Directed by
Martin Scorsese
Made by
MCA/Universal Pictures
Sam “Ace” Rothstein, played by Robert De Niro, is a talented sports handicapper and mob associate tasked with managing the Teamsters-funded Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas, a responsibility bestowed upon him by various Midwest mob families. Utilizing lax gaming regulations that permit him to take charge while awaiting his gaming license approval, Sam swiftly assumes control of the casino, remarkably doubling its profits. These earnings are skimmed off by the Mafia before they are ever officially recorded, ensuring the bosses are satisfied with his results.
To bolster his operations, the mob sends Sam’s childhood friend, Nicholas “Nicky” Santoro, an enforcer and caporegime, along with his crew to protect both him and the casino. However, Nicky’s volatile nature soon turns him from an asset into a liability. His aggressive behavior gets him blacklisted from casinos, which creates further complications for Sam’s already precarious situation. Ignoring the mob’s rules, Nicky starts executing unauthorized shakedowns and burglaries, which undeniably upsets the balance of their operation.
In his personal life, Sam becomes infatuated with a beautiful hustler named Ginger McKenna, portrayed by Sharon Stone. Despite her reservations, they soon have a daughter named Amy and enter into marriage. Unfortunately, their relationship takes a turn for the worse when Sam discovers Ginger giving money to her former lover, a con man by the name of Lester Diamond. This betrayal intensifies the tensions as Sam clashes with Clark County Commissioner Pat Webb, complicating matters further when he fires Webb’s incompetent brother-in-law from the casino.
Webb retaliates against Sam, causing trouble with his casino license, while hidden motives to sully Sam’s reputation unfold. Undeterred, Sam takes to television to accuse the local government of corruption, drawing the ire of the mob bosses, who urge him to step back. Instead, he attributes his troubles to Nicky’s reckless actions, which leads to an explosive confrontation between the two in the desert.
As the mob’s stomach-tightening grip on the casino sits perilously on the brink, an appointed overseer, Artie Piscano, fails to conceal incriminating evidence of their operations. Meanwhile, Sam’s patience wears thin as Ginger’s reckless behavior and substance abuse spiral out of control. When she becomes entangled with Nicky as they collaborate to claim a portion of their combined fortune, the stakes skyrocket, putting both their lives in jeopardy.
Eventually, the empire Sam worked so hard to establish crumbles as law enforcement closes in on their illicit activities. Personal tragedies strike as Ginger succumbs to a drug overdose while the mob executes a ruthless plan to eliminate anyone who could testify against them. In a harrowing twist, Sam narrowly escapes death from a failed assassination attempt, only to learn that Nicky has met a violent end at the hands of his former allies.
With the mob obliterated, the once-vibrant gambling scene of Las Vegas is replaced by gaudy corporate establishments that prioritize profit over the charm of old-school gaming culture. Sam mourns the loss of the Las Vegas he once knew, a city that catered to the players with a sense of dignity and class. In a poignant closing moment, we see an older Sam, back in San Diego, returning to his roots as a sports handicapper, reflecting on the cyclical nature of his life, stating, > “…right back where I started.”
Sam takes charge of the Tangiers Casino
Sam "Ace" Rothstein is appointed to manage the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas by mob families from the Midwest. He quickly adapts to the lax gaming regulations and effectively doubles the casino's profits, setting the stage for his operations.
Nicky joins Sam at the casino
To support Sam's casino operations, the mob sends his childhood friend, Nicholas "Nicky" Santoro, to act as an enforcer. Nicky, along with his crew, initially seems like an asset to Sam, providing protection while enforcing order within the casino.
Nicky's aggressive behavior leads to issues
Nicky's volatile nature soon transforms him from an asset into a liability. As he engages in unauthorized shakedowns and burglaries, his aggressive tactics begin to attract unwanted attention, complicating Sam's already fragile control over the casino.
Sam falls in love with Ginger
Sam meets Ginger McKenna, a beautiful hustler, and becomes infatuated with her. Despite her initial reservations about commitment, they eventually marry and have a daughter named Amy, marking a significant turning point in Sam's personal life.
Betrayal and tensions rise
Sam discovers that Ginger is giving money to her ex-lover, Lester Diamond. This betrayal intensifies the conflict between them and results in further complications with local government officials, particularly Clark County Commissioner Pat Webb.
