Casinos in the movies

Casinos have been around for centuries - the term itself has originated in Italy in the 19th century, but gaming houses have been around for much longer than that. The term - and the concept behind it, usually with elegant ladies and gentlemen wasting generous amounts of money at various games - has been used in lots of literary works and movies during the years. Here is a quick selection of a few cinematic creations revolving around this phenomenon.

1. Casino

This is a movie about what we see and what we never find out about Las Vegas. Robert De Niro plays Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, who is delegated by his associates (the Maffia) to lead a Las Vegas casino on behalf of a Midwest family.

This Martin Scorsese feature shows us the two faces of Las Vegas. On the surface it's all about glitter, lights and music, grand on-stage shows and expensive people walking around with expensive drinks in their hands. What goes on behind the scenes is a cruel and ruthless world that revolves around only one thing: money.

The movie is based on the non-fiction book with the same title by Nicholas Pileggi, who also collaborated at the creation of the screenplay with the director.

2. Casino Royale

This 2006 movie is based on the novel with the same title written by Ian Fleming - the creator of James Bond. The story - which was the first Bond book written by the author - revolves around the secret agent 007 in Her Majesty's service, who has to defeat a high profile weapons dealer in a high stakes game of poker at the Casino Royale.

This is not exactly a movie about a casino in itself - the gambling establishment only serves as a framework for the things happening on screen.

The movie - starring Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond - was the highest grossing Bond movie until the release of Skyfall in 2012.

3. Indecent proposal

A drama about a young married couple, Diana and David Murphy (Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson) who try to win enough money to finance David's dream project. They gamble all their money and they lose. They meet eccentric billionaire John Gage (Robert Redford), who makes an indecent proposal: a million dollars in return for a one night stand with the attractive Diana.

A drama about personal relationships and insecurities, surrounded by the glitter and fame of Las Vegas.

Casinos have been used as a surrounding for things happening on screen in a series of movies and literary works in the last decades, but these three are maybe the most memorable.

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