Other People’s Money 1991

Comedy

Box Office

$26M

Runtime

103 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Norman Jewison

Made by

Warner Bros. Pictures

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Other People’s Money Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Other People’s Money (1991). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Lawrence “Larry the Liquidator” Garfield [Danny DeVito] is a shrewd corporate raider who has built his fortune by buying companies and selling off their assets. With the help of a computerized stock-analzying program called Carmen, he marks New England Wire & Cable Company as his next target, a business that sits at the heart of a small Rhode Island town and sustains its people. The company is steered by the well-meaning and folksy Andrew “Jorgy” Jorgenson [Gregory Peck], who becomes the reluctant guardian of a local institution.

Garfield makes his move to seize control, and Jorgy, pressed by the looming threat, hires his stepdaughter Kate Sullivan [Penelope Ann Miller], a sharp big-city lawyer, to defend the business from a hostile takeover. Garfield is instantly drawn to Kate, even as he remains focused on his ultimate objective: to become the majority stockholder. The dynamic between them is tense and charged, as Kate recognizes Garfield’s bold boldness while he maintains a cool, calculating stance.

Bea Sullivan [Piper Laurie], Kate’s mother, makes a secret journey to Garfield’s offices with a bold offer: one million dollars in greenmail to walk away. Garfield rejects the proposal, declaring, “I don’t take money from widows or orphans,” a line that underscores his stance against being bought off. Meanwhile, Bill Coles [Dean Jones], the trusted president of the company, worries about losing everything and proposes a deal: he would let Garfield vote his shares in the company in exchange for a hefty payout. Garfield accepts but stipulates a twist—Coles would receive half the money if his shares fail to close the gap at the pivotal moment.

The drama shifts to the annual shareholders’ meeting, where Jorgy argues passionately for the old manufacturing values—the jobs, the craft, and the community—versus Garfield’s modern, money-driven approach. The crowd seems swayed by Jorgy’s earnest appeal until Garfield rises to rebut. He paints a stark picture of progress, likening a once-proud company to the last buggy whip maker: a high-quality product, perhaps, but doomed by changing technology. He argues that liquidating the firm outright would merely deliver a few dollars to each shareholder, a result he frames as a pragmatic, value-driven exit.

I don’t take money from widows or orphans.

When the votes are tallied, Garfield wins a controlling interest in New England Wire & Cable. The margin outpaces Coles’ shares, and the betrayal leaves Coles with less than he had bargained for, a consequence that resonates as a practical reproach to a man who trusted the old guard.

Back in Manhattan, Garfield wrestles with an unusual sense of loss—his victory feels hollow because it has cost him the chance of romance with Kate. Then a call from Kate shifts the mood: she’s been in talks with a Japanese automaker eager to hire New England Wire & Cable to manufacture stainless steel wire cloth for automobile airbags, a profitable and futuristic path for the company. Garfield, unexpectedly hopeful, invites Kate to dinner to discuss the opportunity. Kate answers with a cool, businesslike line that hints at their complex dynamic: > Lunch; strictly business, you know where.
Garfield blushes and smiles, realizing that the future might hold more than he expected.

Other People’s Money Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Other People’s Money (1991) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Garfield targets NE Wire & Cable

Lawrence "Larry the Liquidator" Garfield is a ruthless corporate raider who built wealth by buying companies and selling off assets. Using Carmen, his stock‑analyzing program, he identifies New England Wire & Cable as his next prize. He aims to take control and liquidate value for a quick profit, regardless of the town’s people or the product's future.

Pre-takeover Manhattan, Garfield's offices

Jorgenson learns of the takeover plan

Andrew "Jorgy" Jorgenson discovers that Garfield has filed a Schedule 13D on NE Wire & Cable. Realizing the danger to the company he built, Jorgy decides to fight back and safeguard his workers and town. He hires his stepdaughter Kate, a sharp big-city lawyer, to defend against the hostile bid.

Upon discovery of 13D Rhode Island town, NE Wire & Cable headquarters

Kate joins the defense

Kate joins the NE Wire & Cable defense as the legal lead, bringing high-stakes city experience to a small-town company. Her role sharpens the corporate battle, and Garfield quickly notes his growing attraction even as he stays focused on his takeover plans. The clash between town values and corporate ruthlessness intensifies.

