Plot Summary
In 1973, sports handicapper and Mafia associate Sam “Ace” Rothstein is sent by the Chicago Outfit to Las Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino, with frontman Philip Green. He soon doubles the casino’s profits, with the extra unaccounted-for cash skimmed directly from the casino count room and delivered to the Midwest Mafia bosses. Chicago boss Remo Gaggi sends Ace’s childhood friend and mob enforcer Nicky Santoro to protect Ace, the cash skim, and casino. Nicky recruits his younger brother Dominick and childhood friend Frankie Marino to gather an experienced crew specializing in shakedowns and jewelry burglaries.
Nicky’s criminal activities in Las Vegas start drawing too much media and police attention, so he is eventually listed in the Black Book, banning him from every casino in Nevada. Ace meets and falls in love with beautiful con artist, showgirl, and former prostitute Ginger McKenna. They have a daughter, Amy, and marry. He entrusts Ginger with $2 million in cash and $1 million in jewelry. Still, their marriage is soon thrown into turmoil due to Ginger’s relationship with her longtime boyfriend, hustler and pimp Lester Diamond. Ace has Nicky’s crew beat Lester when they catch him accepting $25,000 from her. In 1976, Ace fires slot manager Don Ward for incompetence.
Ward is brother-in-law to Clark County Commission chairman Pat Webb, who cannot convince Ace to re-hire him. Webb gets Ace’s gaming license denied, jeopardizing the latter’s position. Ace proceeds to insult the board and local politicians, creating a spectacle for the news cameras which brings a lot of attention to the casino and his associations with the mob and Nicky. Since Ace is disallowed from legally running the casino, he begins hosting a local television talk show inside the casino, irritating Nicky and the bosses back home for bringing more unneeded attention. Ace blames Nicky’s reckless lawbreaking for the ongoing pressure from the police and state government.
Meet the Cast
Info & Stats
Director:
Martin Scorsese
Writers:
Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese
Stars:
Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
Categories:
Crime, Drama
Budget:
$50,000,000.00
Revenue:
$116,112,375.00
Age: R | Duration: 2h 59m
Watch the Trailer