Movies that are either about casinos and gambling or are set in the world of casinos and gambling, are enduringly popular – from the 1960’s Rat Pack classic through to the thoroughly modern comedies and gritty dramas, we are drawn to the opulence and the excitement that a casino brings. Whether we are avid online slots fans ourselves, or just enjoy living vicariously through the actions of the characters on the screen, the casino is an iconic location that we all recognize.
When it comes to casino movies, the filming locations are about so much more than just somewhere to roll the cameras. Some of the most recognizable scenes in casino movies are filmed on location, rather than on a backlot soundstage – and in this article we will look at a few of the best.
The Importance of Location
When it comes to making a genuinely great movie, the best filmmakers know that every single frame has to be a part of the story, and that means that the backdrop can be pivotal. The right location can make the experience immersive and enhance the narrative, while a poor choice can pull the viewer out of the story.
You wouldn’t set a gritty Western in a modern city, and the same goes for the casino movies that we know and love. While the opportunities for CGI and animation might enhance action scenes, they cannot compete with the opulence and storytelling potential of a real-life location – and that is why so many casino films are actually filmed on location in real-life casinos (some of which you can still visit today).
Best Casino Films and Their Locations
Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
The original movie, starring the Rat Pack, was filmed at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This was a choice made not only to suit the story and the narrative, but to make it easier for the actors – who were performing there night after night anyway.
In fact, the final scene of the movie that features the actors (in character) walking past the casino marquee that bears their real names is possibly one of the most iconic cinematic images of the era.
Casino (1995)
There are many people that think this is the best Scorsese picture – and it is not hard to see why. The epic movie follows the non-fiction book about Mafia mobsters and their control over the casino industry in Las Vegas through the 1970’s and ‘80’s. Scorsese took his stereotypically gritty filming style, added some star power in actors like De Niro, Sharon Stone, and James Woods, and set them in Las Vegas, where the whole movie was filmed.
Many casinos and famous locations in Vegas were used. The Landmark Hotel and Casino was the exterior of the fictional Tangiers resort that was the titular casino. Unfortunately, this casino was torn down shortly after filming was completed and is now a parking structure for the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center.
The interior shots of Tangiers were filmed in the Riviera Hotel and Casino on the North Strip. This had been a popular filming location in Vegas since it opened in 1955, featuring in other movies like The Hangover, Austin Powers, and Ocean’s Eleven. Unfortunately, it closed in 2015 and was eventually demolished in 2016.
The Hangover (2009)
This hilarious comedy might be considered to be an instant classic – featuring some of the funniest and most irreverent scenes in film history alongside a surprisingly well-rounded cast.
There is a good reason that this movie has spawned a trilogy and is eminently quotable – the idea of losing a groom-to-be just before the wedding after a bachelor party that no one remembers is already hilarious, but set it in Vegas to the backdrop of opulence and debauchery (and Mike Tyson) and it became so much more.
The Hangover was mostly filmed in the famous Caesars Palace, including some excellent shots of the lobby suites, the roof, pools and even the elevators. It is worth mentioning, however, that the scene where the suite was completely destroyed was filmed on a soundstage and no suite in the casino was harmed during the filming.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
As a reprise of the 1960 film, some people might consider that the filming location should be the same – but in fact, there were a few changes made to the original to produce the Steven Soderbergh version; not least was the decision to feature the stunning Bellagio casino as the filming location.
There are several locations used in this movie alongside the iconic Bellagio. When Danny recruits Rusty from teaching actors how to play poker, they are in the back room of a real-life Hollywood nightclub (then known as Deep). Another iconic location used is the famous Musso and Frank’s grill, the oldest restaurant in Hollywood and a favored hangout of writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Of course, the scenes are stolen by the glamorous Bellagio, and even the famous dancing fountains get a starring role, too.
