Avery Davis
Yes, the movie Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci, is based on a true story. It is based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, which details the true story of the rise and fall of the mob-controlled casinos in Las Vegas in the 1970s and 80s. The main character, Sam “Ace” Rothstein, is based on real-life casino executive Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, while some of the other characters and events in the movie are also based on real-life people and incidents.
What is the true story behind the movie Casino (1995)?
The movie Casino (1995) is based on the true story of the rise and fall of the Mafia-run Stardust Casino in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone.
The main character, Sam “Ace” Rothstein (played by De Niro), is based on Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, a professional gambler who was hired by the Chicago outfit to oversee their operations in Las Vegas. Rosenthal was known for his ability to spot cheating and his expertise in sports betting. In the film, his character falls in love with a hustler named Ginger (played by Stone), who is based on Geri McGee, a former Las Vegas showgirl and prostitute who became Rosenthal’s girlfriend.
The character of Nicky Santoro (played by Pesci) is based on Anthony Spilotro, a Chicago mobster and Rosenthal’s childhood friend. Spilotro was notorious for his brutality and was eventually murdered along with his brother in a cornfield in Indiana in 1986.
The film depicts the skimming of profits from the Stardust Casino by the Chicago outfit, which was a common practice during this time period. Eventually, the FBI became involved and Rosenthal and Spilotro were both indicted on multiple charges. Rosenthal survived a car bombing attempt but was later banned from entering any casino in Nevada. He eventually moved to Florida, where he continued to work as a sports handicapper until his death in 2008.
Overall, while there are some fictionalized elements in the movie, Casino is generally regarded as an accurate representation of organized crime’s influence on Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s.
Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Casino (1995)?
Yes, there is a book that the movie Casino was based on. The book is called “Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas” by Nicholas Pileggi. It was published in 1995, the same year as the movie. The book tells the true story of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and the mob’s control of Las Vegas casinos in the 1970s.
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