Ok, there are all kinds of movies about the mob in Vegas, but why aren't there any in AC? It's in New Jersey, I figured atleast the Sopranos would have something. Can anybody think of any movies that are about Atlantic City?

That point's well taken. A good movie could be made about the Scarfo mob and how they grabbed control of Atlantic Cityaway from the Bruno mob of Philadelphia via murder, bombings, betrayal, etc. But so far, no film has been made. Too bad. Another excellent film could be made about the historic 1929 gangster convention that was held in AC, including Charlie Luciano, Longy Zwillman, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Frank Costello, Joe Adonis, Al Capone, Johnny Torrio and other Mob bigwigs. That meeting was really momentous because it resulted in the cartelization of the booze trade, and the formation of alliances that lasted for years. It also resulted in Capone deliberately getting himself arrested and sentenced to a one-year prison term on a weapons charge in nearby Philadelphia, the better to stay out of the public light.
An absolutely outstanding film about the city, called "Atlantic City," was made in 1980 starring Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon. It included some gangster-types, but it wasn't a gangster movie per se. I highly recommend this film to any movie buff.

I have wanted to see "Atlantic City" for some time, although I'm not a great fan of Louis Malle. I think that in both The Lovers, and The Fire Within, he identified the main theame of the film, but was then unsure as to what els he was trying to say.

Turnbull I saw that Burt Lancaster movie, it was fantastic!!
It made me wonder if that was where Bruce Springsteen got the inspiration for his song 'Atlantic City' (Excerpt below)

Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night now they blew up his house too,
Down on the boardwalk they're getting ready for a fight, gonna see what them racket boys can do.
Now theres trouble busin' in from outer state and the DA cant get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade and the gambling commissions hanging on by the skin of it's teeth
Now I been looking for a job but it's hard to find, down here it's just winners and losers and dont get caught on the wrong side of that line.
Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losing end.So honey last night I met this guy and I'm gonna do a little favor for him
well I guess everything dies baby thats a fact but maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

All words and music by B Springsteen.

I hope your not mad at me posting this in this thread but, I love B. Springsteen and the video that went with this song was good. It was like a home movie of Atlantic City before during and after all the rebuilding and the casinos etc etc. It's the one image of Atlantic City that will colour my view of it forever. I wish you could just hear the song it's beautiful

FH

Thanks for the lyrics, FH. The last verse, about doing a favor for a guy, seems to be taken from the film.
BTW: It's called "Atlantic City USA" in Europe, as you know. We saw that version, which has an additional scene in the beginning, in London six years ago. Great film!

Another place I've never been!!! For those who have been to both Atlantic City and Vegas, how are they alike (besides the gambling of course) and how are they different? Does Atlantic City get as wide a variety of visitors from other countries as Vegas does? Is it as glitzy as Vegas? How many casinos are there?


TIS

TIS:



The maximum, eight LOLs

You absolutely cannot compare the two. The only thing AC has that Vegas doesn't is a beach, shitty as it is. The restaurants in Vegas are world class, AC has a few good ones, nothing special. Shows? Strictly second rate. The visitors are almost all polyester wearing bus-riders from NY and Philly, mostly day-trippers. Visitors from all over the country, much less the world? Ha-Ha! It's strictly a town that you drive to.

Walk a block from the casino-hotels, and you're in a slum, taking your life in your hands. It's a horrible and disgusting place. Nothing at all like Vegas.

But there's gambling, and it's under two hours from where I live, so I love it.

P. Lawrence!


So I'm a clown here for your amusement?? I rated the big "eight" hu??? Sounds like it's more or less like the Indian casinos we have out here. They're nice for an outing, but definitely second rate compared to LV!

I had no idea really!! Ha ha! At least it sounds like I'm not really missing much then. Thanks for the input!!

TIS

There are two Indian casinos in Connecticut, both at least as nice as anything Atalntic City has to offer.

I guess maybe I was a little harsh on AC. They don't have any "theme" casinos like Vegas does, but there are two or three that are a notch above the others, and they compare favorably to some of the second rate Vegas joints.

But except for the immediate areas surrounding the hotel-casinos, the city is, truly, a dump. Certainly no place for a family vacation like Vegas is, and probably never will be. And to think that AC was at one time the premier seaside resort in the whole country.

Thanks for the clarification P. Lawrence. I had the totally wrong picture of it I guess!! It would take much for any "gambling" area/city to beat Vegas in my opinion.


TIS