Casino Movie Mob Bosses

Posted on 4/13/2022 admin

The reason behind the power of every criminal empire lies in the wit, or in some cases ruthlessness, of the man in charge of the entire operation. Bad as they may be, it cannot be denied that the role of a don in any gangster movie has always been regarded as the most pivotal character; adding the icing to the cake. Here today we have compiled a list of the fifteen most memorable movie mob bosses of all time:

Rosenthal was the former Las Vegas casino boss who inspired the character Sam 'Ace' Rothstein in the movie 'Casino.' (AP Photo/File). From count rooms and sent back by courier to mob bosses in.
A tale of greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two best friends: a mafia enforcer and a casino executive compete against each other over a gambling empire, and over a fast-living and fast-loving socialite.
In Casino the story revolves around the mob stealing from the Tangiers casino by skimming off the top of all money earned. In order to get away with this, they seem to have their people in place - they get their man, Sam 'Ace' Rothstein to run it, they arrange the loan which allows the casino.

15. Vincenzo Coccotti

The film follows the rise and fall of casino executive Sam “Ace' Rothstein as he moves to Las Vegas at the behest of the Italian mafia and runs the fictional Tangiers casino. Martin Scorsese's 1995 film Casino follows the life of Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (Robert De Niro) as he runs the mob-owned Tangiers casino. The movie also deals with his relationship with his friend Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and the love of his life Ginger (Sharon Stone).

Despite having quite a short screen time, actor Christopher Walken amazingly expanded the character’s magnitude with a touch of fearlessness and short tempered behavior.

With words intimidating as much as his actions, Vincent Coccotti feels no remorse during his criminal run as particularly shown when he murders Clifford Worley when the later insulted his Sicilian heritage.

14. John Rooney

Undoubtedly an Academy Award-worthy performance, no actor could have pulled the role of the head of a powerful Irish mafia John Rooney better than Paul Newman.

With responsibilities as a father figure, vast power in criminology, and consequence of violence, Rooney proved to be one of the most dramatic and emotional villains that crime can offer.

13. Brick Top

Having control over the local boxing trail and much of the city’s gambling, Brick Top is one of the few crime bosses whose looks define exactly what his uncontrollable emotions can lead to.

Portrayed by Alan Ford, the ruthless crime boss spares no chance at showcasing how sadistic and twisted his mind can get as shown when he burned the mother of boxer Mickey to a devastating death.

12. Jabba the Hutt

The only mob boss in the list whose wrath has reached all around the galaxy and not even a human, Jabba the Hutt is one of the most memorable and outright nasty villains Han Solo came across to.

Responsible for numerous illegal operations such as smuggling, slavery, piracy, gunrunning, the Bloated One has been one of the most memorable and notable villains of the Star War saga apart from Darth Vader.

11. Paul Vitti

Born in the Bronx, hanging out with notorious Italian-American criminals in New York, having an appetite for chaos, Paul Vitti was destined to be a criminal; having joined a street gang at a very early age.

Portrayed by Robert De Niro, the character of Vitti, despite being utterly arm-less, is tough as nails. With connections in the criminal empire, while still a rookie, Vitti would eventually run a powerful mob of his own which would be known as the Vitti Crime Family.

10. Marsellus Wallace

Throwing off a masseuse from a four-story balcony through a greenhouse for touching his wife’s feet pretty much sums the aggression and hostility of the black menace named Marsellus Wallace.

Portrayed by Ving Rhames, crime boss Wallace answers nor explains to no one. Having a very few number of people he can count on, Wallace is the most fierce and intimidating gangster in his area.

9. Frank Lucas

Low profile, silent, and unlike the majority of the crime bosses, Frank Lucas has a lust for wealth; thus thinking every aspect of his criminal life in an economical way. Portrayed by Denzel Washington, the character explores the fact that money truly is the root of all evil.

After learning every trick in the book from his boss bumpy Johnson until his death, the drug and wealth addicted mob boss did not let anything cross his path during his illegal activities.

8. Keyser Söze

Image Source: Gramercy/courtesy Everett Collection

Perhaps the most mysterious of all crime bosses to ever hit the television screen is none other than Keyser Söze due to the fact that no one really knows the status of his existence. Regarded as fiction by some and fact by many, his enigmatic status is what makes the crime boss so unique.

