@@justinanderson5036 I don't know how he was able to do non Mob flix. He was born to do Mob movies!!!! He was great in Lethal Weapon but he seems like a guy better off playing a Thug in Mob movies.
Been watching YT for many years, Michael is the first person who I have watched and believed. You could not want to meet a more genuine person. I would love to have a friend like that.
@@michaelfranzese Hi Michael if you had a friend that was jealous of you and take advantage of you would you kill them if you was in the Mob life or would stay away and move on
Great insight to world you know more than too well. I live in the subs of Chicago. Thank you for telling it like it is. Never been a part of the life myself, but the mystification by hollyhore and the entertainment biz, gives a lot of delusional people an out picturing to this life they will never manifest in their own lives. Keep up the great work my friend. God Bless, stay great! 👍
I always loved how on the cornfield scene, before they killed Pesci, he’s narrating the scene & the moment he gets hit, which was in the middle of a sentence, he basically gets interrupted & they commence the beating. Always loved how that transition happens
Martin Scorsese is simply brilliant when it comes to that sort of thing, and the feeling or emotion that certain scenes evokes in the viewer. The scene in Goodfellas that follows Liotta/Henry Hill into the restaurant…I love that scene bc it not only made me feel like I was there following the character into the restaurant, but it gave me a feeling of the excitement, joy, whatever you want to call it that perhaps the character would have been feeling at that time…being a young, successful, albeit somewhat naive (to what would happen later) criminal that feels literally like his world is his own. I believe anyone that has ever felt on top of the world could really identify with that scene. It was also great for giving the viewer an emotional perspective of the roller coaster that would become Mr. Hill’s life. Just my opinion.
After watching Michael and his comments with regards to the "MOB" stories, I am hooked. My cousin was murdered in the 70's under very suspicious circumstances and I've been interested in these type of stories ever since. Michael is (in my opinion); the most authentic and believable of all I've ever listened to.
Pesci is just an amazing actor, no matter the role. He was great in Goodfellas and Casino, obviously (as well as the Irishman) but he was also great in My Cousin Vinny, he was great in the Lethal Weapons movies, Easy Money, and he stole every single scene in the Home Alone movies
Franzese starts talking on the baseball scene: - Well that wasn't true, and the location wasn't true.. Me: - Oh thank god, that scene was just too cruel and grueso- Franzese: - It happened in a basement in Chicago, and they did baseball bat them to death. Me:
@@giordan131 It's different, visually it was horrible of course, and also to hear about the icepicks in the testicles, but Mad Dog Tony (or whatever his name was) wasn't a point of view character in the movie, and the people who tortured him were his enemies. The baseball bat scene was so much rougher cause we had followed Joe Pesci's character for the entire movie, and while he wasn't a nice guy at least you had time to see some of his human sides, and of course he had to watch his brother get beaten to a bloody pulp before they started working on him, and the guys doing it were his former friends and colleagues.. So yeah, overall I think the baseball bat scene was harder to watch. Now, would I rather have icepicks in my testicles and have my skull crushed in a vice (with eyepopping), or get beaten to death with a bat...? I'd have to get back to you on that one, but I'm leaning towards the bat to be honest. :)
@MrDagr8rylz Less painful perhaps? I was so happy to find out that Nicky's friend had become a witness of the State before this occurred. The look on his face during that scene is so haunting. It is clear that he doesn't want to be there but he is under orders.
@@Saintinthecity-wh9nl "less painful perhaps"? ehh, what is your definition of "less painful"? using a less intimidating looking weapon? how can something more gruesome be less painful?
I've had the displeasure of dealing with such trash as this on many occasions as in "in house" legal advisor of the sort most of you will never know exists, and I can attest first hand that the reason these thugs do this sort of work is because they are out to screws anyone over by any means as opposed to earning a honorable living. All their talk of "family" and "code" and "loyalty" is just another scam the leaders use to con all the "soldiers" who do their dirty work for scraps jost to feel as if they are a part of something bigger than themselves. ALL of these creeps - and I do mean ALL of them if presented an opportunity to secretly slay one of their own (and on occasion sometimes that person's family) to beat them out of as little as $20K , they will do so without hesitation, and there is typically little to no blow back from the top, despite all the BS about unauthorized hits. You'll hear them discussing it on occasion and It may go something like this" "Hey, did you hear Tommy and Bob got ambushed coming out of the (insert random stripper cl;ub name here) withe the Saturday night draw from the club..." Don't buy into this scumbag's money flash distraction game. He is a ruthless killer who would murder your entire family if needed to keep the cash flow streaming in. One nurse, or school teacher or cop or Church leader is worth a 1000 of these types,. I tell you this for ONE REASON: Do not be deceived by this video and his kind.
The dealers are watching the players. The pit bosses are watching the dealers. The casino managers are watching the pit bosses. I’m watching the Casino managers and the Eye in the sky is watching us all!!!
Funny... i dont hear you say shit about GOD mike, i thought u turned christian??? I only hear u talk crap about that mob crap. Like an old timer talking about the glory days of college ball. Try not being such an obvious faker, i thought u were a good actor?? Hah
Yeah, and the movies leave out a lot of characters out of necessity. Like in Donnie Brasco, before Massino and Sonny Black hit the Sonny Red Indelicato faction, they consulted with Colombo boss Persico and Genovese boss Chin Gigante. Also believe Gotti helped dispose of the bodies. In reading Colombo associate Sal Polisi’s autobiography, he was close with Jimmy Burke and Tommy DiSimone and they had a ton of dealings with Gotti. And with casino, all of the NY and Philly guys were often in Vegas. So they had their run ins with Spilotro. A bit of a silly comparison. But it reminds me of Marvel movies how an X-Men movie is just X-Men. But there’s comics where the X-Men are interacting with the Avengers, Fantastic 4, Spiderman, etc.
Michael didn't really know the guys depicted in the Casino film as they were Outfit men from Chicago. He knew of them during his visits to Vegas, like anyone connected during that era, because any made guy would be made well-aware of the established players in that city and usually shake hands per the whole "friends of ours" code. Usually made guys visiting Vegas would show respect to established guys like Spilotro to get comped, taken care of, and have no issues should any arise during their visits so trouble could be quashed.
His book blood covenant is mind blowing talks about his childhood, his time as solider, and as a copagrima then his time in La but his time in the mob is nuts he was working with some heavy hitters and knew some big names. He named lot of people I had no idea who they were..such a good listen tho
Love this video. I have lived on the streets and made my living there my whole life, finally made the move to Las Vegas last year and it is amazing. Learning the history while living in the city itself is outstanding. I love the way Michael presents himself, knows how to speak clearly and present himself without saying anything that anybody could use against him. Thanks.
My favorite piece of trivia about this movie is that most of the dealers in the movies were actual Vegas dealers, some of which were around during the mob-era of Vegas. When Pesci was in full make-up and character, they almost fainted or got visibly scared because Pesci was a spitting image of Spilotro.
@@ianandersen265 I noticed him when I watched rain man recently. I thought, what a weird lane to be in as an actor, only play a casino dealer in different movies.
@@E.C.2 I wonder if he was so scared of Pesci pretending to be Spilotro that he took that card home and pounded it up his sisters ass, just in case, lol
Michael, to be honest with ya, you’re my hero. I was a cop but I did some things in my past to lose me that job forever. While that was happening, I became a big believer and servant of Christ and finding your channel recently has been wonderful and inspiring. I’m gonna join the crew on your website
Substance abuse issues, immoral acts. Things I can’t exactly get into on a public board. But the reason I find Michael to be an inspiration is because the ability to turn your life around is a rare ability and something we should aspire to teach people. So that people will know it’s never too late to choose to do the right thing
I was lucky enough to meet some of these guys as a kid, because my uncles owned the barbershops at Caesars Palace, Dunes, Stardust, and my father at the Desert Inn. Even as a kid it was a fun time. My uncle Joey has some of the best stories and is still cutting hair in Vegas.
I was just out of Highschool when they found Tony and his brother in the cornfield, It was only about 25 miles from my house. Northwest Indiana , I remember thinking wow the mob is for real ..
Darn they should of hired you for Casino. You could of pointed out where Pesci Character was buried so they could of accuracy place his body their at the end of the movie.
The desert meeting scene has anyways been my favorite. It always seemed so real and now I know why. Also the part were Pesci's car is reflected in DeNiro's sunglasses is pretty awesome.
You know franzese fav scene even before he mentions it: the meeting in the desert. If you've been around tough guys, you know that's exactly what they think, mean & if pushed, what they'd say. That's loyalty, love & the scolding before you get punished. Pesci nailed it, just unbelievable.
How bout the fact that when Pesci shut his car off the thing kept running. I seen that happen a million times on those old ass cars!! They were prone to that specific issue. The engine would continue to compress the cylinders for a few more cycles. The second it happened I was like wow yeah I remember that!! LMAO
Love listening to him talk, so interesting. And his voice is gorgeous. I have always been fascinated with the Mob. I'm Irish but always fascinated with anything Italian. How is this man 71?!! I nearly fell out of my seat when I heard that, he looks 51!! Very handsome man.
One of my favorite scenes is when Pesci's character met up with the banker at De Niro's house; De Niro was already annoyed, he really didn't want him to have the meeting there....but I love how the whole meeting starts off nice and slow and polite, then Pesci gets down to business when the banker gets sassy. Pesci says "you get my money or I'll put your brain to sleep!" LOLOLOL. Gets me every time.
