While the movie begins by stating it is adapted from a true story, it never names the real-life casino involved. The 'Tangiers' casino is fictional. The story is based upon the history of the Stardust casino, a fact well documented in the Las Vegas history books. IT ONLY EXISTS BECAUSE THE REAL GUY IT'S BASED ON WAS A BIG DE NIRO FAN. Sorry for being away so long guys! Hopefully this review makes up for it but I'm back in the swing of things and I'm already researching my next review. Directed by Martin Campbell, the movie tells the story of a James Bond who has just achieved his double-o status. The movie stars Eva Green as Moneypenny and Judi Dench as M. Did you know that Daniel Craig is the first actor to play James Bond who is younger than the franchise? Read the interesting facts and trivia of Casino Royale below.
Questioning the Story:
Did Sam Rothstein manage any other casinos besides Tangiers?
Unlike the portrayal in the movie Casino where Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (Robert De Niro) runs only one casino, the Tangiers, in real life Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal ran four casinos simultaneously, including the Stardust, Hacienda, Fremont and Marina for the Chicago mafia. For legal reasons, the Stardust was renamed the Tangiers in the film. -Las Vegas Sun
Did teamsters really fund the Tangiers?Yes. After being pressured by the mob, the Teamsters fund loaned the Argent Corporation, solely owned by Allen Glick, the money to buy the Stardust and other casinos. Mr. Glick was portrayed in the movie Casino by character Philip Green (Kevin Pollak). -Online Nevada Encyclopedia
Did security really crush the hands of a cheater?
According to Frank Rosenthal himself, yes, this did occur but not under the circumstances portrayed in the movie Casino. The two men who were electronically signaling each other were part of a larger group that had been scamming all the casinos for an extended period of time. The actions taken were meant as a message to the group to deter any of the others from coming back to do the same. -Miami Herald
Did Sam and Ginger have a daughter like in the movie?
The Casino movie true story reveals that Sam and Ginger Rothstein's real-life counterparts, Frank and Geraldine Rosenthal, had a daughter named Stephanie and a son name Steven. Geraldine also had a daughter from a previous relationship with her high school love, Lenny Marmor (James Woods' character in the movie). Robin Marmor was born on December 27, 1957, and was eleven years old when her mother met Frank. She was not depicted in the movie. To learn more about Frank Rosenthal's wife and family, read Nicholas Pileggi's book Casino, which was the basis for the Martin Scorsese movie.
Were the lion performers Sam hired to work at the Tangiers based on Siegfried and Roy?
Indeed they were. When Siegfried and Roy's contract was about to expire with a competing casino, Mr. Rosenthal (Sam) hired them to perform at the Stardust. Part of the agreement was a significantly higher salary, custom dressing room and space for their animals. 'Lido de Paris Starring Siegfried and Roy' was born and so was a friendship that lasted a lifetime. -FrankRosenthal.com
Did Nicky really get banned from every casino in Vegas?Yes. In December 1979, Tony Spilotro, the real-life Nicky Santoro, was blacklisted by the Nevada Gaming Commission, preventing him from entering any casino.
Did the real Nicky Santoro have a son?
Yes. In 1966, Tony and Nancy Spilotro (the real Nicky and Jennifer Santoro) adopted their only son, Vincent. -The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law vs. The Mob
Did Nicky really recruit his brother and other guys from back home to commit heists?
Yes. The pack was referred to as 'The Hole in the Wall Gang' because they cut holes in walls and ceilings to enter their target locations. Included in this group were his brother, Michael Spilotro, Herbert 'Fat Herbie' Blitzstein, Wayne Metecki, Samuel Cusumano, Joseph Cusumano, Ernesto 'Ernie' Davino, 'Crazy Larry' Neumann, Salvatore 'Sonny' Romano, Leonardo 'Leo' Guardino, Joseph Blasko and their leader, Frank Cullotta. Frank Cullotta is portrayed in the movie Casino by actor Frank Vincent, as Nicky Santoro's sidekick Frankie Marino.
Did they really put a rival's head in a vise after he shot up a bar?
Yes. Anthony Spilotro, the basis for Joe Pesci's Nicky Santoro character, caught one of the two men who killed the Scalvo brothers without permission. Frank Cullotta testified in the Operation Family Secrets trial that Spilotro did torture Billy McCarthy. Spilotro told him that McCarthy was beaten and when he refused to name his accomplice, his head was put in a vise and tightened until his eyeball popped out. At that point, he gave them Jimmy Miraglia's name and they slit his throat. -Sun Times
Did Nicky Santoro sleep with Sam Rothstein's wife?