Soon after Kate is hired New England Wire & Cable headquarters

Bea makes a greenmail offer

Bea, Kate’s mother, travels to Garfield’s offices with a blunt greenmail offer of one million dollars to walk away. Garfield refuses the money, declaring, "I don't take money from widows or orphans." The encounter reveals the personal stakes behind the corporate battle.

Early in the takeover bid Garfield's offices

Coles seeks a paid vote

Bill Coles, the trusted company president, proposes a deal: Garfield can vote Coles's shares in exchange for a one‑million‑dollar payout. Garfield agrees but imposes a condition—Coles will receive only half the money if the margin of victory isn’t achieved. The tactic shows the transactional nature of the takeover.

Shortly after Bea's offer Garfield's offices

Settlement decided at the annual meeting

Garfield concedes to Jorgy’s demand to settle the matter at the annual shareholders' meeting. He relies on a coalition of longtime investors to secure a controlling stake. The stage is set for a dramatic showdown between old‑time manufacturing and modern asset stripping.

Before the annual meeting New England Wire & Cable corporate offices

Jorgy delivers an impassioned plea

Jorgy makes a heartfelt appeal to save the town’s jobs and the company’s manufacturing legacy. He emphasizes tradition and community over cold capitalism, hoping to sway the shareholders. The speech rouses sympathy and lends moral weight to the defense.

During the meeting Shareholders' meeting

Garfield fires back with a buggy whip analogy

Garfield delivers his rebuttal, arguing that the company is not a relic but a valuable asset in a changing world. He contends that forcing a doomed business to pursue futile production ultimately harms shareholders. His rhetoric centers on liquidating value while preserving opportunity for investors.

During the meeting Shareholders' meeting

The vote secures Garfield's control

The shareholders vote, and Garfield emerges with a controlling interest in NE Wire & Cable. The margin exceeds Coles's expectations, denying him full payoff and ensuring the liquidator can steer the company toward his preferred path. The victory marks a turning point in the corporate saga.

Immediately after the vote Shareholders' meeting

Garfield returns home, romance in doubt

Back in Manhattan, Garfield feels despondent, realizing his victory has jeopardized any chance he had with Kate. The personal cost of his success sinks in as he contemplates what he has sacrificed for control. The emotional tension adds a human dimension to the corporate duel.

After the vote Manhattan

Kate reveals a new opportunity for NE Wire

Kate calls Garfield with promising news: a Japanese automaker wants NE Wire & Cable to manufacture stainless steel wire cloth for airbags. If pursued, this contract could revive the company and create a profitable future for the town. The news reframes the takeover as a pivot toward growth rather than mere liquidation.

Shortly after the vote Manhattan

Garfield plans a meeting to discuss the deal

An excited Garfield invites Kate to dinner to discuss the potential new contract with the automaker. He envisions the meeting as the path to both financial success and personal reconciliation. The invitation signals a shift from hostility to collaboration.

Following Kate's news Manhattan

Kate pins down the meeting’s tone

Kate responds that lunch would be better for a business discussion, signaling a practical, no‑nonsense approach to the negotiations. She adds that the business must come first, which tempers any romantic expectations. The exchange underscores the evolving dynamic between the two.

After the invitation Manhattan

A hopeful future for NE Wire

The prospect of the airbags contract offers a real chance for NE Wire & Cable to prosper under a new strategy. Garfield, while still wary of romantic misgivings, allows himself a cautious smile at the possibility of a profitable partnership. The film closes with a sense of cautious optimism about the town and company’s future.

Evening after the discussions Manhattan

Other People’s Money Characters

Explore all characters from Other People’s Money (1991). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Lawrence Garfield (Danny DeVito)

A charismatic and relentless corporate raider who uses sharp intellect and a modern toolkit to seize control of companies. He believes in smarter, streamlined value extraction, yet shows a rare softness when his attention turns to Kate. Although he seduces her and fights for dominance, he remains focused on securing a controlling stake in New England Wire & Cable.

💼 Corporate raider 🔍 Calculated 💰 Money-driven

Kate Sullivan (Penelope Ann Miller)

A big-city lawyer hired to defend the company against the hostile bid. She is tough, principled, and strategic, using legal doctrine to counter Garfield’s tactics. Despite their antagonism, she experiences a strong attraction to him, complicating her professional duties.

