History Film / TheFounder

-->'''Dick:''' Well, you're not really my type.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: "Contracts are like hearts. They're ''made to be broken''." When the brothers reply that they'll sue, Ray tells them outright that they could try, and that if the case made it to court they would probably win, but also that he has so much money at this point that he can easily bury them in legal costs and they'd bankrupt themselves in the attempt.

-->'''Ray:''' No, you and your brother. I want to hear your story.
* VillainProtagonist: Ray is presented something like this; he's the main character of the story, the CharacterDevelopment he goes through makes him increasingly ruthless and venal, and the narrative presents him as a rather unhanded opponent towards two honest and upstanding businessmen as he goes from entering into partnership with them, to undermining them for the sake of profit, to essentially stealing their business model and name.

->'''Ray Kroc:''' A glorious name, "[=McDonald's=]." It can be anything you want to be. Sounds like America. I had to have it and now I do.

->'''Ray Kroc:''' A glorious name, "[=McDonald's=]." I had to have it.

->'''Ray Kroc:''' ...you sure about that?

* EvilIsPetty: Although calling Ray "evil" is an overstatement, after he gains full control of the franchises he buys the [=McDonald=] brothers out for a relatively small fee, and makes them a non-written "handshake deal" to pay them 1% of corporate revenue annually knowing he'll never actually have to do it. He then uses a buried clause in the buyout contract to make them change the name of their restaurant, and builds his own [=McDonald's=] right across the street knowing it will put them out of business. On top of that, he implies through ExactWords that he is, well, the founder of UsefulNotes/McDonalds and takes sole credit for the successful model. He also leaves his wife who stood by him through many failed ventures and had her house unknowingly mortgaged to finance the venture. He then makes sure she never sees any of the profits from the corporation.

* FoodAsBribe: When Ray gets turned down for a business loan from the bank because of insufficient collateral, Ray tries to tempt the mortgage officer with just how delectable [=McDonalds=] [[ComicallySmallBribe food]] is. The bank officer doesn't give in, leading to Harry Sonneborn eavesdropping and pulling a DeusExMachina telling Ray he should invest in land.

* ArtisticLicenseLaw: The way the movie presents the "handshake agreement" is this. While there's debate over whether or not it happened at all, the way the movie presents it suggests that it's a ''fait accompli'' that Ray is going to violate his word and there's absolutely nothing the [=McDonald=] brothers can do about it. However, he's making the offer in a room full of witnesses, including lawyers, who would be able (and in the case of the lawyers, legally obliged as officers of the court -- even Ray's) to honestly testify that Ray made the agreement and shook on it in front of them. Furthermore, as it was made during an official legal meeting, it would be entered into any minutes and records as having occurred even if there was no written contract. While it would still be more ''difficult'' to legally enforce than a written contract (hence why most lawyers would discourage such arrangements), it wouldn't be impossible under such circumstances; Ray would likely still be legally obliged to honor such a handshake agreement if he was pressed upon it.

* FoodAsBribe: When Ray gets turned down for a business loan from the bank because of insufficient collateral, Ray tries to tempt the mortgage officer with just how delectable [=McDonalds=] [[ComicallySmallBribe food]] is. The bank officer doesn't give in, leading to Harry Sonneborn eavesdropping pulling a DeusExMachina telling Ray to invest in land.

* FoodAsBribe: When Ray gets turned down for a loan from the bank because of insufficient equity on his home, Ray tries to tempt the mortgage officer with just how delectable [=McDonalds=] [[ComicallySmallBribe food]] is. The officer doesn't give in, leading to Harry Sonneborn pulling a DeusExMachina telling Ray to invest in land.

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: "Evil" is a strong word for Ray, but as his rise to power continues, it becomes clear that Ray has lose all interest in even attempting to come across as a nice guy to anyone under him, which is very few people by that point. He willfully flouts Dick and Mac's wishes, divorces his wife when he tires of her, and boasts that he is going to do whatever he wants and there is no one who can stop him. The fact that he even steals the wife of one of his investors by the end just shows how parasitic he has become.

** Ray sends the [=McDonald=] brothers a packet of powdered milkshake (which they vehemently oppose using in the chain) just to be an asshole.