Appeared, so to speak, in the 1995 crime-thriller The Usual Suspects, his unidentified role as the central theme of the entire movie makes even the simplest plot a heart-pounding one.

7. Frank White

Resoluteness, determination, power, the powerful drug lord from New York has it all when it comes to the skills and resourcefulness of crime. An unlikely crime boss, Frank White utilizes the most heinous stunts even when attempting to do something good.

After being freed from jail, White decides to turn over a new leaf, as it seems, by making a hospital for his city with the very money he earned by drug trafficking. Portrayed by Christopher Walken, the character has been regarded as one of the best crime bosses dealing with drugs.

6. The Joker

The wrath of the mass-murdering psychopath known simply as the Joker ranges to even his own men. Portrayed by Heath Ledger, the Clown Prince of Crime is not after anything materialistic like power or wealth. The mad man just wants to spread chaos.

With the aim of introducing a better class of criminals, what makes the Joker so matchless is the fact that he is one of the very few villains in the theatrical industry to defeat the very hero that stands against everything evil.

5. Al Capone

Indeed Alphonse Gabriel Capone was the single most cunning, feared, and ruthless real-life crime boss to ever walk in the city of Chicago and when it comes to actors portraying the mobster, Robert De Niro is second to none.

Agile, smart, equipped with ammunition, laughing in the face of the law, inciting disorder, Capone exhibits exactly why he is the biggest cheese in the Chicago criminal empire.

4. Frank Costello

The crafty mobster from the Irish neighborhood of South Boston is one of the two movie mob bosses based on real-life criminals. Portrayed by Jack Nicholson, Francis “Frank” Costello is one of the most influential crime bosses of all time.

Gained notoriety for his atrocious image and questionable methods, the role impressively reminded why the real-life counterpart was the most feared and dreadful criminal of his time in the United States of America.

3. Tony Montana

Tony Montana was just an ordinary refugee from Cuba. Quitting his odd jobs and throwing the American Dream in the garbage, Montana quickly adopted the life of crime for a living. The character truly exemplifies how an average Joe can drastically change his life when compelled with determination.

After overthrowing his own boss, Montana reshaped the criminal empire and became the most notorious force, even by regular criminal standards. Unfortunately, his quick-tempered got the best of him as it resulted in his downfall.

2. Michael Corleone

Indeed if history has taught anything, it is the fact that you can kill anyone. Filled with redemption and a mind like no one else, as soon as the youngest son of Don Vito Corleone took over the family business, things could only get complicated.

Murdering his brother-in-law and even his own brother are a few of the many examples of how heartless and callous an individual can be even if he meant to make things right; adding the mystique to the crime boss Michael Corleone.

1. Vito Corleone

Created by Italian American author Mario Puzo, the sheer magnetism of Don Vito Corleone expands beyond the range of criminal stature. Regarded as one of the greatest fictional characters of all time, Vito Corleone is head of the most powerful crime family in New York.

Referred to as the Godfather, the powerful crime boss considers criminal endeavors as a family business and aims to keep it respectful by abstaining from drugs and utilizing all his powers to fulfill the favors of the people in order to keep them in his debt.

Portrayed by Marlon Brando, the character won an Academy Award for Best Actor, though the legendary actor refused to accept it.

Is there any other movie mob boss that should have been included in our list of the top movie mob bosses of all time? Feel free to leave a comment below!

“Casino”, a 1995 film by Martin Scorsese about the rise and fall of the mafia’s stranglehold on Las Vegas starring Robert DeNiro and Sharon Stone, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its release in November of 1995. “Casino” is one of the best films ever made about Las Vegas and the first 45 minutes of the film is a both an homage to Sin City and vintage Scorsese.

“Casino” is often referred to “Goodfellas in Vegas” and there’s certainly an element of truth to that assessment. Like every one of Scorsese’s films, he’s telling multiple stories at once while making a social commentary about American greed and violence.