It’s 5AM in where I am in Australia and I have school in a couple hours but I just got this notification and I can’t not watch it!! Best UA-cam channel by far
I remember going to Vegas all the time in the 70s with my dad. I wasn’t old enough to gamble, yet there I was sitting there playing blackjack with pops. I miss the old mob days. What a magical place Vegas was. Now it’s pure crap, haven’t been there since 92.
Was it more like going to your local grocery back in the day compared to checking your own groceries out at Walmart today..... If that analogy makes sense?
Back in it's heyday they know how to woe the people. It was a place to escape to mix with a different crowd. Drop some cash, dress up have a great dinner and see a show. It had a heartbeat. Now it's backed by the biggest crooks in history( corporations). Corporations killed that spirit and replaced it with cold replica of it's former self. It's almost like a stepford Vegas. The lights are on but nobody is home.
This is one of my, if my favorite movies of all time. Like Bronx Tale, and Goodfellas, these movies give you so many life lessons. Great Video Michael. Keep up the good work. Respect from Detroit
Michael, I also loved that they put Don Rickles in it. Most people don’t realize how he was one of the last guys from that actual era. He may not have been mob, but he had friends in high places.
Don was playing the Copa sometime in the early 50's when he started picking on a sour looking Italian man in the audience Rickles kept picking and the man just stared at him . When Don gets off stage his manager informs him the man is Albert Anastasia
OhMagnetz Joe brought in mob actors, specialists, Hoffa/JFK theorists to his podcast, getting a real one, Michael Franzese will be amazing podcast frfr
I could sit and listen to Michael's stories for days. Who would have thought a former mob guy could have a youtube channel with almost a million subscribers? He's so down to earth and real. I cant wait for the series about his life. I hope they include the gasoline tax scam! I love that story. You sir, have one more subscriber!
This guy would have been incredibly successful in any venture he decided to go into. Very smart, very disciplined and healthily self aware. Impressive man.
It's amazing that that movie can still stand strong today. If you'd never seen or heard anything about that movie and watched it for the first time today in a movie theater, you'd think it was just made.
@@mr.onethirtyeight5088 I'm like you, don't love rogan but he does ask questions in ways that are unique and thought provoking. Check him out when he interviews someone you find interesting.
I saw Casino and had heard a lot of it was true. To be honest a few scenes were too graphic for my taste. You are right that Joe Pesci is amazing. Can't wait for your talk with Bruce McNall, Weekend at Bernies is one of my guilty pleasures
RSS Weekend at Bernie’s such a classic. When someone has a strange limp-body movie movement they always referring to “he’s doing a Weekend at Bernie’s”. 🤣
@Jasmine Dickerson you are right. It was an adult movie and so it is normal to enjoy someone being killed by having their head shattered in a vice. The reason was that it was too realistic which was the point of the movie. I didn't say it wasn't a great movie, it was. The realism causes something that is called emoting which causes that portion to be uncomfortable for me. I guess I just got immersed in it enough and am not sadistic enough to enjoy that portion
@Jasmine Dickerson wait a minute, he only said a few scenes were too graphic for his taste. I hardly think that equivalates to 'crying and complaining about adult content'....calm down, talk about over reacting. I loathe fragile people like you who get overly angry and abusive at strangers from the safety of the internet just because they share a (very slight) difference of opinion on a movie. Its pathetic. If you have an anger complex then go and pop off at strangers face to face in a local bar or something rather then to people online
I can't get enough of your stories Mr. Franzese, I love mob movies Monday, you have an excellent skill for story telling! I just finished your book 'Blood Covenant' and I loved it.. Now im starting 'I'll Make You An Offer You can't Refuse' these are the first books I've bought and read completely through in 25 years! Thank you again for sharing your life stories, your definitely the fastest rising UA-cam star I've ever seen!
The movie "Casino" really took me back. Yes, it was pretty accurate. Leaning Tower owned by Jasper, yep, my then Italian boyfriend used to frequent that place. I worked at the Stardust Casino (Tangiers) in the 1980's as a Baccarat Dealer on the big game. I was hired not long after the incident with Frank Rosenthal and his car. Frank came into the casino periodically. During my employment there, they were busted for skimming and the FBI came in and took over the casino. Back around 1974, Spilotro threatened my boyfriend at the Chateau Vegas, but my boyfriend didn't tell me about it until 10 years later when Spilotro was making Headlines in the news. I lived in Vegas from 1974-1986 and moved away when I had kids. I didn't want to raise them in Sin City. I have a very strong distaste for the Mafia. So glad you accepted Christ and are doing His work. God bless.
@@hassanx9423 Yes. Spilotro told him to stay away from me, to stop dating me. Spilotro was ordered to do this for someone higher up who I cannot mention. My BF and I were dating openly. From that point on, he started coming over in the middle of the night and we never dated or were seen in public again. Then 10 years later, when Spilotro started making the news, my BF told me about Spilotro threatening him, and that one day he wanted to marry me, but he was waiting for something. He wouldn't say what. When Spilotro was found in the cornfield, that's what my BF was waiting for, but I didn't marry him, because he waited too long. (Some years later, the Mafia figure who gave Spilotro the order to threaten my BF actually confessed it to me! But that's another story not for here.)
@@hassanx9423 When he died, I didn't know the details of what I told you here, so I didn't really think anything about it. Later when I learned the details, I was very glad that he was no longer on this earth.
I just discovered your channel and I’m absolutely hooked! It makes my hour long New Jersey commute fly by. My wife loves listening to your videos as well. We love to prepare dinner while enjoying a glass of wine while listening to you talk. It’s become a big part of our daily routine. I’m sure you’ve been bombarded on a daily basis with film review requests. But, I can’t help but wonder what your take is on Martin Scorcese’s Mean Streets.I always thought it was his most personal work. The themes of loyalty, guilt and penance always hit home for me. Anyway, love your work and always look forward to new videos.
Mr. Franzese thank you for doing “Casino” !! You fulfilled mine and many others request. The Mob Movie Monday are so good, your stories are amazing and I use your lessons in my own life. I watch every video you upload, have a Blessed day and thank you for everything you do for so many people
Casino is my favorite gangster movie. I’m old enough to have visited the Vegas of the old days, not when it was run by the mob, but before the corporations turned it into a theme park. This movie is a masterpiece.
Mr. Franzese is very genuine. He provides incredible insight into a world most of us glamorize, yet we don’t truly grasp, what comes with that world. I understand him feeling indifferent with Mr. Culotta. It would’ve been pretty cool though to see them talk. Thank you Mr. Franzese for the videos!
Having scenes from one of the greatest and my favourite movies of all time, disected and discussed by a super cool, genuine ex mobster, is one of the true great things in modern life. Thank you Mr Franzese.
When Nicky Santora is driving out to meet Ace in the Desert, the scene where you can see his car pulling up in De Niro's Sunglasses was Masterful filmmaking.
When the mob ran vegas....the Buffett s , hotel rooms , top celebrity entertainment all costs the public way less than those things do in today's world, ...and top legit , corporate tax shelters take a much bigger percentage of the gross revenue from many American companies than the percentage of the gross The mafia took from skimming hotels...plus.. ..their loan shark rates ....were lower than the car title and pay day loan store s of today 2. The home invasions ...the mafia committed were usually inside tips from insurance agents on victims who were insured ...versus home invasions of today by inner city vegas gangs that hurt and target random civilians 3. Card players in casino could count cards in the mafia era versus the casino s of today with 6 deck shoes plus super computers control the poker and slot machine in todays casino s which i would imagine are not good for odds compared to the old fashion machines in the 70 s and 80s ...
@@nihilistcentraluk442 ....you can try getting into dead alleged criminal s heads and argue a ll day that the intrinsic motives of criminals are evil or less than pure....in many cases that is true....but at the end of the day ...resultant facts are resultant facts that affect the public ....and the end result of those facts with pure motives or motives of evil of the mafia in Vegas ended up. ...Not affecting the Vegas public like fbi, media propaganda would like us to believe ....and actually benefited the public in many ways...already stated above in my prior comments ..which is why so many old time Vegas civilians loved Vegas when the mob ran it...a popular cliché that has more than a grain a truth to it ....you are from the UK?.... Whats more evil ..the British crown pure enslaving African nations for 400 years like Kenya...or a criminal organization like tony spilotro killing other criminals in a free democratic society ....and robbing insured victims from tips from an insurance agents and charging civilians lower usury rates than legit pay day loan and car title loans stores.?....
@@mikelanden same with tahoe.they couldve made money without the skim. spilatro messed things up with the robberies...the bosses didnt want that, even though they got a cut but they wanted people to dump their money in the casinos...so everything else was cheap and there are guys who can still count cards and can do it without devices...but instead of breaking your hands, they just get you banned from every casino in vegas
Wishing you all the best Michael in 2022. Thanks for your candor and honesty in your videos. It’s eye opening to say the least. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and perspective.
This is very interesting. My father told my brother and myself (back in the 70's) after Mario DeStefano died (mid 70's and it was announced on the news), that in the 60's my uncle (mom's bros.) was working on a ladder outside his house and his neighbor came to hold the ladder for him. The neighbor was Mario DeStefano. My uncle told dad that Mario commented to him that he envied his quiet lifestyle. He didn't know what to say in return other than thank you. I learned a few years later that Mario and Tony Spilotro were close associates.
Cool story. It's those kind of little bits and pieces of information that make a lot of the guys who are or were in the mob real. People like you and me just different ways they came up in life and needed to survive.
