Many of the world’s most celebrated actors have starred in casino-themed flicks. There is something innately captivating about the golden era of the Jewish, Irish, and Italian mob outfits of yesteryear. The likes of Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Johnny Roselli, Lucky Luciano, Al Capone, Moe Dalitz, Tony Cornero, and Frank Rosenthal all dabbled in some or other form of gambling activity. Their notoriety spawned an incredible fascination with the mob hierarchy that we have come to learn about over the years. It didn’t take Hollywood long to romanticize the strangely majestic allure of that era; the skullduggery, violence, lechery, and turncoat behavior of these thugs left an indelible imprint on all of us.
Get ready to go on a wild ride with us as we take you through the golden ages of Hollywood cinema and teach you how to spin the wheel and win big with fantastic entertainment that’s popcorn ready, edge-of-your-seat entertainment!
#1 Bugsy – the smoothest casino gangster you never wanted to meet
Like them or loathe them, the mob bosses and their henchmen were responsible for creating Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and lots of intoxicating entertainment on the big screen. Some of the most impressive performances of our time have been fashioned off the successes of legendary actors like Warren Beatty and his portrayal of Bugsy Siegel. A gangster who lived in the fast lane, with incredible potential had his light snuffed out way too early. This celebrity-gangster character has been attributed with his outsized impact on Las Vegas. He was assassinated outside of his home in Beverly Hills, California, in a tragic scene portrayed in the film Bugsy. He died at the tender age of 41, in a hail of gunfire – in pretty much the same way that he lived his life.
#2 – Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein – the ultimate casino mob boss?
Legendary method actor, Robert De Niro often headlines when it comes to casino-style movies. His star continues to shine bright, over several stellar performances in Hollywood. It’s tough to single out one or two portrayals by De Niro, but mention must surely be made of Casino, in 1995. This epic blockbuster consistently ranks among the best-ever casino films. De Niro portrayed the character of Sam Rothstein – a Jewish mob boss sent to Vegas to run a casino. The film was a raging success with filmgoers, and thanks to the expert direction of Martin Scorsese, it was an unforgettable theatrical performance. Special mention must surely be made of supporting actors Sharon Stone, James Woods, and Joe Pesci. At times, this Hollywood blockbuster is hard to watch – particularly the drug-related scenes with Sharon Stone, and the brutal violence of Joe Pesci. Overall, a flawlessly executed piece of cinematic majesty.
#3 – Casino Royale – Bond sizzles as the coolest player at the casino
Daniel Craig was already an accomplished actor before he took on the challenging role of the all-new, James Bond 007 in Casino Royale. This outstanding Bond production is deemed the gold standard among fans. It introduced the world to a brusque, dark, and brooding James Bond. Gone are the days of paper-thin personas with cheesy lines and immaculate hairdos. The Daniel Craig Bond is hard, at times difficult to understand, yet he’s cool as a cucumber under pressure. In this rendition of the Bond series of films, he must take on the ultimate villain in Le Chiffre. A poker game pits our hero against the villain in a prelude to an adventure that will introduce us to many Hollywood heavyweights including Mads Mickelson, and Judy Dench. The writers and director certainly got it right with this production which managed to gross an impressive $616 million worldwide gross off a budget of $150 million. For his efforts, Craig was paid £1.9 million, but that pales in comparison to the £50 million payday he has secured as the ultimate 00 agent in his final 007 film.