Lansky (film)

  • Richard Dreyfuss: Meyer Lansky
  • Joshua Pravda: Meyer Lansky (8 years)
  • Ryan Merriman: Meyer Lansky (12-14 years)
  • Max Perlich: Meyer Lansky ( 19-28 years)
  • Illeana Douglas: Anna Lansky
  • Larry Moss: Benjamin Lansky
  • Michael Townsend Wright: Jake Lansky
  • Chris Marquette: Jake Lansky (9-11 years)
  • Benny Hiller: Max Lansky
  • Ron Pacheco: Paul Lansky ( age 17 )
  • Beverly D' Angelo: Teddy Lansky
  • Jill Holden: Yetta Lansky

Meyer Lansky - American Roulette is an American film released in 1999 on the American mobster Meyer Lansky. The film represents a cinematic treatment of the biography of Lansky by Dennis Eisenberg, Uri Dan and Eli Landau from 1979, which had sought, including Joseph Stacher for this purpose in Israel.

Action

Israel

Meyer Lansky, a Jewish mobster, the right to stay in Israel, where he is staying for a year trying to get in order to escape persecution by the U.S. authorities. His chances are, however, poor because the Israeli government is dependent on the U.S. authorities. Ultimately Lansky is deported from Israel. His last days in Israel form until well into the film, the frame story, which is interrupted by biographical flashbacks.

Flashbacks

Thus, the film begins with the little Meyer Lansky, who experienced a pogrom on Jewish citizens; which leads to the emigration of the family to New York City. Already during his first job - he should buy bread for the family - Lansky gambled the money at illegal game of dice ( craps ) on the road to an Irish gang.

Later, the young Meyer recognizes with help of his friend Benny ( Bugsy Siegel ) that the Irish gang is cheating. Using this information can now turn Meyer outwit the swindler, but refuse to pay the prize. Lansky is injured by a knife on his arm, Benny him out but skin and thus justifies the division of labor between the two: Lansky is the brain, Seal of the muscle.

But even the little Meyer can dish out; as they take on the Irish gang in the bath, he slashes the band leader of the Irish - who has just been insulted him as a Jew - on the neck.

The Crap - activity of the two friends is also striking the Italians in the quarter and the young Lucky Luciano calls for protection money from a dollar when Lansky and Siegel want to continue their dice activities in the quarter. Lansky impressed Luciano, as he formulated despite the inferiority: " For nothing 's nothing to get me player, then there's money. "

This smart appearance establishes a lifelong friendship; Together rising young mobster during Prohibition in the United States in the alcohol smuggling. Meyer continues to operate skillfully: to know that one of their shipments will be attacked, they left in a stalemate the attackers an empty truck and play this way Arnold Rothstein from.

This is so impressed that he worked with the young gangsters. Lucky Luciano is hampered by its involvement in the Italian structures ( War of Castellammare ); Therefore, Meyer recommends the liquidation of Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano and Luciano is the most influential boss in the La Cosa Nostra.

End

Lansky eventually - as expected by himself - expelled from Israel. He tries to be included in some Latin American countries, but the Americans are always enforcing his expulsion and Lansky must return to print in the United States. There, however, it is not possible to prosecute him legally.

The end of the film is an interview with a young French journalist. When he asks him if he would change anything about his life, if he could live it again, Lansky replied that he would not change anything.

Awards

Cinematographer John A. Alonzo was 2001 for the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie " nominated.

Yiddish language 1999 in film John McNaughton Screenplay David Mamet Film score George S. Clinton Abner Zwillman Protection racket Castellammarese War American Mafia
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