Michael Douglas at Screening of Wall Street

Lese Dunton

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Michael Douglas at Screening of Wall Street
Presented by TCM Classic Film Festival and 92nd Street Y

The 917-seat theater at the 92nd Street Y was packed. When the lights dimmed and Michael Douglas walked onto stage, the crowd jumped to their feet with a burst of applause.

After graciously bowing, he sits down to talk with Turner Classic Movies host Alicia Malone. Right away he says, "I love New York City" and that kicks it off beautifully.

"That's not just me talking as a New Yorker," says Douglas. "I've been travelling all over the world, or you talk to anybody inspirationally, and when they come to New York, that's it. And it's just such a reminder of the best in people and the melting pot that we are."

Having lived here on and off since 1948, he thoroughly understands the city. "Things have changed a little bit since the 1950s."

Douglas tells the crowd about preparing for his famous role of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street (1987), for which he won many awards, including an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actor.

He explains to all the attentive listeners, the unsettling but helpful influence of director Oliver Stone, finding out that he wasn't Stone's first choice (he asked Warren Beatty and Richard Gere first!), the slicked-back hair inspiration from basketball president Pat Riley, the differences between Wall Street then and now, audience forgiveness, and that villains should be seductive.

Before filming began, he and Stone researched people in the financial industry. "I remember going to the Drexel Burnham offices in Los Angeles with Oliver," says Douglas. "And we were having a nice tour. They were nervous. You know, never quite sure what this movie was going to be about. I remember Oliver asking, 'But where's the shredder?' I said, 'Oliver, you don't ask for the shredder.'" (Audience laughs.)

Douglas had a plane to catch but made sure to say one more thing, "Before we go, I wanted to give a shout out to David Zazlav, the head of Warner Brothers...he's huge. He's got a lot on his plate. We've all been following the news. And it's so wonderful that he's here. And Ted Turner is one of my idols. (Applause.) I admire Ted Turner so much...so it's a treat and an honor to be here."
"We really appreciate your time," says Alicia Malone. "Thanks for supporting Turner Classic Movies and being here."

He waved and walked off the stage, flashing that famous grin, leaving people eager for more. Fortunately, there was also a movie to watch, so to fill the void everyone shifted their attention to the big screen. When his name appeared on the opening credits, more clapping.

I remember why Wall Street is such a great movie. Every character is vibrant and pulls you right in to hear their message - funny, honest, sometimes cruel. Just the right pacing and flow. The audience laughed at a few of the Gordon Gekko lines such as, "You're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you Buddy?" and "That's the thing you gotta remember about wasps. They love animals, they can't stand people."

When it became clear that, ouch, interior designer Darien (Daryl Hannah) was not going to stick by stockbroker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), there was some laughter of compassion for Bud. Didn't hear any laughing after he gets a promotion and his boss says he'll get a significantly more attractive assistant too. But it was the 80s.

Of course, it's fun to see old New York and old technology. Gordon Gekko is the only one with a cell phone. His protege Bud Fox has to use telephone booths on the go, and this strange-looking hand-held scanner to steal information from a company file. He even has to drive all the way to the Hamptons to get Gekko's signature. It was great for the plot. I don't know how the story would unfold if Bud had just sent him an email instead. We do know that shredders remain popular these days. Now they even feature an expanded capability to destroy digital media.

Afterwards, I hear a woman in the row behind me say, "I had forgotten how great an actor Michael Douglas is in this movie." Then I talk with a guy sitting next to me, who took the 30-minute train in from Long Island and was born the same year the movie was released. "Awesome," he says as the closing credits are rolling. "You know, Douglas is perfect in all the parts he plays, and such a nice guy too, the last of the great gentlemen."

In and around the ladies' room, the women did talk: "I wished he could have stayed longer" says one. "Me too," says another. "But even 5 minutes would have been enough. I love him so much!"

As I begin to exit from the lovely 96-year-old Theresa L. Kaufmann Concert Hall, a young lady asks if I'd been here before. No, it's my first time visiting. "Do you work here?" I ask. "No," she replies. "I just live nearby and enjoy all their events."

Living way over on the west side, my journey that day involved a crosstown bus, which arrived promptly and was toasty warm. The 92nd Street Y and easy bus rides - more great reasons to love New York City.

-January 31, 2026

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