Synopsis for
Wall Street (1987) More at IMDbPro »

In Wall Street, Bud Fox is tired of dealing with the small-time cold-calling of Jackson & Steinham, his brokerage firm. His father and he are both sick of the fact that, according to Buddy, "$50,000 does not get you to 1st base anymore." At least not in Manhattan. Mr. Fox, Sr. would gladly have Buddy work for him at the Bluestar Airline company, or at least living rent free back home while he uses his 50k/year salary to get out from under his bills. Unfortunately, Buddy has other plans.

Both Buddy and his colleague talk about 'bagging the elephant'. To them, this is getting a shot with the big-money brokers. Enter Michael Douglas as Gordon Gecko. Gecko spends all his time on the phone barking orders to his on-the-street brokers and information collectors. Buddy has to effectively bribe his way into Gordon's office on his birthday with a box of Cuban cigars. However, as Gordon checks his heart rate, his words are "So what's on your mind, Kemosabe. Why am I listening to you?" Gordon shoots down every tip Buddy throws at him, showing Buddy just how behind he is in the game. "Stop telling me information and start getting me some," is the last thing Gecko says to Buddy before he leaves. It doesn't take long for Bud Fox to figure this one out.

Next time the two are together, Bud Fox is telling Gecko all about the new FAA ruling that is passing on his father's airline company. Not pausing to think about insider information, Gordon 'greed is good' Gecko buys the company out from under Bud Fox's father. Realizing he's been played like a grand piano, Buddy tries to make the tail wag the dog. Buddy's newly-acquired girlfriend, Darianne (as played by Daryl Hannah) refuses to stick by Buddy while he attacks the high-stakes broker. This only re-enforces a previously mentioned bond between the broker and the interior decorator.

In the last five minutes of the movie, Bud Fox learns what the word "low" is all about. He and Gecko do a brief fistfight in a rainy New York park, is stripped of his ability to pay his high-priced apartment, Darianne is back behind Gecko and working on going public, and Buddy is talking to his father about "actually creating something, not just living off the buying and selling of others." Fox walks into a courthouse in the last scene, with a dramatic downshot which shows just how a broker like Fox is intensely insignificant in the Wall Street world.

"Man stares into the abyss, and there's nothing staring back at him. That's when man finds his character. And that's what keeps him out of the abyss." -----