Movie: Glengarry Glen Ross
Anyone who has seen this wonderful movie remembers at least two things. First, the incredible cast: Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon and Jonathan Pryce. Secondly, the scathing sales “motivational” speech given by Alec Baldwin. This movie was based on a play by David Mamet and this scene was not in the playwright script; It was added later.
The scene is set in an under-performing Real Estate office. The leads are stale, the salesmen are struggling and becoming desperate, so Mitch & Murray sends a gunslinger from downtown to light a fire under this bunch. If you have ever been in sales, you might have heard a speech like this one. However, chances are you have never heard anything as over the top and chilling as Baldwin’s profanity-laced, motivation by intimidation 6-minute speech to the hapless audience of has-beens.
I was so impressed with this movie and Baldwin’s speech that I created my one and only dramatic reading of his masterpiece. I’ve watched this performance dozens of times and never has it failed to leave me both spellbound and riled up. If you have never seen this movie before, you are in for a huge treat. ‘Put that coffee down!” will be forever burned into your memory.
Also see The Top 10 Movies About Salesmen