General Chicago Outfit Info Dumping Ground

[Snakes]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

The book is a good read. I recommend it. He gets most of his info from Lefty and Culotta. I don't remember there being anything too outrageous included.

[Camo]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

My apologies. I haven’t read the book either. However, with only having the film to go off of, I can only assume that the book was as trash as the film, considering one was based upon the other.

Again though it wasn't based on it, it was "inspired by" it in the same way that The Departed was "inspired by" the Whitey Bulger case. Obviously Casino is more of a direct adaptation of Casino but Scorsese butchers the names and details to fit his narrative because he's' an artist. He left out or altered so much of "Wiseguy" in Goodfellas that i'm willing to at least consider it's more accurate.

I don't think it's fair to compare Scorsese's artistic licence to a book which may be reasonable. It definitely may be trash that's what i'm trying to find out lol i'm just not going to go off the movie since i know Marty had no interest in accuately depicting anything, he was interested in his own art with these books and stories as a basis but not concrete storyline he had to follow.

[Camo]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

The book is a good read. I recommend it. He gets most of his info from Lefty and Culotta. I don't remember there being anything too outrageous included.

Thanks Snakes, i was mostly interested in you, Antiliar and Polack Tony's opinions since you three (along with Villain who is no longer here) have taught me the most about Chicago indirectly.

[Honk]

Question for the Chicago experts - about 20 years ago I took my first trip to Vegas. While I’m playing poker at the Stratosphere, there’s a regular at my table who was talking about Chicago outfit people in an obvious Chicago accent.

I pried a little and asked some questions and he was a loosely connected associate who was a thief/burgular but I cannot recall his name now.

From what I remember he had just wrote a book called Thief but my searches are coming up empty.

Any ideas on who it was?

[Patrickgold]

Question for the Chicago experts - about 20 years ago I took my first trip to Vegas. While I’m playing poker at the Stratosphere, there’s a regular at my table who was talking about Chicago outfit people in an obvious Chicago accent.

I pried a little and asked some questions and he was a loosely connected associate who was a thief/burgular but I cannot recall his name now.

From what I remember he had just wrote a book called Thief but my searches are coming up empty.

Any ideas on who it was?

It’s called “Thief!” And it’s about William Slick Hanner. I have it but have never read it. I think I started but he sounded to full of himself and I never finished. Maybe it is a good book but never read it. Anybody read it?

[Honk]

Question for the Chicago experts - about 20 years ago I took my first trip to Vegas. While I’m playing poker at the Stratosphere, there’s a regular at my table who was talking about Chicago outfit people in an obvious Chicago accent.

I pried a little and asked some questions and he was a loosely connected associate who was a thief/burgular but I cannot recall his name now.

From what I remember he had just wrote a book called Thief but my searches are coming up empty.

Any ideas on who it was?

It’s called “Thief!” And it’s about William Slick Hanner. I have it but have never read it. I think I started but he sounded to full of himself and I never finished. Maybe it is a good book but never read it. Anybody read it?

That’s it! Not sure how I didn’t find it online since I had the books name correct.

Thanks!

[sdeitche]

Question for the Chicago experts - about 20 years ago I took my first trip to Vegas. While I’m playing poker at the Stratosphere, there’s a regular at my table who was talking about Chicago outfit people in an obvious Chicago accent.

I pried a little and asked some questions and he was a loosely connected associate who was a thief/burgular but I cannot recall his name now.

From what I remember he had just wrote a book called Thief but my searches are coming up empty.

Any ideas on who it was?

It’s called “Thief!” And it’s about William Slick Hanner. I have it but have never read it. I think I started but he sounded to full of himself and I never finished. Maybe it is a good book but never read it. Anybody read it?

Yeah, it's a good read. I did a blurb for the back cover. I shared the same publisher for that book and my first three.
Thief came out in 2006. Hanners long gone.

[NorthBuffalo]

Question for the Chicago experts - about 20 years ago I took my first trip to Vegas. While I’m playing poker at the Stratosphere, there’s a regular at my table who was talking about Chicago outfit people in an obvious Chicago accent.

I pried a little and asked some questions and he was a loosely connected associate who was a thief/burgular but I cannot recall his name now.

From what I remember he had just wrote a book called Thief but my searches are coming up empty.

Any ideas on who it was?

It’s called “Thief!” And it’s about William Slick Hanner. I have it but have never read it. I think I started but he sounded to full of himself and I never finished. Maybe it is a good book but never read it. Anybody read it?

Yeah, it's a good read. I did a blurb for the back cover. I shared the same publisher for that book and my first three.
Thief came out in 2006. Hanners long gone.

If SD says it's legit, I'm tempted to check it out as I enjoy his work quite a bit.

[Patrickgold]

Goudie is doing a two part series on the murder of Giancana on the 50th anniversary and says he will name the real killer. I’m sure it will be nothing we don’t already know. First part is May 14 and second part May 15.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigatio ... s/3740460/

[funkster]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

My apologies. I haven’t read the book either. However, with only having the film to go off of, I can only assume that the book was as trash as the film, considering one was based upon the other.

On board filled with terrible opinions, this is one of the worst.

[funkster]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

The book is a good read. I recommend it. He gets most of his info from Lefty and Culotta. I don't remember there being anything too outrageous included.

Agreed, it’s good.

[Coloboy]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

My apologies. I haven’t read the book either. However, with only having the film to go off of, I can only assume that the book was as trash as the film, considering one was based upon the other.

