Bugsy (1991)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers (WGA):

Dean Jennings (book) (research source)
James Toback (written by)

Release Date:

20 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Glamour Was The Disguise.

Plot:

The story of how Bugsy Siegel started Las Vegas.

Plot Keywords:

Jealousy | Gangster Film | Cheating | Male Female Relationship | Birthday Party

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Warren Beatty	...	Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel
Annette Bening	...	Virginia Hill
Harvey Keitel	...	Mickey Cohen
Ben Kingsley	...	Meyer Lansky
Elliott Gould	...	Harry Greenberg
Joe Mantegna	...	George Raft
Richard C. Sarafian	...	Jack Dragna (as Richard Sarafian)
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Countess di Frasso
Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi	...	Count di Frasso
Wendy Phillips	...	Esta Siegel
Stefanie Mason	...	Millicent Siegel
Kimberly McCullough	...	Barbara Siegel
Andy Romano	...	Del Webb
Robert Beltran	...	Alejandro
Bill Graham	...	Charlie Luciano
Lewis Van Bergen	...	Joey Adonis
Joseph Roman	...	Moe Sedway
James Toback	...	Gus Greenbaum
Don Carrara	...	Vito Genovese
Carmine Caridi	...	Frank Costello
Don Calfa	...	Louie Dragna
Robert Glaudini	...	Dominic
Bryan Smith	...	Chick Hill
Ray McKinnon	...	David Hinton
Eric Christmas	...	Ronald, the Butler
Joe Baker	...	Lawrence Tibbett
John C. Moskoff	...	Sulka's Salesman
Ralph Tabakin	...	Elevator Operator
Debrah Farentino	...	Girl in Elevator
Anthony Russell	...	Jerry, Bookie
Wendie Malick	...	Woman on Train
DeVera Marcus	...	Fan at Train Station
Ksenia Prohaska	...	Marlene Dietrich
Peter Giuliano	...	'Manpower' Assistant Director
Austin Kelly	...	Manpower' Maitre D
Michael Kenner	...	'Manpower' Clapper Boy
Bruce Ed Morrow	...	Dist. Atty. McWilde (as Bruce E. Morrow)
Clive Rosengren	...	Dep. Dist. Atty. Hartman
Gary McGurk	...	Tony, Waiter
Gerard Joseph McKenna	...	Ciro's Photographer
Paul Roache	...	Taxi Driver
Tommy Townsend	...	U.S. Marshal
Steven Maines	...	U.S. Marshal (as Steven D. Maines)
Traci Lind	...	Natalie St. Clair
David H. Hebble	...	Cadillac Driver
Michael Sollenberger	...	Bond Rally Speaker
Jamie Angell	...	Courthouse Guard
Julie Christensen	...	Ciro's Singer
Susan Rumor	...	Ciro's Singer
Lloyd Baskin	...	Ciro's Singer
Hal Melia	...	Ciro's Singer
Fred Lehto	...	Ciro's Singer
Kal David	...	Ciro's Singer
Albina Bocchicchio	...	Ciro's Singer
Cathleen Crone	...	Ciro's Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Beecher	...	'Manpower' Director (uncredited)
Kathy Brolly	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Anne Gaybis	...	Mambo Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Barry Levinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Dean Jennings		(book "We Only Kill Each Other: The Life and Bad Times of Bugsy Siegel") (research source)
James Toback		(written by)

Produced by
Warren Beatty	....	producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Barry Levinson	....	producer
Charles Newirth	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Allen Daviau		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stu Linder

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
Dennis Gassner

Art Direction by
Leslie McDonald

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Albert Wolsky

Makeup Department
Rob Bottin	....	special makeup effects artist
Hallie D'Amore	....	key makeup artist
Kathryn Fenton	....	makeup artist (as Kathryn Miles Kelly)
Lynda Gurasich	....	special hair stylist
J. Roy Helland	....	key hair stylist
Shawn McKay	....	hair stylist
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: Warren Beatty
Matthew W. Mungle	....	makeup artist
Charles Blackman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Allegra Clegg	....	post-production supervisor
Charles Newirth	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Bamber	....	second second assistant director
Kate Davey	....	second second assistant director
Peter Giuliano	....	first assistant director
Gabriela Vázquez	....	second assistant director (as Gabriela Vazquez)

