Sam soon discovers the affair and confronts Ginger, also ending his friendship with Nicky. Ginger confides in Nicky about the situation, and the two start an affair. Enraged, Sam kicks her out of their home but relents and forgives her. Sam convinces Ginger to return with Amy, then overhears her planning on the phone to kill him. In 1980, Ginger kidnaps Amy, planning to flee to Europe with her and Lester. Additionally, an FBI bug placed in Piscano's grocery store catches him talking in detail about the skim, prompting a full investigation into the Tangiers Casino. Disobeying orders, Piscano keeps detailed written records of the operation. When the Midwest bosses discover that people on the inside are stealing from their skim, they install incompetent Kansas City underboss Artie Piscano to oversee the operation. Sam blames Nicky's recklessness for ongoing police and state government pressure, and Sam's attempts to get Nicky to leave Las Vegas only result in further strain on their friendship. Sam starts hosting a local television talk show from inside the casino, irritating both Nicky and the bosses back home for bringing more unneeded attention. Clark County Commission chairman Pat Webb is unable to convince Sam to hire Ward, his brother-in-law back, and Webb arranges for Sam's gaming license to be denied, jeopardizing his position. In 1976, Sam fires slot manager Don Ward for incompetence. In the mid-1970s, Ginger's problems intensify as she turns to drugs and alcohol. Sam has Nicky's crew beat Lester when they catch him accepting $25,000 from her. They have a daughter, Amy, and marry, but their marriage is quickly thrown into turmoil due to Ginger's relationship with her longtime boyfriend, con artist Lester Diamond. Sam meets and falls in love with beautiful hustler and former prostitute Ginger McKenna. Nicky's criminal activities start drawing too much media and police attention and he is eventually placed in the Black Book, banning him from every casino in Nevada. He recruits his younger brother Dominick and childhood friend Frankie Marino to gather a crew that specializes in shakedowns and jewelry burglaries. Chicago boss Remo Gaggi sends Sam's childhood friend and mob enforcer Nicky Santoro to protect Sam and the casino. Sam quickly doubles the casino's profits, with cash skimmed directly from the count room and delivered to the Midwest Mafia bosses. In 1973, sports handicapper and Mafia associate Sam "Ace" Rothstein is sent by the Chicago Mafia to Las Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino with front man Philip Green. Stone's performance was singled out for acclaim, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Nicky and Ginger are based on mob enforcer Anthony Spilotro and former dancer and socialite Geri McGee, respectively.Ĭasino was released on November 22, 1995, by Universal Pictures, to a mostly positive critical reception, and was a worldwide box office success. The primary characters are based on real people: Sam is inspired by the life of Frank Rosenthal, also known as "Lefty," who ran the Stardust, Fremont, Marina, and Hacienda casinos in Las Vegas for the Chicago Outfit from 1968 until 1981. The film details Sam's operation of the casino, the difficulties he confronts in his job, the Mafia's involvement with the casino, and the gradual breakdown of his relationships and standing, as Las Vegas changes over the years. Other major characters include Nicky Santoro (Pesci), a " made man" and friend of Sam, and Ginger McKenna (Stone), a streetwise chip hustler with whom Sam marries and has a daughter. The film was the eighth collaboration between director Scorsese and De Niro.Ĭasino follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is asked by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day casino and hotel operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. It stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, and James Woods. It is based on the 1995 nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay along with Scorsese. Casino is a 1995 American epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, produced by Barbara De Fina and distributed by Universal Pictures.
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