On board filled with terrible opinions, this is one of the worst.

LOL. agreed.

I actually like Casino more than goodfellas personally. Both are all time greats, but I think the story in Casino is a little more exciting. And yes, Martin Scorsese, one the century's most respected filmmakers, isn't trying to stay steadfast to the exact true history, because that's not his goal. He's making art, and it's fucking great.

FWIW they couldn't mention Chicago in the movie because Universal Studios lawyers were up Scorsese's ass about lawsuits, presumably from living people that were actually involved... same reason they say "adapted from a true story" instead of "based on a true story".

[funkster]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

My apologies. I haven’t read the book either. However, with only having the film to go off of, I can only assume that the book was as trash as the film, considering one was based upon the other.

On board filled with terrible opinions, this is one of the worst.

LOL. agreed.

I actually like Casino more than goodfellas personally. Both are all time greats, but I think the story in Casino is a little more exciting. And yes, Martin Scorsese, one the century's most respected filmmakers, isn't trying to stay steadfast to the exact true history, because that's not his goal. He's making art, and it's fucking great.

FWIW they couldn't mention Chicago in the movie because Universal Studios lawyers were up Scorsese's ass about lawsuits, presumably from living people that were actually involved... same reason they say "adapted from a true story" instead of "based on a true story".

This is what I always come back to when people whine about this, it’s a fucking movie! It’s not a documentary. You know why he used those east coast actors? Lmao because they’re better than the three Chicago people he mentioned.

[Aunt+Baby]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

My apologies. I haven’t read the book either. However, with only having the film to go off of, I can only assume that the book was as trash as the film, considering one was based upon the other.

On board filled with terrible opinions, this is one of the worst.

LOL. agreed.

I actually like Casino more than goodfellas personally. Both are all time greats, but I think the story in Casino is a little more exciting. And yes, Martin Scorsese, one the century's most respected filmmakers, isn't trying to stay steadfast to the exact true history, because that's not his goal. He's making art, and it's fucking great.

FWIW they couldn't mention Chicago in the movie because Universal Studios lawyers were up Scorsese's ass about lawsuits, presumably from living people that were actually involved... same reason they say "adapted from a true story" instead of "based on a true story".

This is what I always come back to when people whine about this, it’s a fucking movie! It’s not a documentary. You know why he used those east coast actors? Lmao because they’re better than the three Chicago people he mentioned.

No, they aren’t. Farina & montagna are spectacular & would’ve been perfect in that film. The movie sucked. East coast people trying to portray outfit guys was a complete joke. It wasn’t art, it was a cheap cop out, to go with known names rather than authenticity

[RushStreet]

How accurate is Nicholas Pillegi's Casino? I'm aware it's not regarding Spilotro's murder but is his time in Vegas generally accurate or what? I've seen the movie obviously but i've never read the book and i'm considering doing so if it's at least somewhat accurate. Is Frank Cullota his source or is it purely newspaper articles or what?

That movie sucked. It featured all east coast actors and not one Chicagoan such as Farina, Madsen, Montagna etc. the only one who even attempted a Chicago accent was pesci, and even that was half assed

As far as accuracy goes,no it wasn’t accurate. They couldn’t even mention Chicago outright, and that LV story in general isn’t all that interesting. The real meat on the bone & intrigue was occurring in Chicago obviously.

Also we know now that Phil Ponto was perhaps the most important straightened out guy in LV for the outfit

I'm asking about the book which i believe used the real names and mentioned Chicago. Again i haven't read it but i'm under the impression it's very different to the movie, Scoresese says his movies were "inspired by" Pileggi's books rather than based on which is why he changed the names and elements of the story.

Unless your second and third paragraphs are referring to the book and i've misinterpreted you in which case thanks for the information?

My apologies. I haven’t read the book either. However, with only having the film to go off of, I can only assume that the book was as trash as the film, considering one was based upon the other.

On board filled with terrible opinions, this is one of the worst.

LOL. agreed.

I actually like Casino more than goodfellas personally. Both are all time greats, but I think the story in Casino is a little more exciting. And yes, Martin Scorsese, one the century's most respected filmmakers, isn't trying to stay steadfast to the exact true history, because that's not his goal. He's making art, and it's fucking great.

FWIW they couldn't mention Chicago in the movie because Universal Studios lawyers were up Scorsese's ass about lawsuits, presumably from living people that were actually involved... same reason they say "adapted from a true story" instead of "based on a true story".

This is what I always come back to when people whine about this, it’s a fucking movie! It’s not a documentary. You know why he used those east coast actors? Lmao because they’re better than the three Chicago people he mentioned.

No, they aren’t. Farina & montagna are spectacular & would’ve been perfect in that film. The movie sucked. East coast people trying to portray outfit guys was a complete joke. It wasn’t art, it was a cheap cop out, to go with known names rather than authenticity

If they would have chosen Farina and Montagna over Pesci and Deniro it would have been a made for TV Friday night special. You don't get any bigger than Pesci and Deniro portraying mobsters during that era in Hollywood. Sorry to break it to you but it is what it is. Deniro and Pesci made that movie a blockbuster. Along with Sharon Stone. Now, do I believe they should have casted some Chicago actors in the film? Yes indeed. Farina and Montagna would have been excellent choices for supporting roles and would have made the movie even better. They had the budget to make that possible so I'm not sure why it never happened.