Starting at right about 2:20 Mike’s talking about Las Vegas and how it was in the 60s / 70s when the Mob ran Vegas versus the Vegas today. It was much better then, than today for an actual, “adults only”, Playground. He said a mouthful there. It was. I vividly remember Vegas back in the day versus today. I’ll take Vegas back then versus today. Plus it was a-lot smaller. =easier to get around inside of. Easier to drive around inside it.
I think my favorite scene is The Godfather-esque series of hits set to House Of The Rising Sun at the end. It’s stylistic yes, and very cinematic, but it’s also realistic and brutal and shot so beautifully without churching up the violence.
The desert scene is one of the best scenes in cinema history, the buildup, the narration, the shot of Nicky’s car speeding down the dirt road in lefty’s sunglasses is a masterwork. 🎉
@@MrPink2024 I get what you're thinking but he was very factual. His friend was squealed on by Colata who was an informant. He thinks his being made was bs. So he is not legit. Now he never said he didn't like him. That only shows how classy Michael is. But if he does, than Michael is the most Christian person ever beyond Christ himself.
Years ago, in the 90s when she had her talk show, Joan Rivers said she loved it when the Mob ran Las Vegas. She said you were looked after and taken care of when they were in charge. She said they knew what they were doing when they ran that town.
Mike, I enjoy your reviews and stories about your life. I had an uncle who grew up in the early part of the 1900's in Boston. He told he knew people and he was friends with them. He told me personally that when he saw the Godfather with me that it was nothing like the mafia that he knew, but he was never in it.
That desert scene is my favorite from the movie as well. I still can’t understand when your not sure you will make it though a sit down alive why go. I can’t understand the life because I wasn’t there. Thanks for a great video. Love them all.
Right on Michael! I was living in Las Vegas when they filmed the movie Casino. One of my favorite Mob movies of all time. Please do a video on Florida Mob Boss Santos Trafficante Jr. Thanks again Michael for all that you do. I wish you much success.
Frank Cullotta said on one of his podcasts he wasn't a made man he was a associate,he said tony offered it but he turned it down,i dont know whether thats true,it was on his channel earlier this year. He was also in the film and the main consultant,i think it was nick pileggi i saw on his channel as well saying as much. I agree with you about Joe Pesci about playing a good mob guy as well,good review👍👍
And then he also said once that he was made in his podcast. When he gained little following in yt he strecthed things a bit, he said he became made when Tony put him in charge of his crew, the soon to be "Hole in the wall gang", not by any ceremony but because Tony put him in charge he had to be made, so he became made without taking the oath and without ceremony or any induction. Just cause Tony said: i want you to put a crew of guys together. Boom! Now hes made. I think he was preparing a groundwork for claim that Tony basicly broke away from Chicago and formed his own mini-family in Vegas. And he was a soldier in it. Pretty soon he would have claimed to taken a ceremony, getting pumped up to underboss or street boss eventually... When he gained new fans and little following he started to present himself as this guy who knew everyone, who humiliated guys like Frank the German etc. Alot more homicidal guys than himself. It was fantasy. He was gettin old, got people following him who didnt know his criminal career exactly and would believe what he told them. Too good of an opportunity to tell it honestly and stay humble, he started to build his legend by lies. Maybe he smelled that with his channel growing to 100-200k subscribers, he could maybe squeeze a film or mini series out of it... inside of few years. But he died.
@BrewCity If he was made in Vegas, then it was fantasy role playing kinda shit... I doubt that Tony Spilotro, a guy who walked into certain death with his brother (both HEAVILY suspected they would be killed but still went) because when you get called by your capo or higher up, you go, would have taken part of such a mockery of rules of lcn that he would be sitting behind table, Fat Herbie Blitzstein and Joey Schiro next to him, playing a Don and making Frank and who knows who else... I dont believe it. And if he would have done that, which i highly doubt, it wouldnt carry any meaning except that his reputation as wiseguy and King mobster of Vegas would have taken a serious hit. Other mobsters looked him as guy who had most pull in Vegas. Had he played Godfather with jews and Irish present at the ceremony in which he inducted people to his family, he would have become a laughing stock of mafia. And then he would be killed by Outfit by most visible way possible, blown on his porch, shot 129 times while leaving Gold Rush or sumthin like that. They would have severed all ties immeadetely and sent couple of killers to Vegas. Frank was bullshitting. He numerous times said he didnt want to be made, and i believe he didnt want that at that time. I also believe that if he had wanted he could have gotten made but not in Vegas, or by Tony and definetely not instantly, whenever he wanted. No. He didnt want that at the time. Decades later, when it got him more views to claim he was made, he definetely wanted it to be true. So much that he lied on it and did a poor job at that.
@BrewCity And those mid western mob bosses might have been less hierarchial than five families but they too passed around names of membership canditates to each other. Chicago would never allow Ballistrieri or Civella or anybody to hold inductions and not checking or telling who they made. Any and every guy, including undercover cops, could claim: Yeah, im part of KC family. Capo actually, just got straightened out by Joey Steinberg last week and immeadetely bumped to a capo. Who... ya dont know Joey? His the guy who knows the guy whos cousin is that union leader, Joey used to drive Civella for a while too... Yeah, Nick didnt feel like coming cause it rained so he send his driver Joey to straighten me out on a ceremony held in McDonalds wc. All those little midwest families KC etc. they all were as much or little on Chicagos leash than DeCavalcantes or Bruno mob were on NY familes or in commissions leash. They were independent families and Chicago respected them and let them do business how ever they chose. But they better choose wisely on affairs that had even satellite effect on Chicago because Outfit was larger than all those families together, it had judges and police stations in its pocket (it actually had few made guys who were police officers, believe it or not), it had good relations to east coast families etc. Whatever Ballistrieri had, Outfit had it 100x over. So those smaller families had to show some respect to Chicago and they did. They also werent too afraid of them, they were tough guys themselves but much fewer in numbers and weaker in power and influence and they knew it.
Casino has been one of my favorite films since I first saw it. I think it's Scorcese's best movie. I also put Casino above Goodfellas too. I say Casino due to the fact that it utilized more aspects of storytelling and drama than Goodfellas did in extremely witty ways. The themes are excellent. The direction and style blend together to make this in my opinion his best film. Outstanding screenplay, story writing, acting, and cinematography. A big and flashy gangster film that suits its Las Vegas setting.
same, they're both outstanding films but over the years Casino has become my favourite over Goodfellas. Casino has it all, the lighting, the camera work, the costumes, the dialogue, the music... It's dazzling. So many tiny details in the camera work and the editing. Casino is a masterpiece. Ginger is so tragic and Pesci is out of control while DeNiro desperately tries to keep everything together. Excellent story telling
Goodfellas to me was sort of lame. Especially The scene where Pesci gets killed... corny as heck. If I remember right they had him scream *after* he was shot.
I was just thinking about that a few days ago; the thing that got me was when he said "after I get out of prison - I'll come BACK to you!" They are resilient in evil. Thats bad.
4:19 Mr. Franzese, I love your reviews. You're that dude. Sharon Stone however didn't "win" the Academy Award but she WAS nominated, and wrongfully robbed of winning the award. She gave the role of her life in "Casino." But then again, if YOU say she won it, then she won it 👍😎
Thank you very much for the information. Great Information. I lived in Las Vegas from 1980 to 1995. I miss the Great times so much! Thanks again for the information!
I like that it’s three hours but feels like two. Every scene adds something. I find the character of Ace pretty interesting too, people say he changes but maybe he’s the one character who doesn’t let Vegas change him and he stays true to himself... thinking about why he survives and so many others don’t, it seems very poignant
Well, it's just like he says in the end: he wound up right back where he started. He could still pick winners and make money for all kinds of people back home. And why mess up a good thing? And that's that.
I found the ending very disturbing, I admire loyalty in any walk of life but the amount of mob guys killing best or close friends they have known for decades... Excellent film.
That's the life, its airways your Best friend, your brother, your son. You didn't want to do it bit of you said no you were going to get whacked to, the boss says you do, that's why people like scarfo ended up listing everybody because it became too frequent a scenario, you lost the trust of your guys and your family when they start to ask them selves when their turn is coming up when they are being Told to take out all these ornery guys. Why did Henry hill and all these other lifer guys flip? Cuz they see everyone else being taken out they start seeing the writing on the wall.
@@mariobergnini8897 I think that was part of it, certainly. Henry always said he lived in fear. But the flipping was more about the Rico Act. Guys were going away forever. Mike himself said one guy got 300 years. Like, how tf do you serve that?
@@dale9777 true but I find it sickening that you could be made to turn up and take part in murdering your best friend that to me shows weakness not strength
Think that shows it's not a wholesome lifestyle. Nothing good comes out of it (same with cocaine trade). Looking forward to Michael's book about the Machiavellian government
I’ve found your channel super fascinating. You really hit home of what I always thought real mobsters were. Very articulate, very professional, very personable, and know what to say and not to say. You are open, but not in a way that you want notoriety, but to just say how it is, and when it comes to the darker side (which if you wanted to you could really put truths out and expose a lot of the mysteries and rack up clicks) you keep it business like. The good and bad you were involved in was just business. The friendships were great and the good highs were great, but the lows, it was just business. Reminds me of my dad, he ran a factory and he never liked to, but part of the business was him having to let people go. He never liked it and it was never personal. Not really the same, but I get those same vibes from you. Glad I found your channel!
