Bugsy (1991)

The story of how Bugsy Siegel started Las Vegas.

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers:

James Toback, Dean Jennings (book)

Stars:

Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel

Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Warren Beatty	...	Bugsy Siegel
Annette Bening	...	Virginia Hill
Harvey Keitel	...	Mickey Cohen
Ben Kingsley	...	Meyer Lansky
Elliott Gould	...	Harry Greenberg
Joe Mantegna	...	George
Richard C. Sarafian	...	Jack Dragna (as Richard Sarafian)
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Countess di Frasso
Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi	...	Count di Frasso
Wendy Phillips	...	Esta Siegel
Stefanie Mason	...	Millicent Siegel
Kimberly McCullough	...	Barbara Siegel
Andy Romano	...	Del Webb
Robert Beltran	...	Alejandro
Bill Graham	...	Charlie Luciano

Storyline

New York gangster Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel takes a brief business trip to Los Angeles. A sharp-dressing womaniser with a foul temper, Siegel doesn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone crossing him. In L.A. the life, the movies, and most of all strong-willed Virginia Hill detain him while his family wait back home. Then a trip to a run-down gambling joint at a spot in the desert known as Las Vegas gives him his big idea.

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Plot Keywords:

gambling | gangster | temper | film in film | investment | 

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Taglines:

Glamour Was The Disguise.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bagzi

Filming Locations:

Indoor Pool, Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$49,114,016 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Mulholland Productions, Baltimore Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min 149 min (extended edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR Dolby (as Dolby Stereo)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Barry Levinson:  [Ralph Tabakin]  Ralph (elevator operator) has appeared in every Levinson picture from Diner to Liberty Heights.

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Goofs

When Virginia Hill is being dragged by Ben in the "Fear of flying " scene she is wearing white shoes. When she arrives in the old casino wearing the same dress and hat, she is now wearing dark colored shoes.

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Quotes

Mickey Cohen: Hey, this conversation is beneath me.

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Connections

Referenced in Gilmore Girls: Haunted Leg (2002)

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Soundtracks

"WHY DON'T YOU DO RIGHT? (GET ME SOME MONEY TOO)"
(1947)
Written by Joe McCoy
Performed by Peggy Lee
Courtesy of Capitol Records
By Arrangement with CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

"Twenty dwarfs took turns doing handstands on the carpet. " - Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel

I have to say when I rented this golden-oldie which so happened to be nominated for Best Picture at the 1991 Osars, I have to say, I wasn't really expecting much. I heard mixed things about it, and the idea of Warren Beatty playing a vicious mobster kind of seemed unbelievable to me (he did a great job in 'Bonnie and Clyde' but that was a little different.) In all honesty, I really found 'Bugsy' to not only be a very entertaining and enjoyable film, but also very well-made and Oscar-worthy one. Warren Beatty gives an unprecedented performance as the tough mafioso, Bugsy Siegel, who first had the idea of putting casinos in Las Vegas. Annette Bening in an equally brilliant performance plays Bugsy's calculating goomar. The supporting cast is very solid with strong performances from Elliot Gould, Joe Mantegna as actor George Raft, and especially Ben Kingsley as the swift and smart mobster with a heart of gold and Harvey Keital as the mean and ruthless killer who becomes partners with Siegel to start up a hotel/casino. Barry Levinson does a great job directing this period piece which is true to the period (the 1940s), and the screenplay isn't half bad either. Beatty, Keital and Kingsley picked up Oscar nods, along with Levinson for Best Director and the wonderful Annette Bening was somehow unfairly snubbed. If you want to see a cool mob picture that takes place in the 40s, why don't you give 'Bugsy' a shot? It's worth it. Grade: B+