Art Department
Steve Arnold	....	assistant art director
Paige Augustine	....	set dresser
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman
Thomas E. Brown	....	paint supervisor (as Thomas Brown)
Linda Cathey	....	swing gang
Michael Crowley	....	general foreman (as Michael Alan Crowley)
Robert E. Denne	....	stand-by painter (as Bob Denne)
Charles Faithorn	....	swing gang
Robert Fechtman	....	assistant art director
Justin Garcia	....	general foreman
Claire Gaul	....	set dresser
Robert Greenfield	....	leadman
Joe Griffith	....	production illustrator (as Joseph F. Griffith Jr.)
Rainer G. Gruetzmacher	....	general foreman
William G. Hall	....	general foreman
Lawrence A. Hubbs	....	set designer
Douglas Keith	....	general foreman
Martin Kohn	....	art department coordinator
Jim Landis	....	set dresser
Leslie 'Tinker' Linville	....	set dresser (as Tinker Linville)
Guy A. MacLaury	....	construction coordinator
Jerry Moss	....	property master
Deborah Newman	....	property assistant
Grant Osborn	....	paint foreman
James Passanante	....	paint foreman
Ken Peterson	....	assistant property master
Phil Read	....	construction coordinator
Paul M. Rohrbaugh III	....	paint foreman
Gerald Scaife	....	set estimator
Scott Schneider	....	model maker
Chris L. Spellman	....	swing gang (as Chris Spellman)
Mike Brooks	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Gina B. Cranham	....	set designer (uncredited)
Roger L. King	....	property maker (uncredited)
Greg Sanger	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Tim Worman	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.J. Appel	....	adr editor
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Laurie Bernard	....	assistant sound designer
Gloria S. Borders	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Boyes	....	foley recordist
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
Noreen Farrell	....	assistant sound editor
Stacey A. Foiles	....	dialogue editor (as Stacey Foiles)
Clare C. Freeman	....	foley editor
Scott Guitteau	....	assistant sound editor
Robert W. Harris	....	cable person
Tim Holland	....	sound effects editor
David Jobe	....	adr recordist
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hael Kobayashi	....	assistant sound editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Robert Marty	....	assistant sound editor (as Bob Marty)
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Philip Olbrantz	....	assistant sound editor (as Phil Olbrantz)
Franco Patrignani	....	sound engineer: Forum Studio Rome
Claire Sanfilippo	....	assistant sound editor
Paige Sartorius	....	dialogue editor
Robert Shoup	....	sound effects editor (as Bob Shoup)
Dianna Stirpe	....	assistant sound editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Pam Uzzell	....	assistant sound editor
Ethan Van der Ryn	....	foley editor
Fabio Venturi	....	assistant sound engineer: Forum Studio Rome
Marian Wilde	....	supervising foley editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4 (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Henry Alvarez	....	production crew: Rob Bottin
Roland Blancaflor	....	special effects technician: Rob Bottin Productions
James Clark	....	production crew: Rob Bottin
Fernando Favila	....	production crew: Rob Bottin
Marvin Gardner	....	special effects
William D. Harrison	....	special effects foreman (as William Harrison)
Art Pimentel	....	production crew: Rob Bottin
Clay Pinney	....	special effects supervisor
Russell Shinkle	....	production crew: Rob Bottin (as Russ Shinkle)
Loren Soman	....	production crew: Rob Bottin
John S. Baker	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Bill Bennett	....	miniatures photographer (uncredited)
Joshua Pinney	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Tom Griep	....	miniature effects model maker
Ian Hunter	....	miniature effects chief model maker
James D. McGeachy	....	miniature effects model maker (as James McGeachy)
Laurel Schneider	....	miniature effects production coordinator
Scott Schneider	....	miniature effects model maker
Robert Spurlock	....	miniature effects: Stetson Visual Services, Inc.
Mark Stetson	....	miniature effects: Stetson Visual Services, Inc.
Mark Sullivan	....	matte painter
Tom Valentine	....	miniature effects designer
Jim Danforth	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Ted Rae	....	matte plate photography (uncredited)

Stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunt coordinator (as Billy Burton)
William H. Burton	....	stunts (as Billy Burton)
Tom Lupo	....	stunts (as Thomas L. Lupo)
Dennis Scott	....	stunts (as Dennis R. Scott)
Mike Watson	....	stunts (as Michael Watson)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kevin Arnold	....	electrician (as Kevin S. Arnold)
Paul C. Babin	....	camera operator
Tom Bookout	....	best boy grip (as Thomas Bookout)
Joseph Cosko Jr.	....	second assistant camera
Elise Couvillion	....	film loader
Michael S. Endler	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Eric Engler	....	camera operator
Richard Jefferies	....	electrician
David Katz	....	video playback operator
Michael Kenner	....	key grip
Kim Kono	....	electrician (as Kim K. Kono)
William R. Mayberry	....	electrical best boy
John Morris	....	grip (as John P. Morris)
Reggie Newkirk	....	first assistant camera
Bruton Peterson	....	electrician
Russell Reilly	....	grip (as Russell J. Reilly)
Jim Shelton	....	dolly grip (as James R. Shelton)
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Bob Stradling	....	first assistant camera (as Robert Stradling)
Larry Wallace	....	chief lighting technician
Ted Chu	....	steadicam assistant (uncredited)
Thomas Enright	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Christopher J. Lama	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Juel Bestrop	....	casting associate
Carol Larkin	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James 'Mike' Balker	....	costumer: men (as Mike Balker)
Norman A. Burza	....	costumer: men (as Norman Arthur Burza)
Dennis Fill	....	costumer: men (as Dennis M. Fill)
Cynthia L. Hamilton	....	assistant costume designer (as Cynthia Hamilton)
Christopher Lawrence	....	costumer: women
George L. Little	....	costume supervisor: men
Jennifer Morrison	....	costumer: women
Carlane Passman	....	costume supervisor: women
Deborah Squires	....	costumer: women
Don Vargas	....	special costumer
Larry Velasco	....	costumer: men (as Lawrence Velasco)
Marsha Bozeman	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Danna Edwards	....	costumer (uncredited)
Heather Pollock	....	set costumer: second unit (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Blair Daily	....	assistant film editor
Mark Daily	....	editorial assistant
Phil Downey	....	color timer
James Flamberg	....	additional editor