Praying for you Michael according to Romans 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work together for good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Be blessed my brother.🙏
That didn't actually happen that way. They were in a back room at the Villa Capri restaurant. The feds bugged the room trying to get info on a war between the Spero brothers and the Civellas and accidentally heard them discussing the skim.
Another scene that I love is when a competing crew is trying to shake down the Tangiers Casino and Pesci's character Spolotro meets them there at the redemption window to tell them that he is "over here with him" Lefty, and to tell them to go across the street to meet "Carmine". And they just go yeah we should. And wish him LOTS OF LUCK. And Pesci tells the window attendant that they don't need their papers anymore lol. BOSS MOVE!!!
Been in Vegas since the 80's and Michael is correct 100%. Vegas was better and classier than today. You were treated with respect by all the staff and we tipped everyone because they did such a great job. Now, staff makes you feel like you are a bother to them and want to argue with you when they mess up. Definitely miss the Vegas that was ran by wise guys.
I love these movies and videos. I love watching your interviews and hearing your insights on the life. My grandfather, was full blooded Italian from Sicily, who moved here when he was young. Later moved from Pennsylvania to Cali because of the life, but was VERY secretive and NEVER talked about anything that had to do with that life. So watching these interviews with you, and Sammy among others has given a lot of insight into my family. I could never and would never be part of that life, but I find it interesting and enjoy learning as much as I can about it. Keep up the good work Michael you are a master at your craft and look forward to the content you put out. Great stuff!
One little detail I love about the desert meeting scene is that Nicky is so angry he almost forgets to shut off his engine before jumping of his car to yell at Ace. It's such a small gesture that shows his blood was boiling the whole time he was driving out there. Easily one of the greatest Pesci scenes of all time.
The dialogue with Deniro and L.Q Jones and about keeping his incompetent brother in law on staff was all written by L.Q jones . Scorsese said you know more about how people in Nevada talk, just write the script and I will film it. The line "you are guests here, and you acting like you are home ".was his.
in the 70's or 80's, telling Michael Franzese " one day you will be doing movie reviews on a website called youtube where anyone can upload a video of anything they want to".
"IF" we could ever had gotten ur dad to talk I would sit and listen for days about the things and stories he would tell and his ideology of a gangster. Im pretty sure he had a library of info but he stayed true to his oath. Good stuff Michael let me know when ur speaking in the Southern Cali area...
@@rctrue for sure. But imagine. Bill Banano wrote a book but told his publisher's not to release it until his death. I kinda was hoping Sonny did the same but like u said Old School...
@@terryfeynman WTF u talking about? Everyone knows Michael even said his father said nothing not even to him sooooo what videos are u talking about? What Im talking about are those stories no one knows, details of things no one knows about and Sonny who Michael admitted he didn't talk about because of Omerta. If there are videos I would like to see them but I think ur confused...
@@bigjayesparza8537 ua-cam.com/video/iDAzbdFUpoU/v-deo.html and that is just one example. How about next time you simply use the youtube algorithm first to check before you accuse people of being confused, and thinking you know better, when you invested zero seconds in research.
What your father told you about one second after a crime reminded me of a comedian named Joey Diaz. He's a Cuban guy from New York, his mom was a book maker. He talks about seeing his father shoot a guy one time and going with him to throw the gun off a bridge. Many years later he asked his stepfather, "Remember the time you shot that guy?" and even with no one else in the room his stepfather said, "I have no idea what you're talking about".
I guess 32 ppl didn’t watch or listen to this video….. Not to say meeting in a basement or garage makes ya feel any safer. But it’s a mind fk- Call ya in and u don’t know if u fkd up or are getting a bump.
@@MrBiggie7979 They knew they were going to be killed. They told their wives if they weren't back by a certain time they were dead. They took it like men. I'll give them that.
Frank Vincent beating Pesci to death with the baseball bat was almost like revenge for Pesci beating Vincent to death in Goodfellas.
That was pretty much what it was lol
Only Mob movie Pesci didn't get wacked in was the Bronx tail and the Irishmen.
And for Pesci slamming Vincent’s body with a car door in Raging Bull
@@justinanderson5036 I don't know how he was able to do non Mob flix. He was born to do Mob movies!!!! He was great in Lethal Weapon but he seems like a guy better off playing a Thug in Mob movies.
One hell of an observation
Been watching YT for many years, Michael is the first person who I have watched and believed. You could not want to meet a more genuine person. I would love to have a friend like that.
@@michaelfranzese Hi Michael if you had a friend that was jealous of you and take advantage of you would you kill them if you was in the Mob life or would stay away and move on
Great insight to world you know more than too well. I live in the subs of Chicago. Thank you for telling it like it is. Never been a part of the life myself, but the mystification by hollyhore and the entertainment biz, gives a lot of delusional people an out picturing to this life they will never manifest in their own lives. Keep up the great work my friend. God Bless, stay great! 👍
And he can teach all of us life lessons, one sentence at a time 👏
@@coryphillips7945you were homeless?
I always loved how on the cornfield scene, before they killed Pesci, he’s narrating the scene & the moment he gets hit, which was in the middle of a sentence, he basically gets interrupted & they commence the beating. Always loved how that transition happens
Brilliant film making.
Well done scene.
Scorsese is a master of transition in all of his movies especially this one
Martin Scorsese is simply brilliant when it comes to that sort of thing, and the feeling or emotion that certain scenes evokes in the viewer. The scene in Goodfellas that follows Liotta/Henry Hill into the restaurant…I love that scene bc it not only made me feel like I was there following the character into the restaurant, but it gave me a feeling of the excitement, joy, whatever you want to call it that perhaps the character would have been feeling at that time…being a young, successful, albeit somewhat naive (to what would happen later) criminal that feels literally like his world is his own. I believe anyone that has ever felt on top of the world could really identify with that scene. It was also great for giving the viewer an emotional perspective of the roller coaster that would become Mr. Hill’s life. Just my opinion.
I loved it too. After all, what’s right is right and ARGHH!!!
After watching Michael and his comments with regards to the "MOB" stories, I am hooked. My cousin was murdered in the 70's under very suspicious circumstances and I've been interested in these type of stories ever since. Michael is (in my opinion); the most authentic and believable of all I've ever listened to.
Who wouldn't want a boss like Michael Franzese, straight talk balanced with an open non biased perspective...
Thorekk whats wrong with that? Honest question
Mess up his money and see how nice he is.
@@UglySouth 😂😂😂 Don't worry, They can always work it off or get a terrible stomach/headache....
Right ? No bullshit from him.
You slip up under this man in his day they'd find you in a trunk on the belt parkway.
It just makes my day that this former Mafioso from the 80s is a youtuber now
70s and 80s
@@jonahvasquez6210 It just makes my day this former Mafioso from the 70's AND 80's is a youtuber now...
@@stephanwatson7902 Much better Lil Bo-Peep 👅
@@jonahvasquez6210 lol
Blew my dads mind. Hes like "HOW? JUST FUCKING HOW?"
Martin Scorcese should direct a film about Michaels life.
there is a documentary currently been made about him, Micheal is helping them do it
It would be 45 min too long
Mick 585 maybe, Michael said it was a film then he said it was a documentary, so who knows.
@@Mick-hp3jm waaaaa my 9/10 movie was too long I had too much movie waaaa
Real World Warrior lowen naw bro, Vin Diesel
Pesci is just an amazing actor, no matter the role. He was great in Goodfellas and Casino, obviously (as well as the Irishman) but he was also great in My Cousin Vinny, he was great in the Lethal Weapons movies, Easy Money, and he stole every single scene in the Home Alone movies
Irishman was disappointing film but Pesci even in a not great movie is always great.
The Irishman sucked. You CANT make a 75 year old person look 30 no matter how much makeup and cgi you use. It just didn’t work ! I lost all interest
@@robcicero8746 the kick scene was ridiculous as well. They should have had a younger actor and had deniro play his older years.
He was awesome in Lethal Weapon too.
Also he did a great role in Raging Bull
Franzese starts talking on the baseball scene: - Well that wasn't true, and the location wasn't true..
Me: - Oh thank god, that scene was just too cruel and grueso-
Franzese: - It happened in a basement in Chicago, and they did baseball bat them to death.
Me:
That was too gruesome and not the eyeball??
@@giordan131 It's different, visually it was horrible of course, and also to hear about the icepicks in the testicles, but Mad Dog Tony (or whatever his name was) wasn't a point of view character in the movie, and the people who tortured him were his enemies. The baseball bat scene was so much rougher cause we had followed Joe Pesci's character for the entire movie, and while he wasn't a nice guy at least you had time to see some of his human sides, and of course he had to watch his brother get beaten to a bloody pulp before they started working on him, and the guys doing it were his former friends and colleagues..
So yeah, overall I think the baseball bat scene was harder to watch. Now, would I rather have icepicks in my testicles and have my skull crushed in a vice (with eyepopping), or get beaten to death with a bat...? I'd have to get back to you on that one, but I'm leaning towards the bat to be honest. :)
@MrDagr8rylz Less painful perhaps? I was so happy to find out that Nicky's friend had become a witness of the State before this occurred. The look on his face during that scene is so haunting. It is clear that he doesn't want to be there but he is under orders.
@@Saintinthecity-wh9nl "less painful perhaps"?
ehh, what is your definition of "less painful"? using a less intimidating looking weapon? how can something more gruesome be less painful?