Sam challenges local government corruption
In response to the challenges from Commissioner Webb, Sam publicly accuses local officials of corruption on television. This bold move only alienates him from the mob bosses, who pressure him to reconsider his tactics amidst concerns for their shared interests.
A confrontation in the desert
Tensions between Sam and Nicky escalate, leading to a confrontational showdown in the desert. Sam blames Nicky for the trouble they face, hinting at deeper conflicts brewing within their partnership as loyalty falters.
Ginger's downward spiral
As Sam's casino operations face mounting pressure, Ginger's behavior spirals out of control due to substance abuse. Her rekindled ties with Nicky further complicate matters as they scheme to gain control over their intertwined fortunes.
Law enforcement closes in
With the mob's grip on the casino weakening, law enforcement ramps up their investigation into Sam's illicit activities. The weight of impending doom looms over Sam and Ginger as the collapse of their empire becomes increasingly apparent.
Personal tragedy strikes
Ginger ultimately succumbs to a drug overdose amidst the chaos, marking a devastating personal loss for Sam. In a ruthless twist, the mob also moves to eliminate anyone who might testify against them, sealing the fate of their criminal operations.
Nicky's violent end
As law enforcement tightens its noose around the mob, Nicky meets a violent fate at the hands of his former allies, leaving Sam to grapple with the fallout. This event underscores the treacherous landscape of their criminal world.
The gambling scene transforms
Following the downfall of the mob, the vibrant atmosphere of Las Vegas morphs into a soulless landscape dominated by corporate interests. The charm of the old-school gaming culture is lost, replaced by facilities focused solely on profit.
Sam reflects on his past
In a poignant closing narrative, an older Sam finds himself back in San Diego, revisiting his roots as a sports handicapper. He reflects on the cyclical nature of life and the emotional scars left after losing everything he built.
Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (Robert De Niro)
Sam is a sharp and savvy sports handicapper who navigates the treacherous waters of organized crime while managing the Tangiers Casino. His ambition and expertise initially yield great success, but personal and professional betrayals test his resilience. As events spiral out of control, Sam's character showcases the struggles of maintaining integrity in a corrupt world.
Nicholas 'Nicky' Santoro (Joe Pesci)
Nicky is a volatile enforcer and Sam's childhood friend, whose reckless behavior ultimately turns him from an asset into a liability. His aggressive tactics and disregard for mob rules create tension and danger, illustrating the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and loyalty to the mob. Nicky embodies the chaos that arises from living on the edge.
Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone)
Ginger is a captivating hustler who becomes intertwined with Sam's life and subsequently complicates his personal world. Her struggles with addiction and loyalty push her relationship with Sam into a downward spiral. Ginger represents the allure and peril of the casino life, embodying both beauty and tragedy.
Time period
The film explores the historical backdrop of Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s when organized crime heavily influenced the casino industry. This period was characterized by a burgeoning gambling culture punctuated by crime, corruption, and a golden age of mob-run establishments before law enforcement tightened its grip.
Location
Las Vegas, San Diego
Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world, famous for its vibrant nightlife, casinos, and glamorous shows. The Tangiers Casino, where much of the film’s action takes place, symbolizes the excess and risk associated with gambling. San Diego serves as a return to Sam's roots, highlighting the contrast between his past and the gambling empire he built.
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Greed
Greed primarily drives the characters in 'Casino', as they seek wealth and power through unscrupulous means. Sam's ambition leads him to double the casino's profits, yet this success comes at a cost, entangled with betrayal and violence. The theme underscores the transient nature of power and wealth in the cutthroat world of gambling.
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Betrayal
Betrayal runs deep within personal and professional relationships in the narrative. Sam's personal life is shattered by Ginger's actions, while Nicky's disloyalty threatens the very foundation of the casino operation. This theme emphasizes the fragility of trust in an environment fueled by deception and danger.
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Ambition
Ambition is a core theme illustrated through Sam's rise as a successful casino manager and his relentless pursuit of control. However, his ambition proves to be a double-edged sword, leading to conflict and impending doom. It portrays how ambition can drive individuals to both greatness and downfall.
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