Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Richard Dreyfuss | ... | Meyer Lansky | |
Yosef Carmon | ... | Rabbi / Caretaker (as Yosi Carmon) | |
Mosko Alkalai | ... | Jewelry Shopkeeper (as Moscu Alcalay) | |
![]() |
Fima Noveck | ... | Hasid in Grodno |
![]() |
Joshua Praw | ... | Meyer Lansky Age 8 |
Bernard Hiller | ... | Max Lansky | |
Jill Holden | ... | Yetta Lansky | |
Larry Moss | ... | Benjamin Lansky | |
Chris Marquette | ... | Jake Lansky Ages 9-11 (as Christopher Marquette) | |
Ryan Merriman | ... | Meyer Lansky Ages 12-14 | |
![]() |
Benjamin Kimball Smith | ... | Irish Gang Leader (as Benjamin K. Smith) |
![]() |
Brian Casey | ... | Irish Boy #1 |
Adam Hendershott | ... | Irish Boy #2 | |
![]() |
Daniel Sagal | ... | Irish Boy #3 |
![]() |
Anthony Medwetz | ... | Benny Siegel Age 11 |
This is the telling of the life of organized crime boss, Meyer Lansky, as remembered by him as a very old man who is moving about the world looking for some country that will take him in since the US courts have put out an extradition order for him to stand trial. It tells of a young man growing up in the Jewish ghettos of America's big cities at the turn of the century and of his bright intelligence which he used for moving into crime. "I'm only a gambler," he claimed, "just like most all Americans." When asked by a reporter to comment on the killings that occurred under his leadership he declined, thereby making this film's thrust that of personalities and relationships rather than of acts of violence or the workings of corrupt deeds. Written by BOB STEBBINS <stebinsbob@aol.com>
I saw the movie yesterday on HBO. Liked Robert Dreyfuss' performance very much. He is great! But didn't understand what happened to Lansky's first wife, Anna. She simply disappeared with no explanation and was suddenly "replaced" by Teddy. Did Anna die? Did the Lansky divorced? It seems that the producers made the movie only for the mob's admirers and/or experts, supposing that everybody would understand the story. There was a lack of some connections to make the movie understandable. Even so, I enjoyed it very much, especially because of Dreyfuss, who happens to be one of my favorite North American actors. Anthony La Paglia played well too and even Eric Roberts had a good performance.