A Glengarry Glen Ross Question

Cafe Society
1

While watching it for like the 20th time this afternoon, it occurred to me for maybe the 19th time that the title Glengarry Glen Ross doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

So, there’s the Glengarry acounts.

And there’s the Glen Ross properties that they were selling for a while (mentioned once by the Ed Harris character), and there was some sort of problem with them so that… well, I don’t really know, the best I can understand is that someone ran off with all the money, to Argentina or something.

But why are the accounts and the failed properties put together for the title? Is it as simple as that? Is there an official answer from Mamet? Any ideas?

And, tangentially, did anyone see Alec Baldwin reprising his role on SNL? Brilliant!

Thanks,
ZJ

2

It’s Mamet, so “it sounded good” is by no means a foolish surmise.

–Cliffy

3

Exactly. I’ve never understood what “Oleanna” meant, and I’ve heard many arguments about the title of “Speed the Plow.” Others of his titles make sense: “The Edge,” “House of Games,” American Buffalo"–but there are a few whose logic seems to be Mamet’s own private joke.