The location isn't true it doesn't mean it didn't happen lol
“Peek-a-boo you fucks yoooouuuu” (Pesci voice) that never ceases to make me cry tears of laughter
🤣🤣🤣
_i see ya matafakers_
I've had the displeasure of dealing with such trash as this on many occasions as in "in house" legal advisor of the sort most of you will never know exists, and I can attest first hand that the reason these thugs do this sort of work is because they are out to screws anyone over by any means as opposed to earning a honorable living. All their talk of "family" and "code" and "loyalty" is just another scam the leaders use to con all the "soldiers" who do their dirty work for scraps jost to feel as if they are a part of something bigger than themselves. ALL of these creeps - and I do mean ALL of them if presented an opportunity to secretly slay one of their own (and on occasion sometimes that person's family) to beat them out of as little as $20K , they will do so without hesitation, and there is typically little to no blow back from the top, despite all the BS about unauthorized hits. You'll hear them discussing it on occasion and It may go something like this" "Hey, did you hear Tommy and Bob got ambushed coming out of the (insert random stripper cl;ub name here) withe the Saturday night draw from the club..." Don't buy into this scumbag's money flash distraction game. He is a ruthless killer who would murder your entire family if needed to keep the cash flow streaming in. One nurse, or school teacher or cop or Church leader is worth a 1000 of these types,. I tell you this for ONE REASON: Do not be deceived by this video and his kind.
@@gregoryhoover5875 why did you choose my comment to have your period on, Gregory?
😂 me too
The dealers are watching the players.
The pit bosses are watching the dealers.
The casino managers are watching the pit bosses.
I’m watching the Casino managers and the Eye in the sky is watching us all!!!
Plus your only as strong as your weakest link. His wife especially in the Movie was one.
You're only as good as your last envelope you know that oops wrong movie I'm thinking of Sopranos
Great scene.
Just like any other business.
I was watching the casino managers
Michael appears to be a genuinely warm and friendly guy. I’m so glad he shares his experiences on here!
@@michaelfranzese Good on ya mate...
Jesus has trolls under every bridge.. and the up is Eden .....l.o.l
He didn't know anything. It's easy to lie like this when you're conditioned to.
Funny... i dont hear you say shit about GOD mike, i thought u turned christian??? I only hear u talk crap about that mob crap. Like an old timer talking about the glory days of college ball. Try not being such an obvious faker, i thought u were a good actor?? Hah
@@davidbirch98 He knows what sells. You know how to talk weak $hit from behind a keyboard. FOH, Gomer.
“It’s not up to me to go on” words from a complete gentleman. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family Mr Franzese.
Love how Michael actually knew or knew these guys through other people and can call out the bullshit….what a legend
Yeah, and the movies leave out a lot of characters out of necessity.
Like in Donnie Brasco, before Massino and Sonny Black hit the Sonny Red Indelicato faction, they consulted with Colombo boss Persico and Genovese boss Chin Gigante. Also believe Gotti helped dispose of the bodies.
In reading Colombo associate Sal Polisi’s autobiography, he was close with Jimmy Burke and Tommy DiSimone and they had a ton of dealings with Gotti.
And with casino, all of the NY and Philly guys were often in Vegas. So they had their run ins with Spilotro.
A bit of a silly comparison. But it reminds me of Marvel movies how an X-Men movie is just X-Men. But there’s comics where the X-Men are interacting with the Avengers, Fantastic 4, Spiderman, etc.
Michael didn't really know the guys depicted in the Casino film as they were Outfit men from Chicago. He knew of them during his visits to Vegas, like anyone connected during that era, because any made guy would be made well-aware of the established players in that city and usually shake hands per the whole "friends of ours" code. Usually made guys visiting Vegas would show respect to established guys like Spilotro to get comped, taken care of, and have no issues should any arise during their visits so trouble could be quashed.
His book blood covenant is mind blowing talks about his childhood, his time as solider, and as a copagrima then his time in La but his time in the mob is nuts he was working with some heavy hitters and knew some big names. He named lot of people I had no idea who they were..such a good listen tho
Pesci shoulda won an Oscar for that role - he was brilliant! 🇺🇸🇮🇹
Nope
Love this video. I have lived on the streets and made my living there my whole life, finally made the move to Las Vegas last year and it is amazing. Learning the history while living in the city itself is outstanding. I love the way Michael presents himself, knows how to speak clearly and present himself without saying anything that anybody could use against him. Thanks.
I love the part when Pesci knocks De Niro's bathrobe and told him he looked like John Barrymore. LOL
That always made me crack up! 😆
Wit yer fkn cigarette holder!!
“With a pink robe and a..a..cigarette holder.. I lost control?!!”
Yeah, fkn hilarious...
“Look at you! Ya fuckin walkin’ around like John Barrymore wit’ a fuckin pink robe and a cigarette holder!!?!” One of the funniest lines in the film.
My favorite piece of trivia about this movie is that most of the dealers in the movies were actual Vegas dealers, some of which were around during the mob-era of Vegas. When Pesci was in full make-up and character, they almost fainted or got visibly scared because Pesci was a spitting image of Spilotro.
"How can you smile at a moment like this?It you had any heart you'd be stealing for a living."
And one of the dealers, Nick, was the dealer featured in Rain Man. In other words, that scene took place in Caesars Palace.
@@ianandersen265 I noticed him when I watched rain man recently. I thought, what a weird lane to be in as an actor, only play a casino dealer in different movies.
@@ctdieselnut when you’re a pro, you’re a pro
@@E.C.2 I wonder if he was so scared of Pesci pretending to be Spilotro that he took that card home and pounded it up his sisters ass, just in case, lol
Michael, to be honest with ya, you’re my hero. I was a cop but I did some things in my past to lose me that job forever. While that was happening, I became a big believer and servant of Christ and finding your channel recently has been wonderful and inspiring. I’m gonna join the crew on your website
Well said, sir. God bless.👍
@Mr Barker never ask
TeCh ExPlOiTs why
Substance abuse issues, immoral acts. Things I can’t exactly get into on a public board. But the reason I find Michael to be an inspiration is because the ability to turn your life around is a rare ability and something we should aspire to teach people. So that people will know it’s never too late to choose to do the right thing
@@Thatguy55595 it's very disrespectful
I was lucky enough to meet some of these guys as a kid, because my uncles owned the barbershops at Caesars Palace, Dunes, Stardust, and my father at the Desert Inn. Even as a kid it was a fun time. My uncle Joey has some of the best stories and is still cutting hair in Vegas.
Lucky? Seek help
Is that kinda like painting houses? Lol
Great movie Michael, De-Niro always cracks me up when he says...
"An equal amount of blueberries in each muffin"
Not as funny as the chefs face and reaction 😂 “.................doyouknowhowlongthatsgoingtotake?” Lmfao
I was just out of Highschool when they found Tony and his brother in the cornfield, It was only about 25 miles from my house. Northwest Indiana , I remember thinking wow the mob is for real ..
More likes needed for this comment
Darn they should of hired you for Casino. You could of pointed out where Pesci Character was buried so they could of accuracy place his body their at the end of the movie.
they werent killed there...they were dumped there
Not far from me either
🤯
“I respectfully decline to answer because I honestly believe my answer might tend to incriminate me” ~ Joey Gallo - Absolutely Priceless!!
The desert meeting scene has anyways been my favorite. It always seemed so real and now I know why. Also the part were Pesci's car is reflected in DeNiro's sunglasses is pretty awesome.
"...ya gotta dig the hole first, ya never know who might come along ....you could be out there all f----g night." Nicky Santoro.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick" - Teddy Roosevelt's legendary quote sums you up to a T. You are a hero, man!
You know franzese fav scene even before he mentions it: the meeting in the desert. If you've been around tough guys, you know that's exactly what they think, mean & if pushed, what they'd say. That's loyalty, love & the scolding before you get punished. Pesci nailed it, just unbelievable.
That scene in the desert, even the parting frames were amazing, with Santoro's car kicking up the dust all over Rothstein. Superb cinematography.
How bout the fact that when Pesci shut his car off the thing kept running. I seen that happen a million times on those old ass cars!! They were prone to that specific issue. The engine would continue to compress the cylinders for a few more cycles. The second it happened I was like wow yeah I remember that!! LMAO
@@johnmulzoff4569 yup. I had a trans am that would do that!!
You only exist out here because of me
Amazing
Was just watching that. One of my favourite bits of cinematography of all time
Love listening to him talk, so interesting. And his voice is gorgeous. I have always been fascinated with the Mob. I'm Irish but always fascinated with anything Italian. How is this man 71?!! I nearly fell out of my seat when I heard that, he looks 51!! Very handsome man.
One of my favorite scenes is when Pesci's character met up with the banker at De Niro's house; De Niro was already annoyed, he really didn't want him to have the meeting there....but I love how the whole meeting starts off nice and slow and polite, then Pesci gets down to business when the banker gets sassy. Pesci says "you get my money or I'll put your brain to sleep!" LOLOLOL. Gets me every time.
I think you've gotten the wrong idea about me.
I loved that scene in Casino. I keep rewinding it every time that scene comes up.
It’s 5AM in where I am in Australia and I have school in a couple hours but I just got this notification and I can’t not watch it!! Best UA-cam channel by far
It's 2pm here, so you're good 👍
What bout corona?
Hello there!
its 12 02 in india..👍
@@Old4thizit online classes.
Spoken like a true Italian: with both hands, word for word. We love you, Mike.