** Even his visit to Mac [[spoiler: in the hospital]]! His [[spoiler:"get well card"]] contains [[spoiler:a blank check, as an offer buy them out]]. Even under these circumstances, he's relentless about getting the brothers out of the picture. He didn't even have the decency to wait and address the matter [[spoiler:when Mac was discharged]].

--> '''Ray''': If my competitor was drowning, you know what I'd do? ''I'd stick a hose in his mouth.''

* CallBack: When Ray meets Mac he shows him his Prince Castle Sales business card. At the end of the movie, a reporter wants to do a piece on [=McDonald's=] 100th location Ray gives him a business card that says he's the founder of [=McDonald's=].

** Ray Kroc was, in fact, the founder of ''The [=McDonald's=] Corporation'' -- a separate legal entity that manages the land, supplies, marketing, etc. for the restaurant chain founded by the [=McDonald=] brothers. Today, it owns $30 billion in real estate.

** The brothers tell Ray their business model was not exactly a success out of the gate; customers got angry and confused when they realized they had to get out of their car to order and grab their food, causing Mac to immediately doubt their idea. Similarly, the brothers are dubious about Kroc's franchise plans, noting that there was no way to oversee quality control over restaurants beyond their reach and even the five already expanded beyond San Bernardino failed.

** Kroc is furious when he finds out franchisees have added extraneous items to the menus without his consent, like fried chicken, corn on the cob, and biscuits. In the long history of [=McDonald's=], nearly every attempt to expand outside their forte -- pizza, spaghetti, buffalo wings, etc. -- have been notorious, costly, abject failures. One of the few exceptions would be Chicken [=McNuggets=], which have been a staple of the [=McDonald's=] menu since the 1980s.

** In their final confrontation, when commenting on how the name "[=McDonalds=]" is perfect for such an operation, Ray notes that it's the kind of name which suggests its owner will never get pushed around, leading Dick to bitterly note that it's clearly not true in his case. Ray immediately retorts that Dick currently has a check for $1.3 million in his pocket that clearly says otherwise; he might have got outplayed but still fought his corner, and if nothing else still got what is by any reasonable standard a very generous payout as a consolation prize.

** Everything that Ray does to Ethel reeks of this. He accuses her of not supporting him in his first scene, causing her to storm off in a rage. He later uses their country club dinners to recruit franchise owners, cancels the membership against her wishes, and uses her as an unpaid employee to get proper leaders in each one. The final moment is when he asks for a divorce, at least sounding regretful that he's hurting her once more. Then he refuses to give her even a single share in [=McDonald=]'s.

** Even his visit to Mac [[spoiler: in the hospital]]! His [[spoiler:"get well card"]] contains [[spoiler:a blank check, as an ultimatum buy them out]]. Even under these circumstances, he's relentless about getting the brothers out of the picture. He didn't even have the decency to wait and address the matter [[spoiler:when Mac was discharged]].

--> '''Mac''': We will never be rid of him.

* LoopholeAbuse: How Ray begins to assume further control of the brand, by owning the ''land'' on which the restaurants stand rather than the restaurants themselves.

* LoveAtFirstSight: When Ray Kroc and Joan Smith meet during an investment meeting, to the point it takes only mere minutes before Rollie Smith, Joan's husband, is clearly uncomfortable. After that, Ray's wife Ethel is an afterthought to him.

** Worse, they had to cede the royalties provision to a handshake deal. Considering their dealings with Ray, both brothers realize Ray is pretty unlikely to honor it. [[spoiler:He doesn't.]]

* TakeThat: Dick [=McDonald=] not only rages about instant shake mix, but at the thought of a restaurant bearing his name using frozen French fries. While [=McDonald's=] has switched back to using real ice cream in their shakes, they have used frozen French fries since the 1960s and continue to do so. Since Dick is presented as the moral center of the pre-Kroc chain, it comes across as a stinging jab at the company as it stands today.

* TitleDrop: Via business card at the film's conclusion, much to the dismay of the [=McDonald=] brothers.

** Ray Kroc was, in fact, the founder of ''The [=McDonald's=] Corporation'' -- a separate legal entity that manages the land, supplies, marketing, etc. for the restaurant chain founded by the [=McDonald=] brothers.