Release: November 1995
Produced by: Barbara De Fina
Written by: Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Distributed by: Universal Pictures

On the surface, “Casino” is a gangster flick set in Vegas, but it’s also about a tragic love story that inevitably leads to the downfall of a gambling empire. “Casino” is both a love letter and cautionary tale about the mafia’s involvement in Las Vegas before corporations took over in the 1980s and turned it into adult Disneyworld.

Scorsese made “Casino” with a budget between $40 million and $50 million, and it earned $116 million at the box office.

Casino: Based on a True Story

Scorsese’s film is directly inspired and based on “Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas”, a non-fiction written by Nicholas Pileggi, which focuses on the mafia as silent partners in Las Vegas casinos in the 1970s and early 1980s. Pileggi tells the story about a Chicago bookmaker named Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, who was tapped by mafia bosses to run the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. Lefty’s childhood friend, Anthony Spilotro, is also sent to Vegas to watch Lefty’s back and provide security for the Stardust. In Sin City, Spilotro and his crew quickly rise to power as Las Vegas’ most-notorious crime figure.

Scorsese and Pileggi co-authored the screenplay for “Casino”, but changed the names of all the main figures involved. Lefty Rosenthal becomes Ace Rothstein in the film, while Tony Spilotro becomes Nicky Santoro.

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Casino: Ace Go to Vegas

“Casino” starts in 1973. The teamsters union, which has deep connections to the Chicago mafia, loans $62.7 million to real estate developer Philip Green (Kevin Pollack) to open a new casino in Las Vegas called the Tangiers.

The Italian mafia bosses send a Jewish bookmaker and gambler, Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert DeNiro), to manage the Tangiers. After running into problems as a sports bettor and bookie. Ace is thrilled to operate in Las Vegas were gambling and bookmaking is legalized.

“I was given paradise on Earth,” said Ace in a voiceover. “Las Vegas washes away your sins, like a morality car wash.”

Ace micromanages the Tangiers, which becomes highly profitable. Meanwhile, the mafia secretly takes their cut by skimming profits from the count room.

“In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose. In the end, we get it all.”

While gamblers flock to Las Vegas, criminals and cheaters are also drawn to Sin City for a quick score.

“Since the players are trying to beat the casinos, the dealers are watching the players,” said Ace. “The boxmen are watching the dealers. The floormen are watching the boxmen. The pit bosses are watching the floormen. The shift bosses are watching the pit bosses. The casino manager is watching the shift bosses. I’m watching the casino manager, and the eye in the sky is watching them all.”

When Ace catches a cheater, the security enacts swift and violent “cheaters’ justice” in the back room to deter future cheaters.

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Nicky and Ginger

The mob also sends enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) to keep an eye on Ace and the casino. Most importantly, Santoro ensures the mob can “skim” the profits without any impediments. He’s also a deterrent if any other mobsters from other cities try to cheat or muscle their way in on the Tangiers.

As Nicky succinctly put it, “There’s a lots of holes in the desert, and lot of problems buried in those holes.”

Nicky expands his empire in the shadows of Las Vegas in criminal activities ranging from loansharking to high-end robberies.

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At the heart of casino is a tragic love story between two star-crossed lovers. Ace falls in love with a high-class prostitute and hustler named Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone).

“Ginger had the hustlers’ code,” explained Ace. “She knew how to take care of people. And that’s what Vegas is all about. It’s kick-back city.”

Ginger admitted that she’d never truly love Ace, he thinks otherwise and proceeds with the nuptials. Ginger loves the lavish lifestyle with money, clothes, jewelry, and drugs.

“For a girl like Ginger, love cost a lot of money,” added Ace.

The more that Ace tried to domesticate Ginger, the further they grew apart.

Ginger’s ex-boyfriend/pimp Lester (James Woods) is a low-rent golf hustler from LA that weaves in and out of Ginger’s life, mostly when he’s broke and needs money. When Ginger unsuccessfully tries to run away with Lester, she eventually drifts towards Nicky to protect her.

Ace finally gives up on Ginger after she robbed his “kidnapping” money, or a stash of over $1 million in a safe deposit box at a bank in Los Angeles.