Music Department
Enrico DeMelis	....	general music coordinator: Forum Studio, Rome (as Enrico De Melis)
Redd Evans	....	composer: song "There, I've Said It Again"
James Flamberg	....	executive music producer
Rosario Giuliani	....	musician: alto sax
Allan Mason	....	music supervisor
Ennio Morricone	....	conductor
Ennio Morricone	....	orchestrator
Francesco Santucci	....	musician: flugelhorn
Paolo Zampini	....	musician: flute

Transportation Department
Randy Cantor	....	transportation captain
Dan Marrow	....	transportation captain (as Daniel C. Marrow)
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
James E. Vargas	....	picture cars

Other crew
Allegra Clegg	....	production coordinator
Michael Davison	....	special assistant
Sara Dee	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson (as Sara Beth Dee)
Jennifer Erskine	....	assistant: Mr. Levinson
Kelley Finn	....	production secretary
Cindy Franke	....	assistant production coordinator
Jodi Fuchs	....	production assistant
Jay Gianukos	....	production assistant
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager (as Robert Goldstein)
Michael R. Gurasich	....	production assistant
Larry Hand	....	production accountant
Christine Hebble	....	production assistant
Kelly Householder	....	production assistant
Rande Laiderman	....	special caterer
Carolyn Mock	....	assistant accountant
Gary Moglovkin	....	assistant accountant
Aimee Morris	....	production assistant (as Aimee A. Morris)
Amanda Nelligan	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Amy Ness	....	location manager
Jane Payne	....	special assistant
Julie Pitkanen	....	script supervisor
Willie Radcliff	....	craft service (as Willie L. Radcliff)
Dennon Rawles	....	choreographer
Sayhber Rawles	....	choreographer
Elena Santaballa	....	production assistant
Beth Siegel	....	production assistant
Robin Skelton	....	continuity assistant
Russ Tanaka	....	first aid
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Lisa A. Corbin	....	location construction accountant (uncredited)
Christopher Landry	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)
Richard S. Lederer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jon Sperry	....	dialect coach: Harvey Keitel (uncredited)
Kayla Thames	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Leroy R. Perry Jr.	....	special thanks (as Dr. Leroy Perry Jr.)

Production Companies

• Baltimore Pictures
• Desert Vision
• Mulholland Productions
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España S.A. (Spain)
• Columbia TriStar (1999) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (DVD)
• Falcon (Czech Republic)
• Finnkino (1992) (Finland) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1992) (Finland) (video)
• Oy Nordisk Film (1995) (Finland) (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2006) (Finland) (DVD) (extended version)

Special Effects

• Rob Bottin Productions
• Stetson Visual Services Inc.

Other Companies

• Andrea Jaffe Inc.  publicity
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Forum Studio  music recorded at
• MCA/Universal  scarface footage
• Peggy Siegal Company  publicity
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• The Casting Group  additional casting
• The International Sports Medicine Institute  special thanks
• Tony's Food Service  catering
• Unione Musicisti di Roma  orchestra
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and sensuality.

Runtime:

134 min | USA:149 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1992) | Finland:K-18 (2006) (extended version) (self applied) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Germany:16 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

810 Linden Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Baltimore Pictures

Trivia:

While the film suggests that Bugsy Siegel and Virginia Hill first meet on the movie set, they had actually met several years earlier in real life. At the time, Hill was dating Joe Adonis (portrayed as Joey A. by Lewis Van Bergen in this film) when she and Bugsy had an affair, thus explaining the animosity Bugsy and Joey have for one another throughout the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Harry Greenberg was in fact murdered in November 1939, not in 1945 as depicted in this film.

Quotes:

Virginia: Why don't you go outside and jerk yourself a soda?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: The Test Dream (#5.11)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

CANDY

A very atypical gangster film.

I personally thought "Bugsy" was the best film of 1991 and should have beaten "The Silence of the Lambs" for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The movie looks great, has great acting all around and Barry Levinson is in top form. Best of all, "Bugsy" avoids most, if not all, cliches that are usually found in gangster movies. If you want a good solid film about a real life crime figure, this is the one. If you want hackneyed, worn out cliches that go nowhere and leave a feeling of unsatisfaction, I would recommend "Mobsters" or "Billy Bathgate".