are complaining about Mitch and Murray, the big bosses. They hate the pressure that the management has put on them to succeed. They plan to break into the office to steal the Glengarry leads and sell them to another real estate agency.

Ricky Roma closes a deal with a meek middle aged man name James Lingk, who has never done anything adventurous in his life. He plays on Lingk’s insecurities.

Someone has broken into the office and has stolen everything that is not bolted down, including the Glengarry leads.

Shelly Levene bursts into the office, looking deliriously happy because he just sold a large plot of land to a couple named Nyborg, but in his joy, he doesn’t seem to notice that the office is in shambles from the robbery.

James Lingk enters the office looking for Ricky Roma. Lingk’s wife ordered him to cancel the sale he signed with Roma, and under the law, he has the right to cancel the contract within 72 hours. Lingk asks for his check to be refunded. Roma tries to stall him, by assuring him that the contract has not been turned in and the check has not been cashed. At this point, John Williamson (who has completely misread the situation), steps in to reassure Lingk that the contract has been sent through and the check has been desposited. Horrified, Lingk leaves to seek redress from the State Attorney General’s office.

Ricky Roma is furious at Williamson, who has blown a big sale and commission for him. He berates and humiliates Williamson, asking him, “Who told you that you could work with men?” . When Roma is finished, he has to be interviewed by the police detective in the manager’s office. Shelly Levene picks up where Roma left off, and begins insulting Williamson, telling him what a stupid misake it was to lie about turning in the contract and depositing the check.

Williamson realizes that Shelly Levene must have been the thief because only the thief would have known that the contract and the check were sitting on Williamson’s desk. Williamson accuses Levene, and threatens to tell his suspicions to the police detective who is in his office. Levene breaks and admits pathetically that he and Dave Moss were the thieves and tries to bribe Williamson to forget about the crime. He offers to give Williamson his commission from the Nyborg sale. Williamson laughs at him and reveals to Levene that the Nyborgs are crazy old folks who have no money, just enjoy talking to salesmen. Williams admits to Levene that he has been feeding him worthless leads like the Nyborgs for months because he doesn’t like Shelly.

When Roma comes out of his interrogation, Williamson goes in and tells the detective that Moss and Levene are the thieves. Roma, who has no idea what went on between Levene and Williamson, proposes to Shelley that they should form their own partnership. Shelly smiles sadly, and agrees, knowing that he is about to be arrested any moment. The detective comes out and call’s Shelly’s name and Shelly meekly walks away with the detective.

The Cast: Shelly Levene – Jack Lemmon John Williamson – Kevin Spacey Dave Moss – Ed Harris George Aaronow – Alan Arkin Richard Roma – Al Pacino James Lingk – Jonathan Price Baylen – Ciccolella Blake – Alec Baldwin

Glengarry GlenRoss – famous scene

[mp3j track=”GlenGaryGlenRoss1.mp3″]