in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross I thought the reason 2nd prize was a set of steak knives was to kill the winner

Of course first prize was a Cadillac El Dorado.

I thought they were trying to emphasize that you are all there to win by competing amongst each other for your jobs.

I didn't know the main point of the joke was just to point out the absurdity of the gap between a car and some steak knives like as if to say, we only care about the winner and second prize you get dog shit.