Casino
1995 USA Color 178 Minutes
Release date: November 14, 1995
The movie was shot in Las Vegas, Hanford, Fresno and the Mojave Desert, all in the U.S.A.
Oscar nomination:
Best Actress -> Sharon Stone
When Joe Pesci is pushed into a hole in the cornfield, Pesci broke the same rib he broke during Raging Bull.
James Woods wanted to work with Scorsese, so he left a message saying: “Any time, any place, any part, any fee”.
The word “Fuck” is said 422 times.
The movie is based on the book by Nicholas Pileggi Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas
Nicky Santoro’s (Joe Pesci) real name was Anthony John “The Ant” Spilotro.
Sam Rothstein’s (Robert de Niro) real name was Frank Larry “Lefty” Rosenthal.
Frank Rosenthal: “As with all films fact or fiction, there is a certain amount of Hollywood that takes place. One prime example is, I DID NOT JUGGLE on my television show.” Source / More (Web)
In 1962 Spilotro (Nicky Santoro) gets famous in the M&M killings. He tortures criminals Bill McCartney and Jimmy Miraglia. McCartney's head was put in a vice untill his eye popped out.
Rosenthal and Spilotro were often represented in court by defense attorney Oscar Goodman (he plays himself in the movie). Goodman is since 1999 the mayor of Las Vegas. Source / More (Book)
This week 17 years ago Backdraft premiered (May 24, 1991)
August 17, 1943
Robert De Niro was born and grew up in New York City (USA). He was trained for the stage by Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg. In the sixties De Niro appeared in several low-budget Brian de Palma movies but first gained fame for his role in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973).
His incisive performance as a simple minded hood in Scorsese's Mean streets started an ongoing working relationship between the actor and the director. De Niro’s breakthrough role was that of the young Vito Corleone in the flashback sequences of The Godfather II (1974). In 1980, De Niro gained 50 pounds to play boxer Jake LaMotta in Scorsese's Raging Bull.
For the next 10 years, he branched out into a number of different types of films. Robert made his directional debut in 1993 with A Bronx Tale. In 2006 he directed the historic epic The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon. De Niro will work again with Michael Mann. Mann is likely to direct Robert in Frankie Machine, a new mob flick that Martin Scorsese was to direct before dropping out.
1992 Nominated Leading Role for: Cape Fear (1991)
1991 Nominated Leading Role for: Awakenings (1990)
1981 Won Oscar Leading Role for: Raging Bull (1980)
1979 Nominated Leading Role for: The Deer Hunter (1978)
1977 Nominated Leading Role for: Taxi Driver (1976)
1975 Won Oscar Supporting Role for: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Douglas Brode -> The Films of Robert De Niro (1996)
John Parker -> De Niro (1995)