* EvilIsPetty: Although calling Ray "evil" is an overstatement, after he gains full control of the franchises he buys the [=McDonald=] brothers out for a relatively small fee, and makes them a non-binding "handshake deal" to pay them 1% of corporate revenue annually knowing he'll never actually have to do it. He then uses a buried clause in the buyout contract to make them change the name of their restaurant, and builds his own [=McDonald's=] right across the street knowing it will knock them out of business. On top of that, he implies through ExactWords that he is, well, the founder of UsefulNotes/McDonalds and takes sole credit for the successful model. He also leaves his wife who stood by him through many failed ventures and had her house unknowingly mortgaged to finance the venture. He then makes sure she never sees any of the profits from the corporation.

* FoodAsBribe: When Ray gets turned down for a loan from the bank because of insufficient equity on his home, Ray tries to tempt the mortgage officer with just how delectable [=McDonalds=] [[ComicallySmallBribe food]] is. The officer doesn't give in, leading to Harry Sonneborn pulling a DeusExMachina offering Ray to invest in land.

* OurFounder: While Ray Kroc is indeed the father of [[ExactWords The [=McDonald's=] Corporation]], it's treated as ironic when he starts calling himself the "Founder" as it's shown that he didn't found the original restaurant or the system that made it successful. The [=McDonald=] brothers bristle when they see ''his'' McDonald's Corporation letterhead.

* TakeThat: Dick [=McDonald=] not only rages about instant shake mix, but at the thought of a restaurant bearing his name using frozen French fries. While [=McDonald's=] has switched back to using real ice cream in their shakes, they have used frozen French fries for decades and continue to do so. Since Dick is presented as the moral center of the pre-Kroc chain, it comes across as a stinging jab at the company as it stands today.

* OurFounder: While Ray Kroc is indeed the father of [[ExactWords The [=McDonald's=] Corporation]], it's treated as ironic when he starts calling himself the "Founder" as it's shown that he didn't found the original restaurant or the system that made it successful. The [=McDonald=] brothers bristle when they see his card.

* PyrrhicVictory: The [=McDonald=] brothers stare somberly at their checks after Ray buys them out. They both got $1.35 million -- about $8 million in 2016 money -- a king's ransom each. But their dreams have been shattered, and the business that they poured their whole lives into has been stolen, exploited and cheapened. (At the least, Dick in real life had the sense to not badmouth what happened, sensing it wasn't worth it.)

** When Ray agrees to buy out the brothers at the end of the film, one of the conditions the latter party states is that Kroc won't be able to acquire the San Bernardino location. Kroc agrees to this, but the conditions of the contract state that they won't be able to use any variation of the word "[=McDonalds=]", leading to them looking on sadly as the name is removed from the sign. To add insult to injury, Kroc later expands the chain into San Bernardino anyway -- at a site located ''right across the street'' from the original location. This causes their Big M restaurant to go out of business years later. Even worse, the restaurant was for the brothers loyal employees.

** When Ray agrees to buy out the brothers at the end of the film, one of the conditions the latter party states is that Kroc won't be able to acquire the San Bernardino location. Kroc agrees to this, but the conditions of the contract state that they won't be able to use any variation of the word "[=McDonalds=]", leading to them looking on sadly as the name is removed from the sign atop the restaurant. To add insult to injury, Kroc later expands the chain into San Bernardino anyway -- at a site located ''right across the street'' from the original location. This causes the M restaurant to go out of business. Even worse, the restaurant was for the brothers loyal employees.

** When Ray agrees to buy out the brothers at the end of the film, one of the conditions the latter party states is that Kroc won't be able to acquire the San Bernardino location. Kroc agrees to this, but the conditions of the contract state that they won't be able to use any variation of the word "[=McDonalds=]", leading to them looking on sadly as the name is removed from the sign atop the restaurant. To add insult to injury, Kroc later expands the chain into San Bernardino anyway -- at a site located ''right across the street'' from the original location. This causes the M restaurant to go out of business. Even worse, the brothers said they were retiring; the restaurant was for their loyal employees.