I remember going to Vegas all the time in the 70s with my dad. I wasn’t old enough to gamble, yet there I was sitting there playing blackjack with pops. I miss the old mob days. What a magical place Vegas was. Now it’s pure crap, haven’t been there since 92.
Was it more like going to your local grocery back in the day compared to checking your own groceries out at Walmart today..... If that analogy makes sense?
Back in it's heyday they know how to woe the people. It was a place to escape to mix with a different crowd. Drop some cash, dress up have a great dinner and see a show. It had a heartbeat. Now it's backed by the biggest crooks in history( corporations). Corporations killed that spirit and replaced it with cold replica of it's former self. It's almost like a stepford Vegas. The lights are on but nobody is home.
This is one of my, if my favorite movies of all time. Like Bronx Tale, and Goodfellas, these movies give you so many life lessons. Great Video Michael. Keep up the good work. Respect from Detroit
Michael, I also loved that they put Don Rickles in it. Most people don’t realize how he was one of the last guys from that actual era. He may not have been mob, but he had friends in high places.
He was an icon
Don was playing the Copa sometime in the early 50's when he started picking on a sour looking Italian man in the audience Rickles kept picking and the man just stared at him . When Don gets off stage his manager informs him the man is Albert Anastasia
@@wescollins2981 WOW, glad Don was spared i guess lol Anastasia was definitely not someone to mess around with.
Well, low places really
@@bbcr11 Yea no shit lol
I'd watch the hell out of a Rogan-Franzese podcast.
OhMagnetz Joe brought in mob actors, specialists, Hoffa/JFK theorists to his podcast, getting a real one, Michael Franzese will be amazing podcast frfr
It would be a legendary show.
@Philip yeah and does Anyone have a timestamp?
Joe Rogan #1547 with Colin Quinn, at 02:05:15
@@DensPaul bless you 🙏
I could sit and listen to Michael's stories for days. Who would have thought a former mob guy could have a youtube channel with almost a million subscribers? He's so down to earth and real. I cant wait for the series about his life. I hope they include the gasoline tax scam! I love that story. You sir, have one more subscriber!
Listening to him talk is a window into history that you just can't get elsewhere. What a great opportunity this is.
Definitely Mike. Be well!!
"once it's over, it's over" so true
This guy would have been incredibly successful in any venture he decided to go into. Very smart, very disciplined and healthily self aware. Impressive man.
It's amazing that that movie can still stand strong today. If you'd never seen or heard anything about that movie and watched it for the first time today in a movie theater, you'd think it was just made.
Characters can make the visuals to carry a movie. It's just hard to get good
If the Rogan-Franzese podcast was 10 hours long I would watch all of it
I don’t get the Joe Rogan podcast love. I like Rogan but every time I tried listening to the podcast it was F’N terrible. Idk
If it was 10 hours long, I would watch it twice. Then once every month.
@@mr.onethirtyeight5088 I'm like you, don't love rogan but he does ask questions in ways that are unique and thought provoking. Check him out when he interviews someone you find interesting.
Was it the Colin Quinn podcast? Timestamp?
In a single sitting!!
I saw Casino and had heard a lot of it was true. To be honest a few scenes were too graphic for my taste. You are right that Joe Pesci is amazing. Can't wait for your talk with Bruce McNall, Weekend at Bernies is one of my guilty pleasures
RSS Weekend at Bernie’s such a classic. When someone has a strange limp-body movie movement they always referring to “he’s doing a Weekend at Bernie’s”. 🤣
Lol too graphic. What a wuss.
@Jasmine Dickerson you are right. It was an adult movie and so it is normal to enjoy someone being killed by having their head shattered in a vice. The reason was that it was too realistic which was the point of the movie. I didn't say it wasn't a great movie, it was. The realism causes something that is called emoting which causes that portion to be uncomfortable for me. I guess I just got immersed in it enough and am not sadistic enough to enjoy that portion
@@santaclaus3077 Please see my reply to Jasmine
@Jasmine Dickerson wait a minute, he only said a few scenes were too graphic for his taste. I hardly think that equivalates to 'crying and complaining about adult content'....calm down, talk about over reacting. I loathe fragile people like you who get overly angry and abusive at strangers from the safety of the internet just because they share a (very slight) difference of opinion on a movie. Its pathetic.
If you have an anger complex then go and pop off at strangers face to face in a local bar or something rather then to people online
I can't get enough of your stories Mr. Franzese, I love mob movies Monday, you have an excellent skill for story telling! I just finished your book 'Blood Covenant' and I loved it.. Now im starting 'I'll Make You An Offer You can't Refuse' these are the first books I've bought and read completely through in 25 years! Thank you again for sharing your life stories, your definitely the fastest rising UA-cam star I've ever seen!
The movie "Casino" really took me back. Yes, it was pretty accurate. Leaning Tower owned by Jasper, yep, my then Italian boyfriend used to frequent that place. I worked at the Stardust Casino (Tangiers) in the 1980's as a Baccarat Dealer on the big game. I was hired not long after the incident with Frank Rosenthal and his car. Frank came into the casino periodically. During my employment there, they were busted for skimming and the FBI came in and took over the casino. Back around 1974, Spilotro threatened my boyfriend at the Chateau Vegas, but my boyfriend didn't tell me about it until 10 years later when Spilotro was making Headlines in the news. I lived in Vegas from 1974-1986 and moved away when I had kids. I didn't want to raise them in Sin City. I have a very strong distaste for the Mafia. So glad you accepted Christ and are doing His work. God bless.
That’s interesting , do you know any more about what exactly spilotro said to your boyfriend
@@hassanx9423 Yes. Spilotro told him to stay away from me, to stop dating me. Spilotro was ordered to do this for someone higher up who I cannot mention. My BF and I were dating openly. From that point on, he started coming over in the middle of the night and we never dated or were seen in public again. Then 10 years later, when Spilotro started making the news, my BF told me about Spilotro threatening him, and that one day he wanted to marry me, but he was waiting for something. He wouldn't say what. When Spilotro was found in the cornfield, that's what my BF was waiting for, but I didn't marry him, because he waited too long. (Some years later, the Mafia figure who gave Spilotro the order to threaten my BF actually confessed it to me! But that's another story not for here.)
@@samstwitch woah that’s fascinating, wonder how you and your man felt about Tony and when died . That Mafia figure also jheez.
@@hassanx9423 When he died, I didn't know the details of what I told you here, so I didn't really think anything about it. Later when I learned the details, I was very glad that he was no longer on this earth.
Fun fact: the guy who killed the person in the end at his own house actually played himself, he actually did the shooting in real life
RIP Frank Cullouta
It was a different guy that he shot though. Wasn't involved with mafia, just an associate of cullota's who was ratting on him.
"Where you goin, jagoff?"
What movie you talking bout
Jagoff
Pesci was so good in these movies because he wasn't acting. He grew up with some of the Jersey crew so he knew his way around in a manner of speaking.
Heard he used to shine their shoes before he lost his shinebox back in 62'
@@OneDown5Up funny how?
He was certainly acting in this movie. He puts on a great Chicago accent and apparently sounds just like Spilotro.
@@balzachertz8520 Awesome. You found one example. Nice work wannabe. What else have you got?
@@OneDown5Up funny how>,,like a clown?...im here to amuse YOU??
It’s true that Pesci is ‘That Good’ . You can see that he grew up around street guys. He is a natural.
I just discovered your channel and I’m absolutely hooked! It makes my hour long New Jersey commute fly by. My wife loves listening to your videos as well. We love to prepare dinner while enjoying a glass of wine while listening to you talk. It’s become a big part of our daily routine. I’m sure you’ve been
bombarded on a daily basis with film review requests. But, I can’t help but wonder what your take is on Martin Scorcese’s Mean Streets.I always thought it was his most personal work. The themes of loyalty, guilt and penance always hit home for me. Anyway, love your work and always look forward to new videos.
Mr. Franzese thank you for doing “Casino” !! You fulfilled mine and many others request. The Mob Movie Monday are so good, your stories are amazing and I use your lessons in my own life. I watch every video you upload, have a Blessed day and thank you for everything you do for so many people
Casino is my favorite gangster movie. I’m old enough to have visited the Vegas of the old days, not when it was run by the mob, but before the corporations turned it into a theme park. This movie is a masterpiece.
Yes it is! I have seen it like thirty times at least!
Mr. Franzese is very genuine. He provides incredible insight into a world most of us glamorize, yet we don’t truly grasp, what comes with that world. I understand him feeling indifferent with Mr. Culotta. It would’ve been pretty cool though to see them talk. Thank you Mr. Franzese for the videos!
Having scenes from one of the greatest and my favourite movies of all time, disected and discussed by a super cool, genuine ex mobster, is one of the true great things in modern life. Thank you Mr Franzese.
When Nicky Santora is driving out to meet Ace in the Desert, the scene where you can see his car pulling up in De Niro's Sunglasses was Masterful filmmaking.
I like how the tires squealed in the DIRT as he was driving away.
The Mob running Vegas better is something I can believe. Sounds like they're real sticklers for tradition, precision, details and hierarchy.
When the mob ran vegas....the Buffett s , hotel rooms , top celebrity entertainment all costs the public way less than those things do in today's world, ...and top legit , corporate tax shelters take a much bigger percentage of the gross revenue from many American companies than the percentage of the gross The mafia took from skimming hotels...plus.. ..their loan shark rates ....were lower than the car title and pay day loan store s of today 2. The home invasions ...the mafia committed were usually inside tips from insurance agents on victims who were insured ...versus home invasions of today by inner city vegas gangs that hurt and target random civilians 3. Card players in casino could count cards in the mafia era versus the casino s of today with 6 deck shoes plus super computers control the poker and slot machine in todays casino s which i would imagine are not good for odds compared to the old fashion machines in the 70 s and 80s ...
