Casino the movie

[blackchipjim]

I finally watched the movie Casino with Robert Deniro and Sharon Stone. It was a pretty dry narrated in part about the mob controlled Vegas. I had gotten the tape for a Christmas present years ago and decided to finally watch it. The movie states that it is based on a true story. I believe there was a news story about the very same characters awhile back. I think the movie was total waste of time except when they caught the guys cheating at bj with the signaling device. My wife freaked out when they broke the guy's fingers, she says that's what they are going to do to me. blachipjim

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by blackchipjim

I think the movie was total waste of time ...

Can't imagine - the movie is four stars and is in the AFI-100. Yes it was a true story, more true than 21, the names were changed to protect the guilty - except for Oscar's name and he played himself, or did you miss that? zg

[Brutus]

yep, the good old days.

its was a true to life portrayal of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal.
http://frankrosenthal.com/index.php
this cat is still around, picking winners.
he had the the superbowl called correctly.
with the G-Men over the patriots. was it under 55?

[ChefJJ]

Excellent movie. Great actors and wonderful story, what's not to like?!?

[ihate17]

An old friend, who passed away a few years ago, Dick Odesky had a few things to say about Frank Rosenthal (none too nice). Some of you may have read Dick's book, Fly on the Wall, about his periods of time working for several Vegas papers and also working for several Vegas casinos as their PR person, including the Stardust and Freemont. I found Dick's book somewhat of a disappointment because when he got to his time with Rosenthal it all got sketchy but there again people involved are still alive and still may be able to reach out and touch someone. What he did tell me was that the portrayal of Rosenthal in the movie was accurate and the brutality was repeated several times. He also mentions the instant firings of dozens of casino employees with their hand picked replacements on hand.

Now if you go to Rosenthal's site, you will find he is just a misunderstood angel who offered the public (true as far as the games go) a much better gamble than the corporate mafia of today.

My infamous uncle with three names said that Rosenthal was perhaps the luckiest man on earth. Probably should have spent 20 years in jail, probably should have been killed and lives a rich luxury life in Florida. He explained all this to me after I saw the movie casino and called him asking him if the guy Frank we had dinner with at the Stardust back in the late 70's or early 80's was the Ace character from the movie. Seems they had mutual aquantances.

So the accuracy for a Hollywood production was probably pretty good on the casino end and mob end of the story. Not so sure about the Sharon Stone, boyfriend etc ends.

ihate17

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by ihate17

So the accuracy for a Hollywood production was probably pretty good on the casino end and mob end of the story. Not so sure about the Sharon Stone, boyfriend etc ends.

I went to high school with the Sharon Stone character, Van Nuys High.
What was her name again? zg

[blackchipjim]

I did see old oscar and pointed him out to my wife. I was kinda aware of the story line and how it tied into the mafia. blackchipjim

[zengrifter]

Best OC movie since Goodfellas. zg

[SammyBoy]

Originally Posted by zengrifter

I went to high school with the Sharon Stone character, Van Nuys High.
What was her name again? zg

Her name was Geri McGee. So what was she like in Hgh School? From all accounts she was a knockout.

[deadlywizard234]

I always thought the sharon stone character was fictional. She was based off of a real person?