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The Fall, Goodbye Vegas

As the 1970s bleed into the 1980s, cocaine abuse accelerates the lunacy. Ginger grows more uncontrollable. Nicky’s criminals ways get sloppier, which draws more attention from both authorities and the press.

Ace loses his edge as well due to his increasing martial problems. He also runs into issues with local state officials and they deny him a gaming license. Ace hits the airwaves to express his grievances. The blitz of press irked the bosses back home. They were also growing increasingly concerned about Nicky’s cowboy antics. When the monthly “skim” from the Tangiers is reduced from $700,000 at its peak to just a few thousand dollars, the bosses decide it’s time to liquidate their problems.

Nicky and his brother are inevitable whacked in a cornfield somewhere between Vegas and Kansas City.

The mafia also attempt to kill Ace by blowing up his car. However, he catches a lucky break and survives the bombing. Ace realizes his luck in Vegas — in love, life, and with gambling — has run out. He “retires” from the gaming business and relocates to San Diego where he returns to handicapping horse races and betting on sports.

Casino ends with bittersweet soliloquy from Ace over a montage of the modern-day Las Vegas run by beancounters and corporations.

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Casino: 120 Characters and 7,000 Extras

Scorsese likes to cast actors he worked with on previous projects, so it wasn’t a shock to see both Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro return to the screen together.

Scorsese included many old-school Vegas entertainers in “Casino”, including comedian Don Rickles in a straight role as casino manager Billy Sherbert.

Performers such as Frankie Avalon and Jerry Vale appear in “Casino” as himself. Long-time Las Vegas mayor, and former mob lawyer, Oscar Goodman also makes a cameo. Dick Smothers from the Smothers Brothers fame plays a crooked state senator.

CASINO CAST

Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein (Robert DeNiro)
Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci)
Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone)
Billy Sherbert (Don Rickles)
Philip Green (Kevin Pollack)
Lester Diamond (James Woods)
Andy Stone (Alan King)
Frank Marino (Frank Vincent)
Senator (Dick Smothers)
Remo Gaggi (Pasquale Cajano)
Oscar Goodman (as Himself)
Frankie Avalon (as Himself)
Jerry Vale (as Himself)

“Casino” earned multiple nominations at the Academy Awards. Sharon Stone earned an Oscars nomination for best actress, but she lost out to Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”). However, Stone won the Golden Globe for her portrayal of Ginger McKenna. Cinephiles often highlight Stone in “Casino” as her greatest on-screen performance.

Scorsese was snubbed at the Oscars, but he earned a nomination for best directing at the Golden Globes.

The costume and wardrobe budget for this film exceeded $1 million.

Casino Easter Eggs and Did You Know?

Scorsese often casts his parents in his films. Catherine Scorsese is most known from her cameos in “Goodfellas” as Joe Pesci’s mother. In “Casino”, she plays Piscano’s mother. It’s her final film role before she passed away in 1997.

The legendary Saul Bass created the opening credits for “Casino”, in addition to “Goodfellas”.

The fictional Tangiers Casino is based on the Stardust Casino, where Lefty Rosenthal managed in the 1970s.

Exteriors for the Tangiers were filmed outside the old Las Vegas Hilton and the Flamingo. Interiors of the Tangiers were filmed inside the Riviera Casino between 2am and 10am. Scorsese cast real dealers, pit bosses, and floor managers to create an air of authenticity to the gambling scenes.

All Casino Bosses

The famous money count scene was filmed on a soundstage in Hollywood. Nevada gaming laws would not allow a film crew inside a real counting room.

Sharon Stone won the role of Ginger, but Scorsese considered other actresses including Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman, Melanie Griffith, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Rene Russo.

Scorsese knew that the ratings committee would flag the gratuitous usage of the f-bomb (over 420 times) and other violent scenes. He included the “head in the vice” scene and intended to sacrifice it to the MPAA in order to keep the rest of his film intact, but it surprisingly did not get flagged. The vice scene is a true story that appeared in Pileggi’s book when Tony Spilotro tortured someone using a vice to extract information.

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Casino Movie Mob Bosses Movie

If you are looking for “Casino” on streaming services, it’s currently not available for free. However, you can rent it on various platforms including Amazon and Apple.