Yes, the real Nicky Santoro, Tony Spilotro, did sleep with Frank Rosenthal's wife, which ultimately played a part in his demise. Nicholas Calabrese testified in the Operation Family Secrets trial in 2007 that mob hit man John Fecarotta told him that Spilotro was targeted for his affair with Rosenthal's wife. -Chicago Tribune
Was Phillip Green's business partner, Anna Scott, murdered in her home?Yes. The real-life Anna Scott, Tamara Rand, was murdered in the kitchen of her San Diego home. She was shot on November 9, 1975 soon after having loan issues with her mob-tied business partner, Allen Glick. -San Diego Reader
Was there really a Gaming Control Board investigation into Sam's attempt to get a gaming license?
Yes. The real Sam, Frank Rosenthal, did have a hearing with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Furthermore, he argued with the chairman, the current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and was denied a gaming license. In 1988, he was officially put in the 'Black Book' (List of Persons Excluded from Licensed Gaming Establishments in the State of Nevada). -Las Vegas Sun
Did FBI agents run out of gas and land their plane on a fairway?
According to the Casino true story, the FBI agents did land their plane on the fairway at the Las Vegas Country Club where the Rosenthals lived. However, it was due to mechanical problems rather than a lack of fuel. -Skimming the Las Vegas Casinos
Did the real Sam 'Ace' Rothstein have his own TV show?
Yes he did. The Frank Rosenthal Show was taped at the Stardust and brought in many big-name guests, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Wayne Newton, Liberace and O.J. Simpson. For those of you who are curious, he claims to have never juggled on the show. -FrankRosenthal.com
Was Sam the best handicapper in America?According to Sports Illustrated, Frank Rosenthal is 'one of the greatest living experts on sports gambling'. -Sports Illustrated article 'The Biggest Game in Town'
Is Sam responsible for putting sports betting into casinos?
Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal, the real Sam, is credited with putting sports betting in Las Vegas casinos. In 1976, he set up the first sports book in the Stardust, which featured six large televisions. -USA Today
Did Sam and Ginger really get divorced?
Yes. According to Frank, the real story is that he filed for the divorce and for full custody of their children. Geri did not contest it. Their divorce was finalized on January 16, 1981. -FrankRosenthal.com
Did Ginger really try to run off with their daughter and Lester?
According to Frank Rosenthal (the real Sam Rothstein), his wife and her ex-boyfriend, Lenny Marmor, ran off with his daughter, his son and his money. In the movie, Lenny Marmor is the Lester Diamond character portrayed by James Woods. -FrankRosenthal.com
Did Artie Piscano die of a heart attack when the FBI found mob records in his home?
No. The Casino movie character Artie Piscano was based on Carl 'Tuffy' DeLuna. The raid on his home happened on February 14, 1979. Unlike what is depicted in the movie, Tuffy did not die of a heart attack during the raid. He was sentenced to prison for his participation in skimming Las Vegas casinos and was released in 1998. He died ten years later on July 21, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. -The Chicago Syndicate
Did Sam survive a car bomb assassination attempt?Yes. On October 4, 1982, Frank Rosenthal left Tony Roma's restaurant on East Sahara Avenue and got into his Cadillac which then exploded. Amazingly, he survived with minor burns and injuries. A variety of factors have been attributed to his survival, including a metal plate under the driver's seat, the driver's side door being open at the time of the explosion, and pure luck. -NY Times
Why did Sam's car have a metal plate under the driver's seat?
The 1981 Cadillac Eldorado had a balancing problem that was affecting the car's handling. GM installed the metal plate under the driver's seat to correct the problem. -UniqueCarsandParts.com/au
Did Ginger end up with low lives and drug dealers in Los Angeles?
Yes. The true story behind Geri Rosenthal (Ginger in the movie) reveals that her interaction with these people ultimately led to her untimely death. On November 9, 1982, at the age of 46, she died in an LA motel from a drug overdose of valium, cocaine and whiskey. She is buried in Mount Sinai Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Were Nicky Santoro and his brother, Dominick, really killed?Yes, the real-life Spilotro brothers were beaten to death, but not in a cornfield as portrayed in the movie. According to Nicholas Calabrese, a former mob hitman who testified in the Operation Family Secrets trial, the brothers were told they were being promoted in the mob. Anthony Spilotro was to become a 'capo' and his brother, Michael, was to become a 'made member'. They were driven to a mob home in Bensenville, Illinois and were beaten to death in the basement. They were later transported to the cornfield in Enos, Indiana. -Chicago Tribune
Is the real Sam still alive?
Mr. Rosenthal died at the age of 79 after suffering a heart attack at his Miami Beach home on October 13, 2008. -NY Times
Did Sam insist on having an equal number of blueberries in each muffin?
