Sunday, March 4, 2018

The Founder Explores the Story of Ray Kroc and the Rise of McDonald's


A Northeastern Illinois University alumnus, Daniel Lundahl founded the technology solutions provider AIS Network and led the company for 16 years before retiring in 2013. Also an antique automobile enthusiast, Daniel Lundahl owns a vintage DeSoto Taxi, which was used during the filming of the movie The Founder

Starring Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, The Founder tells the story of an ambitious salesman who helped Dick and Mac McDonald, played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch, respectively, transform their unique and innovative fast-food eatery into one of the world's largest restaurant businesses. In the film, Kroc is depicted as a hard-working salesman who frequents drive-in restaurants throughout the country trying to sell managers a five-spindled milkshake machine. His efforts prove fruitless until Dick and Mac, hoping to keep up with growing demand at their burgeoning McDonald's restaurant, ask to purchase multiple machines. 

What follows is the corporatization of the McDonald's restaurant, which is primarily facilitated by Kroc, who ultimately takes advantage of the innocent brothers. The film also stars Linda Cardellini, B.J. Novak, Laura Dern, and Patrick Wilson and was directed by John Lee Hancock.