MovieChat Forums > Wall Street (1987) Discussion > Gekko Would NOT Be So Naive

Gekko Would NOT Be So Naive

posted 9 years ago by pkryder-1
16 replies | jump to latest

At the end of the movie, Bud Fox makes a deal with the authorities in exchange for a lighter sentence. He agrees to wear a wire for his meeting with Gekko, so that the authorities can implicate Gekko in insider trading as well.

But Gekko MUST have known that Fox had already been arrested, since it was done in front of the entire office staff where Fox worked. So it is natural to think that Gekko would suspect that Fox might be wearing a wire. Gekko was not stupid, and he knew that Fox was already mad at him for breaking up Blue Star Airlines.

[–] Garys1266 9 years ago

Keep in mind that Gekko was so bent on getting revenge, that he just agreed to meet Bud Fox in Central Park to beat up on him and confront him. Gekko went from making $75 million on taking over BlueStar to making $10 million for selling Bluestar at fair market value which was in the $21-$22 range. The $21-$22 a share did not happen due to the fact that everyone dumped the stock and Wildman started buying on the downside to $17 a share. Gekko was still holding when the stock was $17 a share remember. Gekko probably lost in the neighborhood of $15 to $20 million when Bluestar went to $17 a share.

[–] charli3 9 years ago

Those who say Bud Fox was the villain by causing people to lose money don't get it. He and Marvin the Mind Reader took their clients out w profit. Gekko was left holding the bag, hahahah!!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] dl4060 9 years ago

I would have to agree. It seems a bit far fetched that he would meet Fox. The other problem with the scene is that Gekko does not really say anything incriminating. He mentions companies where they had inside information, but did not say anything explicit. A good attorney would carve those recording right up.

[–] Boromir (10009) a year ago

Same here. Both of your claims are correct. When I saw the scene, I thought to myself, 'Wait,his job as police informant doesn't stop here, does it?' He didn't say anything incriminating—only some blunt truths about the cruelty, competitiveness, and unfairness of the business world he inhabits.

His meeting with Fox makes no sense to me for a few reasons:

1. How someone with such an extensive social network didn't know about Bud arrest? It's almost impossible. There must have been at least 2-3 of his representatives present, and quite possibly an insider within the police force. Upon reflection, it seems strange that this incident wasn't publicized in the media, given that the arrest occurred in broad daylight with hundreds of witnesses.

2. I find it challenging to believe that he wasn't aware of his father's heart attack—a further motive for Buck to turn against him.

3. The most obvious one. He bankrupted his father's company, providing a substantial motive for him to seeking revenge.

[–] Matthew7819 9 years ago

pkryder-1 i think that your post is totally wrong, the police and SEC do not announce the arrests of people to the general public at all, only the people in Bud's office were aware of the fact that he had been arrested, nobody was told that it was for Insider Trading, you just go to jail and thats it and afterwards bail is set and you get released untiol your court date.

Gordon would have no way in hell of knowing about Bud's arrest otherwise he would probably have mentioned it and made fun of Bud and say "Dont bend over for the soap Buddy boy!" he just assumes that Bud wanted to meet with him to rub the sale of Bluestar to Sir Larry in his face and he just uses the meeting as an excuse to yell at Bud and slap him around for it.

Bud could have had Gordon arrested for assault and battery after this happened too, but Gordon would have no way in hell of knowing about Bud's arrest, as far as Gordon knew Bud was a free man that he had worked with and that sold him down river and he was through with Bud, if he had known he would have mentioned it and rubbed it in Bud's face and humiliated Bud while treating him like he did, Gordon is the type of person to do this but he doesnt so he just thinks that he can yell at Bud and slap him around, Bud is through with trading with him and will become a nobody again in Gordon's eyes.

But Gordon never knew that Bud had been arrested until later on when he went to jail and had his day in court, the police dont call guys like Gordon up and tell them that their business rivals have been arrested, it just happens and nobody knows, Bud's career ended and only after his trial and prison sentence did everyone find out, arrests are not public knowledge according to privacy laws, dont know why you would think otherwise.

[–] pkryder-1 9 years ago

You CANNOT be serious. The arrest was done in front of the ENTIRE OFFICE STAFF at the brokerage firm where Fox worked. EVERYONE there knew that it was for insider trading. To think that word of this would not have gotten to Gekko--especially with all of his connections--is beyond the far side of comical.

[–] jpyoung1978 8 years ago

Nevermind that it was Gekko who most likely tipped off the SEC towards Bud's activities as revenge. That was the whole point, Gekko had Bud by the balls the whole time.

[–] Paul_Ke 8 years ago

Gekko did not tip off the SEC on Bud. Gekko went out of his way to cover up Bud's connection to him and keep things covert, it would make no sense for Gekko to then contact the SEC and tell them of Bud's inside trading and thus implicate himself.

In regards to the OP, I disagree that Gekko would necessarily know the Bud was arrested. Yes, the entire office witnessed it, but really, so what? Bud was the only person there who Gekko communicated with. Think how unlikely it would be for one of Bud's coworkers to take it upon himself to call Gekko (why would they even WANT to?) and say, "Hello, you don't know me, but I just wanted you to know that Bud Fox was arrested and hey I just wanted you to know because I have nothing better to do in my busy life."

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

Gekko would have eventually found out about Bud's arrest, if only through gossip.

But it may have taken some time, and the meeting in the park may have taken place soon after the arrest, within a day or so.

The office staff could also have been told by the cops that talking about Bud's arrest could get them arrested for obstruction of justice.

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Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] Paul_Ke 8 years ago

Yes, word of mouth would have eventually reached Gekko, but as you said, that takes time. (There was no texting back then, no Facebook or Twitter.).

I also got the impression the Feds moved very quickly to set up the meeting in the park.

[–] smoko 8 years ago

@Matthew7819 ...only the people in Bud's office were aware of the fact that he had been arrested...
And do you think that all those people wouldn't have told anyone about Bud Fox's arrest?

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] tenantennae 8 years ago

Gekko MUST have known that Fox had already been arrested

Obviously, he didn't know yet.

[–] timroth 8 years ago

My one fault with the film was the punches thrown by Gekko at the end. The movie is all about battles of wits and deception, so physical blows felt phony and unnecessary to me.

[–] krisdb 8 years ago

I think Gekko was more hurt then angry. He saw himself in Bud and wanted Bud to succeed, instead Bud stabs him in the back.