Casino Movie True Facts
According to Nicholas Pileggi, author of the book Casino, Frank Rosenthal was extremely meticulous. He did regulate the number of blueberries per muffin, with each muffin containing at least ten blueberries. -NY Times
Casino: Behind the Movie Interviews & Video
Watch video featuring interviews with Frank Rosenthal, the real Sam Rothstein, portrayed by Robert De Niro in the movie. Also, see footage of Tony Spilotro, the real Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci).
Frank Rosenthal Interview Watch Frank Rosenthal interviews andhistoric video featuring mobster AnthonySpilotro, portrayed by Joe Pesci in themovie Casino. |
Casino Trailer Watch the Casino movie trailerfor the film starring Robert De Niro, JoePesci and Sharon Stone. Directed by MartinScorcese, Casino tells the storyof sports handicapper Frank 'Lefty'Rosenthal in mob-run Las Vegas during the1970's. |
The Casino is one of the greatest movies about Las Vegas directed by Martin Scorsese. This iconic movie, released in 1995, tells the story of two mobsters who are the best friends and who try to create their own casino empire. The most exciting thing is that the plot is based on a true story ofFrank “Lefty” Rosenthal (played by Robert De Niro) and his real-life gangster friend Tony Spilotro (played by Joe Pesci). But there isn’t the only interesting fact about the movie Casino. Here are 10 little-known and peculiar facts about the Casino.
- Before filming the Casino, Robert De Niro met the man on whom his character – Sam Rothstein – is based. He met with Frank Rosenthal in person.
- Not many people know that the Tangiers casino didn’t really exist. Unlike such real casinos as the Venetian Macao in China, Yebo Casino for South Africa or Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, the Tangiers casino was just a fiction. But the film was shot in a real, operating casino called the Riviera.
- Frank Rosenthal ran the Stardust and was a former executive at that casino. This fact was well documented in Vegas history books. So, Martin Scorsese decided to highlight this fact via the soundtrack. The track “Stardust” is heard three times throughout the film.
- Due to the fact that Robert De Niro’s character was a chain smoker, he constantly had to hold the cigarettes the same distance from the lit end in order to avoid the continuity issues. So, Sam Rothstein’s cigarettes lengths never appear to change throughout the movie.
- According to Frank Rosenthal, the worst scene of the Casino was when Sam was juggling. He really hated it because he claimed that on the Frank Rosenthal TV Show he never juggled and thought this scene made him look foolish.
- The actress Claudia Haro, who played Trudy, the co-host/bandleader “Ace’s High”, was Joe Pesci’s wife in real life.
- The most eye-catching gold and white beaded gown in which Sharon Stone appears during the casino scene weighted 45 pounds.
- There were 7,000 extras in the Casino movie. 120 of these extras had speaking parts.
- Sam Rothstein’s attorney, Oscar Goodman, is a lawyer in real life and he actually defended several mobsters from Las Vegas. Besides, in 1999, he became Mayor of Las Vegas.
- The costume budget of the Casino was about $1 million. Robert De Niro changed 70 various costumes throughout the film, Sharon Stone changed 40 outfits. After the shoot, they both were allowed to keep their costumes.
5 Casino Fun Facts
- Most dialogues between Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci were absolutely improvised. The director just told them where to start and where to end.
- Joe Pesci re-broke the same rib during the filming of the Casino that had been broken 15 years earlier during the filming of the Raging Bull.
Was Casino A Real Story
- James Woods so wanted to be in the movie directed by Martin Scorsese, so when he heard that the famous director was interested in working with him, he called the Scorsese’s office immediately and said that he was ready to start “any time, any place, any part, any fee”.
- Sharon Stone could meet Martin Scorsese only on the third occasion. Her first two auditions were canceled by the director for different mundane reasons. She decided not to try a third time and go out with her friend instead. But the director of the Casino found Sheron at the restaurant where she was dining with her friend and made her a personal appeal.
- According to the producers of the Casino, the most difficult thing about filming this masterpiece was finding those people who could tell them how to cheat in the casino.
3 Interesting Facts about Casino Movies
The Casino certainly is the most memorable casino-themed movie, but not the only one. For the fans of themovies about gambling and casinos, here are the top 3 casino films in addition to the Casino and most interesting facts about them.
- The Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas directed by Terry William has become a cult classic movie. Despite the fact that this movie describes the casino life of Las Vegas, very little of the movie was really shot in Las Vegas.
Casino Movie Quiz
- Being one of the most popular casino films ever made, the Ocean’s Eleven was produced on a budget of $80 million and was the fifth highest grossing film the year of its release, raked in $450.7 million in the box office.
- The Casino Royale (2006) is an updated casino movie which describes some new ways of gambling with the help of Mobile Casinos. Amazingly, but it took almost six weeks to film the Parkour chase at the beginning of the movie and Daniel Craig lost two of his front teeth when filming a fight scene in Prague.