They couldn't have cared less .Criminals never do unless they are conning you into believing they are " respectable " in some way.
@@nihilistcentraluk442 Hypocrisy 101
@@nihilistcentraluk442 ....you can try getting into dead alleged criminal s heads and argue a ll day that the intrinsic motives of criminals are evil or less than pure....in many cases that is true....but at the end of the day ...resultant facts are resultant facts that affect the public ....and the end result of those facts with pure motives or motives of evil of the mafia in Vegas ended up. ...Not affecting the Vegas public like fbi, media propaganda would like us to believe ....and actually benefited the public in many ways...already stated above in my prior comments ..which is why so many old time Vegas civilians loved Vegas when the mob ran it...a popular cliché that has more than a grain a truth to it ....you are from the UK?.... Whats more evil ..the British crown pure enslaving African nations for 400 years like Kenya...or a criminal organization like tony spilotro killing other criminals in a free democratic society ....and robbing insured victims from tips from an insurance agents and charging civilians lower usury rates than legit pay day loan and car title loans stores.?....
@@mikelanden same with tahoe.they couldve made money without the skim. spilatro messed things up with the robberies...the bosses didnt want that, even though they got a cut
but they wanted people to dump their money in the casinos...so everything else was cheap
and there are guys who can still count cards and can do it without devices...but instead of breaking your hands, they just get you banned from every casino in vegas
My favorite line "You took your boots off and you put your feet on the table!"
Wishing you all the best Michael in 2022. Thanks for your candor and honesty in your videos. It’s eye opening to say the least. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and perspective.
This is very interesting. My father told my brother and myself (back in the 70's) after Mario DeStefano died (mid 70's and it was announced on the news), that in the 60's my uncle (mom's bros.) was working on a ladder outside his house and his neighbor came to hold the ladder for him. The neighbor was Mario DeStefano. My uncle told dad that Mario commented to him that he envied his quiet lifestyle. He didn't know what to say in return other than thank you. I learned a few years later that Mario and Tony Spilotro were close associates.
Cool story. It's those kind of little bits and pieces of information that make a lot of the guys who are or were in the mob real. People like you and me just different ways they came up in life and needed to survive.
I still cant belive this guy is seventy.
Wow really? I would estimate him like 40-50!!!
@@eliasdincer640 I know, crazy right?
what the fuck is his secret
@@kevingallagher406 probably healthy living.
He looks better now than he did in the 1980s
"and that was the end of that" my new favorite quote to use LOL man this is best new channel on UA-cam!
Starting at right about 2:20 Mike’s talking about Las Vegas and how it was in the 60s / 70s when the Mob ran Vegas versus the Vegas today. It was much better then, than today for an actual,
“adults only”, Playground. He said a mouthful there. It was. I vividly remember Vegas back in the day versus today. I’ll take Vegas back then versus today. Plus it was a-lot smaller. =easier to get around inside of.
Easier to drive around inside it.
I think my favorite scene is The Godfather-esque series of hits set to House Of The Rising Sun at the end. It’s stylistic yes, and very cinematic, but it’s also realistic and brutal and shot so beautifully without churching up the violence.
The desert scene is one of the best scenes in cinema history, the buildup, the narration, the shot of Nicky’s car speeding down the dirt road in lefty’s sunglasses is a masterwork. 🎉
The intro song is a BANGER
Love Michael's reviews of these movies, breaking down key scenes for accuracy & detail. Very fascinating.
*I like how Michael politely expresses dislike for certain people.* 😂
(Al Sharpton / Frank Cullotta)
@F-zero91maru frank rosenthal
He never said he didn’t like Cullotta
@@waltersobchak7275 *You must be deaf and/ or blind.*
At the end when the hits are happening and you hear,
"F**k you" before killing them was brutal.
@@MrPink2024 I get what you're thinking but he was very factual. His friend was squealed on by Colata who was an informant. He thinks his being made was bs. So he is not legit. Now he never said he didn't like him. That only shows how classy Michael is. But if he does, than Michael is the most Christian person ever beyond Christ himself.
I could watch him breakdown every mob movie ever made! He’s a natural in front of the camera and just oozes knowledge of the game.
Years ago, in the 90s when she had her talk show, Joan Rivers said she loved it when the Mob ran Las Vegas. She said you were looked after and taken care of when they were in charge. She said they knew what they were doing when they ran that town.
Gotta love Don rickles one of my all time favorite comedians his most iconic lines is “I’m friends with Frank Sinatra”.
Mike, I enjoy your reviews and stories about your life. I had an uncle who grew up in the early part of the 1900's in Boston. He told he knew people and he was friends with them. He told me personally that when he saw the Godfather with me that it was nothing like the mafia that he knew, but he was never in it.
That desert scene is my favorite from the movie as well. I still can’t understand when your not sure you will make it though a sit down alive why go. I can’t understand the life because I wasn’t there. Thanks for a great video. Love them all.
Right on Michael! I was living in Las Vegas when they filmed the movie Casino. One of my favorite Mob movies of all time. Please do a video on Florida Mob Boss Santos Trafficante Jr. Thanks again Michael for all that you do. I wish you much success.
The desert scene is honestly one of the best scenes in cinema. That music. That shot with the glasses. That dialogue.
The scene where Pesci threatens the lawyer is a great scene as well.
You mean the banker.
Charlie Clark
@@thegodfather1907 correct. My bad
Frank Cullotta said on one of his podcasts he wasn't a made man he was a associate,he said tony offered it but he turned it down,i dont know whether thats true,it was on his channel earlier this year. He was also in the film and the main consultant,i think it was nick pileggi i saw on his channel as well saying as much. I agree with you about Joe Pesci about playing a good mob guy as well,good review👍👍
And then he also said once that he was made in his podcast. When he gained little following in yt he strecthed things a bit, he said he became made when Tony put him in charge of his crew, the soon to be "Hole in the wall gang", not by any ceremony but because Tony put him in charge he had to be made, so he became made without taking the oath and without ceremony or any induction. Just cause Tony said: i want you to put a crew of guys together. Boom! Now hes made.
I think he was preparing a groundwork for claim that Tony basicly broke away from Chicago and formed his own mini-family in Vegas. And he was a soldier in it. Pretty soon he would have claimed to taken a ceremony, getting pumped up to underboss or street boss eventually... When he gained new fans and little following he started to present himself as this guy who knew everyone, who humiliated guys like Frank the German etc. Alot more homicidal guys than himself. It was fantasy. He was gettin old, got people following him who didnt know his criminal career exactly and would believe what he told them. Too good of an opportunity to tell it honestly and stay humble, he started to build his legend by lies. Maybe he smelled that with his channel growing to 100-200k subscribers, he could maybe squeeze a film or mini series out of it... inside of few years. But he died.
@BrewCity If he was made in Vegas, then it was fantasy role playing kinda shit... I doubt that Tony Spilotro, a guy who walked into certain death with his brother (both HEAVILY suspected they would be killed but still went) because when you get called by your capo or higher up, you go, would have taken part of such a mockery of rules of lcn that he would be sitting behind table, Fat Herbie Blitzstein and Joey Schiro next to him, playing a Don and making Frank and who knows who else... I dont believe it. And if he would have done that, which i highly doubt, it wouldnt carry any meaning except that his reputation as wiseguy and King mobster of Vegas would have taken a serious hit. Other mobsters looked him as guy who had most pull in Vegas. Had he played Godfather with jews and Irish present at the ceremony in which he inducted people to his family, he would have become a laughing stock of mafia. And then he would be killed by Outfit by most visible way possible, blown on his porch, shot 129 times while leaving Gold Rush or sumthin like that. They would have severed all ties immeadetely and sent couple of killers to Vegas.
Frank was bullshitting. He numerous times said he didnt want to be made, and i believe he didnt want that at that time. I also believe that if he had wanted he could have gotten made but not in Vegas, or by Tony and definetely not instantly, whenever he wanted. No. He didnt want that at the time. Decades later, when it got him more views to claim he was made, he definetely wanted it to be true. So much that he lied on it and did a poor job at that.
@BrewCity And those mid western mob bosses might have been less hierarchial than five families but they too passed around names of membership canditates to each other. Chicago would never allow Ballistrieri or Civella or anybody to hold inductions and not checking or telling who they made. Any and every guy, including undercover cops, could claim: Yeah, im part of KC family. Capo actually, just got straightened out by Joey Steinberg last week and immeadetely bumped to a capo. Who... ya dont know Joey? His the guy who knows the guy whos cousin is that union leader, Joey used to drive Civella for a while too... Yeah, Nick didnt feel like coming cause it rained so he send his driver Joey to straighten me out on a ceremony held in McDonalds wc. All those little midwest families KC etc. they all were as much or little on Chicagos leash than DeCavalcantes or Bruno mob were on NY familes or in commissions leash. They were independent families and Chicago respected them and let them do business how ever they chose. But they better choose wisely on affairs that had even satellite effect on Chicago because Outfit was larger than all those families together, it had judges and police stations in its pocket (it actually had few made guys who were police officers, believe it or not), it had good relations to east coast families etc. Whatever Ballistrieri had, Outfit had it 100x over. So those smaller families had to show some respect to Chicago and they did. They also werent too afraid of them, they were tough guys themselves but much fewer in numbers and weaker in power and influence and they knew it.