⚖️ Legal mind 💪 Determined 💘 Romantic tension

Andrew 'Jorgy' Jorgenson (Gregory Peck)

The benevolent president who fights to preserve the town’s manufacturing heritage and the company’s legacy. He uses tradition and personal trust to rally shareholders and workers against the takeover. His leadership style contrasts with Garfield’s ruthless efficiency.

👔 Visionary leader 🏭 Tradition vs progress 🤝 Community-focused

Bea Sullivan (Piper Laurie)

Kate’s mother and a practical voice in the struggle, she travels to Garfield’s offices to offer greenmail money, revealing the moral complexity of protecting a family and its town. She embodies the tension between maternal loyalty and financial strategy. Her actions reflect the high-stakes pressure on the town’s survivors.

💼 Strategic 💛 Protective 💰 Greenmail attempt

Bill Coles (Dean Jones)

The trusted company president who tries to manage the crisis by offering Garfield a payout in exchange for voting his shares, highlighting the precarious balance between loyalty and personal gain. He fears the loss of control and the end of an era for the workers.

🤝 Negotiator 🛡 Manager 💼 Political maneuvering

Other People’s Money Settings

Learn where and when Other People’s Money (1991) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Late 1980s

Set against the late 1980s, a period known for aggressive corporate takeovers and leveraged finance. The film shows a clash between old-fashioned manufacturing values and modern, money-driven corporate tactics, including Schedule 13D filings and hostile bids. It highlights the mood of a town watching blue-collar jobs and local identity hinge on private-sector decisions.

Location

New England Wire & Cable Company, Rhode Island

The story unfolds in a Rhode Island town centered on the New England Wire & Cable Company, the main employer that anchors the local economy. The community is tight-knit, defined by its manufacturing tradition and the people who work there. The plant and town together become the battleground for a high-stakes corporate takeover.

🏭 Industrial town 🧭 Small-town community 💼 Corporate drama

Other People’s Money Themes

Discover the main themes in Other People’s Money (1991). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💼

Corporate Raiders

A sharp, ruthless financier hunts for profit by buying control of companies to liquidate assets or extract value. The film tracks the tension between Garfield’s strategic genius and the town’s attachment to long-standing workers and products. It explores how such raiders impact loyalty, jobs, and the meaning of success.

⚖️

Ethics vs Profit

The takeover plot tests whether financial gains justify the disruption of a community’s fabric. Greenmail, leverage, and voting rights threaten to override employees’ livelihoods and local culture. The story probes whether profit can justify moral compromises.

💘

Romance in Business

Romantic tension emerges between Kate and Garfield amid the power struggle, showing how attraction can complicate business decisions. The relationship pits emotion against the hard logic of a hostile bid. It suggests that human connection persists even in cutthroat corporate environments.

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Other People’s Money Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Other People’s Money (1991). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a coastal New England town where a single factory has long been the pulse of daily life, a looming corporate opportunity threatens to upend the rhythm of the community. The New England Wire & Cable Company stands as both a source of steady employment and a symbol of the town’s modest pride, its future caught in the crosshairs of modern finance.

Larry the Liquidator arrives with the swagger of a seasoned corporate raider, wielding a cutting‑edge stock‑analysis program and a reputation for turning businesses into profitable exits. His presence is a stark contrast to the warm, folksy pragmatism of Andrew “Jorgy” Jorgenson, the company’s patriarch, who guards the legacy of the plant with a mix of stubborn affection and quiet determination. Their clash is less a courtroom drama than a meeting of two worlds—one driven by numbers, the other by community.

Enter Kate Sullivan, the sharp‑tongued, city‑trained lawyer who steps in at Jorgy’s request. As the step‑daughter and future daughter‑in‑law, she brings a keen legal mind and a cool confidence that instantly intrigues the corporate shark. The tension between her strategic brilliance and Larry’s unapologetic ambition creates a charged atmosphere where business negotiations feel like a delicate dance, each move hinting at something more personal underneath.

The film balances the sleek, high‑stakes language of boardrooms with the earthy, heartfelt concerns of a small town, weaving humor and wit into a story of power, principle, and unexpected attraction. As both sides press their advantages, the audience is left wondering whether the battle for the company will resolve with a clean financial cut or open a doorway to a different kind of partnership.

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