* GoodCapitalismEvilCapitalism: The film as a narrative, is a telling (though with some ArtisticLicense) of how Ray Kroc became the owner of the UsefulNotes/McDonalds franchise. The [=McDonald=] brothers worked hard to turn a few of their prior businesses into the little Hamburger joint enjoyed by the locals. Krok offers to expand them to go national, but eventually makes himself the face of the company and does practices the brothers despise until everyone associates the SimpleYetAwesome business with him, at which point the brothers are basically forced to sell their company.

** Remember that the [=McDonald=] brothers were taking no risk in their franchising venture with Ray. Ray was putting up all the money, taking all the risk, and doing all the work. Furthermore, Dick [=McDonald=] was so timid in his business decisions that he vetoed every move Ray suggested to improve the franchises. The Brothers didn't have to do anything, and received royalty checks as a result. Ray (correctly) saw that they were sitting on a gold mine and that if they didn't act quickly someone else would just copy their model and become the dominant force in the fast food industry. Since the brothers essentially had all of the control with none of the risk, Ray felt justified in exploiting a loophole so he could take greater control of the franchises and vastly increase his profits. Unfortunately, many of his antics and later acts in this process just come across as EvilIsPetty.

** Everything that Ray does to his first wife reeks of this. He accuses her of not supporting him in his first scene, causing her to storm off in a rage. He later uses their country club dinners to recruit franchise owners, cancels the membership against her wishes, and uses her as an unpaid employee to get proper leaders in each one. The final moment is when he asks for a divorce, at least sounding regretful that he's hurting her once more. Then he refuses to give her even a single share in [=McDonald=]'s.

** In their final confrontation, when commenting on how the name "[=McDonalds=]" is perfect for such an operation, Ray notes that it's the kind of name which suggests its owner will never get pushed around, leading Dick to bitterly note that it's clearly not true in his case. Ray immediately retorts that Dick currently has a check for $1.3 million in his pocket that clearly indicates otherwise; he might have got outplayed but if nothing else still got what is by any reasonable standard a very generous payout as a consolation prize.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Remember that the [=McDonald=] brothers were taking no risk in their franchising venture with Ray. Ray was putting up all the money, taking all the risk, and doing all the work. Furthermore, Dick [=McDonald=] was so timid in his business decisions that he vetoed every move Ray suggested to improve the franchises. The Brothers didn't have to do anything, and received royalty checks as a result. Ray (correctly) saw that they were sitting on a gold mine and that if they didn't act quickly someone else would just copy their model and become the dominant force in the fast food industry. Since the brothers essentially had all of the control with none of the risk, Ray felt justified in exploiting a loophole so he could take greater control of the franchises and vastly increase his profits. Unfortunately, many of his antics and later acts in this process just come across as EvilIsPetty.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Harry Sonneborn is the one who tells Ray how to earn more money on his franchises, and cut out the brothers. The epilogue reveals that he's the only person in the whole story who faced karma; after a disagreement with Ray, he left the corporation. This meant he couldn't share in the millions' worth of porifts.

* BigBrotherInstinct: Hurt Mac on Dick [=McDonald=]'s watch and he will consider you an enemy for life. In fact, that's why he doesn't trust Ray. Dick senses that Ray is an OpportunisticBastard and keeps him on a tight leash with a contract. Sadly, it doesn't work when Ray finds legal loopholes and points out suing him will cause the brothers to go bankrupt.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When the usually mild-mannered Mac finally grabs the phone from Dick and starts berating Ray, he has clearly had enough. Unfortunately it causes him to go into diabetic shock.

* ArtisticLicenseLaw: The way the movie presents the "handshake agreement" is this. While there's debate over whether or not it happened at all, the way the movie presents it suggests that it's a ''fait accompli'' that Ray is going to violate his word and there's absolutely nothing the [=McDonald=] brothers can do about it. However, he's making the offer in a room full of witnesses, including lawyers, who would be able (and in the case of the lawyers, legally obliged as officers of the court -- even Ray's) to honestly testify that Ray made the agreement in front of them. Furthermore, as it was made during an official legal meeting, it would be entered into any minutes as having occurred even if there was no written contract. While it would still be more difficult to legally enforce than a written contract (hence why most lawyers would discourage them), Ray would likely still be legally obliged to honor any handshake agreement if it was made under those circumstances and he was pressed upon it.