Casino has been one of my favorite films since I first saw it. I think it's Scorcese's best movie. I also put Casino above Goodfellas too. I say Casino due to the fact that it utilized more aspects of storytelling and drama than Goodfellas did in extremely witty ways. The themes are excellent. The direction and style blend together to make this in my opinion his best film. Outstanding screenplay, story writing, acting, and cinematography. A big and flashy gangster film that suits its Las Vegas setting.
I agree. Goodfellas had a slow build up. Whereas casino was very fast paced.
same, they're both outstanding films but over the years Casino has become my favourite over Goodfellas. Casino has it all, the lighting, the camera work, the costumes, the dialogue, the music... It's dazzling. So many tiny details in the camera work and the editing. Casino is a masterpiece. Ginger is so tragic and Pesci is out of control while DeNiro desperately tries to keep everything together. Excellent story telling
Goodfellas to me was sort of lame. Especially The scene where Pesci gets killed... corny as heck. If I remember right they had him scream *after* he was shot.
Pesci confronting the scumbag banker is my favorite scene.
I was just thinking about that a few days ago; the thing that got me was when he said "after I get out of prison - I'll come BACK to you!" They are resilient in evil. Thats bad.
So the banker was the scumbag in that scene? 🤔
Definitely!!!!
4:19 Mr. Franzese, I love your reviews. You're that dude. Sharon Stone however didn't "win" the Academy Award but she WAS nominated, and wrongfully robbed of winning the award. She gave the role of her life in "Casino."
But then again, if YOU say she won it, then she won it 👍😎
Mike you're a great speaker, you're a natural at telling great stories
Thank you very much for the information. Great Information. I lived in Las Vegas from 1980 to 1995. I miss the Great times so much! Thanks again for the information!
Oh no! Cullotta died in August of CoViD-19! So sad. Thank you Michael for all your knowledge and I love your story telling!
I like that it’s three hours but feels like two. Every scene adds something. I find the character of Ace pretty interesting too, people say he changes but maybe he’s the one character who doesn’t let Vegas change him and he stays true to himself... thinking about why he survives and so many others don’t, it seems very poignant
Well, it's just like he says in the end: he wound up right back where he started. He could still pick winners and make money for all kinds of people back home. And why mess up a good thing? And that's that.
I found the ending very disturbing, I admire loyalty in any walk of life but the amount of mob guys killing best or close friends they have known for decades... Excellent film.
That's the life, its airways your Best friend, your brother, your son. You didn't want to do it bit of you said no you were going to get whacked to, the boss says you do, that's why people like scarfo ended up listing everybody because it became too frequent a scenario, you lost the trust of your guys and your family when they start to ask them selves when their turn is coming up when they are being Told to take out all these ornery guys. Why did Henry hill and all these other lifer guys flip? Cuz they see everyone else being taken out they start seeing the writing on the wall.
@@mariobergnini8897 I think that was part of it, certainly. Henry always said he lived in fear. But the flipping was more about the Rico Act. Guys were going away forever. Mike himself said one guy got 300 years. Like, how tf do you serve that?
It's always the way it goes down amongst the Mafia a stranger would never be able to get close enough ?
@@dale9777 true but I find it sickening that you could be made to turn up and take part in murdering your best friend that to me shows weakness not strength
Think that shows it's not a wholesome lifestyle. Nothing good comes out of it (same with cocaine trade). Looking forward to Michael's book about the Machiavellian government
I’ve found your channel super fascinating. You really hit home of what I always thought real mobsters were. Very articulate, very professional, very personable, and know what to say and not to say. You are open, but not in a way that you want notoriety, but to just say how it is, and when it comes to the darker side (which if you wanted to you could really put truths out and expose a lot of the mysteries and rack up clicks) you keep it business like. The good and bad you were involved in was just business. The friendships were great and the good highs were great, but the lows, it was just business. Reminds me of my dad, he ran a factory and he never liked to, but part of the business was him having to let people go. He never liked it and it was never personal. Not really the same, but I get those same vibes from you. Glad I found your channel!
I don't need to be let go! I can take care of things! I'm SMART! Not like everybody says! I'm smart and I want respect!
Praying for you Michael according to Romans 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work together for good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Be blessed my brother.🙏
The guy in Kansas City cursing in front of his Mom, priceless
Artie Pascano...I 😆
That didn't actually happen that way. They were in a back room at the Villa Capri restaurant. The feds bugged the room trying to get info on a war between the Spero brothers and the Civellas and accidentally heard them discussing the skim.
His mother was played by Martin Scorsese's mother
search YT for her Cooking recipes
"I'm sorry. Whaddaya want me ta do?!"
😂
ohhhhhhhh heeeeeeeyyyyyy. that's enough!
Another scene that I love is when a competing crew is trying to shake down the Tangiers Casino and Pesci's character Spolotro meets them there at the redemption window to tell them that he is "over here with him" Lefty, and to tell them to go across the street to meet "Carmine". And they just go yeah we should. And wish him LOTS OF LUCK. And Pesci tells the window attendant that they don't need their papers anymore lol. BOSS MOVE!!!
Been in Vegas since the 80's and Michael is correct 100%. Vegas was better and classier than today. You were treated with respect by all the staff and we tipped everyone because they did such a great job. Now, staff makes you feel like you are a bother to them and want to argue with you when they mess up. Definitely miss the Vegas that was ran by wise guys.
Just a great story teller. Could listen to stories from him all day.
Yeah well, "remember when" is the lowest form of conversation per Tony Soprano.
Joe Pesci would of played a legendary role of Little Nicky Scarfo back in his prime
£0 900p9
lo
Sharon Stone was amazing in this movie. I detest Ginger McKenna to this day.
Still smash though
I love these movies and videos. I love watching your interviews and hearing your insights on the life. My grandfather, was full blooded Italian from Sicily, who moved here when he was young. Later moved from Pennsylvania to Cali because of the life, but was VERY secretive and NEVER talked about anything that had to do with that life. So watching these interviews with you, and Sammy among others has given a lot of insight into my family. I could never and would never be part of that life, but I find it interesting and enjoy learning as much as I can about it. Keep up the good work Michael you are a master at your craft and look forward to the content you put out. Great stuff!
One little detail I love about the desert meeting scene is that Nicky is so angry he almost forgets to shut off his engine before jumping of his car to yell at Ace. It's such a small gesture that shows his blood was boiling the whole time he was driving out there. Easily one of the greatest Pesci scenes of all time.
The dialogue with Deniro and L.Q Jones and about keeping his incompetent brother in law on staff was all written by L.Q jones . Scorsese said you know more about how people in Nevada talk, just write the script and I will film it. The line "you are guests here, and you acting like you are home ".was his.
in the 70's or 80's, telling Michael Franzese " one day you will be doing movie reviews on a website called youtube where anyone can upload a video of anything they want to".
He would ask what the hell is a website.
Guy would say what is a video?
Gracias por tu aporte Michael es de mucho aprecio y un honor poder escucharte!!
For those interested, Joe Rogan talks about Michael on his podcast with Colin Quinn at around the 2 hour and 5 minute mark.
Thanks
Colin is a great guy.
Thanks man!
Thanks dude gonna watch it after this video
Yeah that would be so cool.. Joe asking Michael if he believes aliens exist
"IF" we could ever had gotten ur dad to talk I would sit and listen for days about the things and stories he would tell and his ideology of a gangster. Im pretty sure he had a library of info but he stayed true to his oath. Good stuff Michael let me know when ur speaking in the Southern Cali area...
I agree,, but I dont think they could've paid Sonny enough money. Omerta ment something to those old school guys.
@@rctrue for sure. But imagine. Bill Banano wrote a book but told his publisher's not to release it until his death. I kinda was hoping Sonny did the same but like u said Old School...
there is some videos of sonny franzese here on youtube, so wtf you talking about ?
@@terryfeynman WTF u talking about? Everyone knows Michael even said his father said nothing not even to him sooooo what videos are u talking about? What Im talking about are those stories no one knows, details of things no one knows about and Sonny who Michael admitted he didn't talk about because of Omerta. If there are videos I would like to see them but I think ur confused...
@@bigjayesparza8537 ua-cam.com/video/iDAzbdFUpoU/v-deo.html and that is just one example. How about next time you simply use the youtube algorithm first to check before you accuse people of being confused, and thinking you know better, when you invested zero seconds in research.
What your father told you about one second after a crime reminded me of a comedian named Joey Diaz. He's a Cuban guy from New York, his mom was a book maker. He talks about seeing his father shoot a guy one time and going with him to throw the gun off a bridge. Many years later he asked his stepfather, "Remember the time you shot that guy?" and even with no one else in the room his stepfather said, "I have no idea what you're talking about".
Such a well spoken man.
Thank you for the insight, the education is truly appreciated.
If a couple of wiseguys asked me to meet them in the middle of a corn field, my first thought would be that I'm gonna end up as fertilizer
I guess 32 ppl didn’t watch or listen to this video….. Not to say meeting in a basement or garage makes ya feel any safer. But it’s a mind fk- Call ya in and u don’t know if u fkd up or are getting a bump.
@@MrBiggie7979 They knew they were going to be killed. They told their wives if they weren't back by a certain time they were dead. They took it like men. I'll give them that.