It has been almost 30 years since Martin Scorsese’s epic film Casino was released back in November 1995, but the allure of this rich and moody crime drama hasn’t aged a single day. This world-famous movie enjoyed significant critical acclaim upon its release, and continues to intrigue a new audience of viewers with its stunning cinematography and deliciously well-acted scenes. Despite being one of Scorsese’s slightly lesser-known films, we believe Casino is still a true classic, containing multiple fascinating layers that are worth taking the time to unravel. You might be amazed to discover that this dramatic insight into the underbelly of a Las Vegas casino is actually based somewhat on a true story, and people from real life inspire its leading characters! Stick with us, as we’re here to tell you all the juicy details behind this cinematic classic.
From reality to the big screen
Although modern cinema is a world of endless fantastical possibilities, sometimes, it’s real life that creates the movies that capture our imagination the most. Martin Scorsese was clearly aware of this phenomenon when he was inspired to write the screenplay for Casino in collaboration with the American author and crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi. In fact, Pileggi actually deserves the most credit for uncovering this fascinating true story during research for his book ‘Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas’. After contacting Scorsese with this newfound story, the two men collaborated on the script for a thrilling new crime film about a seriously chaotic and colorful period in Las Vegas history. Whilst the movie is a fictionalized account of real events – with names changed and many minor details embellished – it is certainly based on the true history of some of the shady figures who called the shots in the Las Vegas casino landscape between the late 1970s and early 1980s.
So, if you’ve ever wondered is Casino a true story? then you only need to look at the historical information behind the lives of the real-life characters it describes. The film’s leading man, Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein (played by the formidable Robert DeNiro), is based upon the figure known as Frank ‘Lefty’ Rosenthal, who was an expert gambler, Las Vegas casino executive, highly organized criminal, and FBI informant – clearly a jack of all trades! Born in Chicago, Illinois, by the mid-1950s, Rosenthal ran the biggest illegal bookmaking office in all of America on behalf of the Italian-American crime association known as the Mafia or the Mob. As his reputation and power grew on the gambling scene at the time, Rosenthal became instrumental in running the Stardust casino (fictionalized as the Tangiers Casino in Scorsese’s film) on behalf of the Chicago Outfit mobster family and eventually ended up secretly running four major Las Vegas casinos without a state gaming license.
When interviewed in 2024, Rosenthal answered that DeNiro’s portrayal of Sam Rothstein in Casino was a ‘7’ on a scale of 1-10 in terms of similarity to himself, demonstrating that Scorsese’s famous movie came pretty close to capturing the truth of these historical events. The film’s other leading characters are also based on real people and real events – Nicky Santaro is based on the mobster Anthony Spilotro (also known as ‘Tony the Ant’), who worked closely with Rosenthal to ‘skim’ millions of dollars from the top of the overall casino profits. Spilotro’s dramatic criminal career and turbulent relationship with Frank Rosenthal are outlined in Nicholas Pileggi’s book ‘Casino,’ and many of the events that take place in the film adaptation are said to be very historically accurate. Finally, the film’s leading lady, Ginger McKenna (played by Sharon Stone), is based on the real-life figure Geraldine ‘Geri’ McGee, an American model and Vegas showgirl who married Rosenthal in 1969. The two certainly had a tumultuous and frequently unhappy relationship, although the truth behind the exact details depicted in Casino is hard to know for sure, and many changes to McGee’s story are on display in the script.
The ongoing appeal of ‘Casino’
As this legendary title approaches its 30th anniversary, Martin Scorsese’s hugely popular film continues to attract new fans and delight audiences around the world. There are many reasons why this movie continues to enjoy widespread success and attention – for a start, its stellar line-up of leading actors means the quality of acting is very high, bringing these fascinating historical figures to life on the big screen. The main characters, including Sam, Nicky, and Ginger, are larger than life, and their personalities and individual quirks are seriously fascinating, and the fact that they are based on real people has contributed to the ongoing appeal of the film. For some reason, stories that are rooted in truth seem to induce a higher level of interest from their viewers – maybe we just love gossip, or perhaps we just enjoy the added layer of intrigue that comes from an underlying true story. And even though certain aspects and moments of the film are sensationalized for cinematic effect, including plenty of improvised scenes, this brilliant classic is a pretty accurate depiction of a dark and dramatic period in Las Vegas casino history.
Ultimately, as stated in the final credits of the film, Casino is a ‘fictional story with fictional characters adapted from a true story’. Whilst the movie itself is a dramatized version of historical events, its leading characters are certainly based on real people, who really did have a crazy connection to the Mob’s corrupt casino empire back in the 1970s and 1980s. This shocking truth behind the events of the film is a big reason why global audiences return time and time again to sit down and view Scorsese’s classic title. With its high drama, astonishing acting, and countless revealing insights into the dark corners of organized crime, there is no doubt that Casino will remain a firm fan favorite for many years to come. Now that you know the truth behind the cameras, you’ll begin to see this incredible film in a whole new light!
