LANSKY

US, 1999, 116 minutes, Colour.
Richard Dreyfus, Max Perlich, Ryan Merriman, Matthew Settle, Ileana Douglas, Robert, Anthony la Paglia, Dean Norris, Beverly D' Angelo, Octavia Spencer.
Directed by John Mc Naughton.

Meyeer Lansky was one of the best known gangsters of the middle of the 20th century. He has appeared as a character in quite a number of films, including a performance by Ben Kingsley in Bugsy. His childhood friend, Bugsy Siegel, also appears in this film as a boy and, as an adult, played by Eric Roberts. Anthony la Paglia appears as Lucky Luciano.

Lansky is not an entirely obnoxious character in this film – some sympathy for him at the end. However, while there are details about his criminal past, it is not at the forefront of the film, and so he does not appear as the criminal he was.

Richard Dreyfus plays Lansky. The framework of the film is Lansky in Israel, not welcome in the United States, he is waiting for a court judgement to stay in Israel. This does not happen and he has to move on to other countries, including Panama. However, he finally settles in the United States where he dies.

Within this framework there are flashbacks to the pogroms in central Europe, the persecution of the Jews, the deaths of rabbis, migrations to the United States, settlements in New York City, the children growing up, the street gangs, Jewish groups, Italian groups.

Bugsy Siegel was one of those responsible for setting up Las Vegas. However, most of Lansky's financial activities took place in Florida. Which is where he returns at the end, a sequence giving him a long interview with a journalist, and the information about his death and that he had never served any prison sentence for his crimes.

The film was directed by John Mc Naughton (Henry, Serial Killer, Mad Dog and Glory).

(A small piece of history, the audience can glimpse Octavia Spencer as a maid and build is Octavia L.Spencer. Over 10 years later her career would gain great momentum after her winning an Oscar for her role in The Help.)

1. A portrait of a gangster, Meyer Lansky? Other films in which his character has appeared, especially Bugsy?

2. Audience knowledge of Lansky, of the gangsters of the early and mid-20th century? New York origins? Jewish, Italian? Drug dealing? Operations in Florida? The establishing of Las Vegas?

3. Richard Dreyfus as Lansky, in old age, in exile from the US, in Israel, searching for a country, in Panama? In the flashbacks? His age, demeanour? sympathetic aspects of his character?

4. The narrative framework: Lansky in Israel, before the courts, wanting a passport, his travelling the old city, the encounters with friends, with shopkeepers, jewellers? The flashbacks, tracing his origins, childhood, growing up, friendship with Bugsy Siegel, establishing the gangster connections, Lucky Luciano?

5. The family origins, Europe, the persecutions, the attack on the Rabbi? The effect on the family, some staying, others going to the United States, settling in New York, the family and work, growing up, the streets, friendships, the rival gangs, the fights? Meyer and his shrewdness? The bond with Bugsy? The clashes with the Italians? Finally bonding with them?

6. The screenplay sketching the developments of the gangster Empire, the drugs and the dealings, the Italians in the forefront, Meyer and his financial contribution? His impact? His never being imprisoned?

7. Meyer and his private life, the relationship with Ana, pregnancy, the child? The later relationship with Teddy, her standing by him in trials, her aggressive attitude towards the media?

8. The relationship with Bugsy Siegel in adult life, his life and style, Las Vegas?

9. The encounters with Lucky Luciano, prison, discussions, his death?

10. Lansky looking back on his life, satisfied, his achievement, criminal activity, relationships?

11. The media interest in him, the long interview in Florida at the end, revealing himself? And not revealing himself?

12. The final information about his life, his death, never in prison?