BBC Podcast Places Las Vegas in Film and Literature Under Microscope

_{De Niro's Ace in 1995's 'Casino' is said to be based on Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal, the man who brought sports betting Vegas. (Image: Pictorial Press Ltd)}

Las Vegas, often referred to as 'Sin City,' has long captivated filmmakers and authors alike, transforming from a humble “cow town” into a glittering oasis of entertainment, vice, and ultimately, a complex tapestry of dreams and despair. 

From the performances of legendary artists like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin to the gritty depictions of its darker underbelly, the narratives surrounding Las Vegas reveal much about the American psyche.  

Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner Anora is the latest in a long line of movies to use Las Vegas as a setting. So why is the desert gambling city such a catnip for filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Paul Verhoeven? 

Ellen E. Jones and Mark Kermode explore Vegas on screen in a BBC podcast that has scraped away the layers of the gambling capital and placed it under the microscope of a filmmaker, an author, a DJ, and a critic.  

Films Document History of Las Vegas Warts and All

In the podcast, Mark Kermode aptly described Vegas as a 'factory of human depression,' exposing the dark underbelly and the loneliness that can lurk behind the backdrop of its famed casinos, where the cacophony of slots masks stories of struggle and addiction. 

Kermode talks to film critic Christina Newland and Director Mike Figgis about directing Nicolas Cage to Oscar glory in 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas, a film that underscored the intrinsic sexism and exploitative nature of the city with the tale of an alcoholic who goes to the city to drink himself to death.

At one point, Figgis tells the story of how Nicholas Cage fuelled him with alcohol while watching the cut of Leaving Las Vegas. 

Figgis remebers that when the preview finished, Cage pushed him out of his home without offering him dinner. He realised afterwards that Cage had done this because he thought the film would be a flop. 

It won Cage an Oscar and the two have not met since. 

Christina Newland looks at the film Bugsy, which she said depicts the historic beginnings of the Las Vegas strip as the vision of mobsters building a place to trap people and extract their money. Newland declares films like Casino as depicting a layer of glitz and showbiz glamour. 

_{Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for his role as Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas. (Image: Maximum Film / Alamy)}

She says that if you scratch the surface, there is seediness, sex work, and addiction. Films like 'Showgirls' (1995) depict the cruelly exploitative side of this world, showing the cruelty, exploitative nature and grotesque reality behind the glitz.

Film Makers Paint Complex Picture of Sin City  

The cinematic portrayal of Las Vegas began to take shape in the post-war era when the city was undergoing a massive transformation. By the 1950s, hotels such as the Flamingo emerged, heralded as the 'fabulous' new face of entertainment. 

Film directors began setting their stories against this neon-lit backdrop, often focusing on the allure of gambling and stardom. One notable entry from this period is 'Meet Me in Las Vegas' (1956), a rom-com centred around an unlucky gambler who inadvertently wins a fortune, only to find love and laughter alongside his challenges.  

In the BBC podcast Ellen E. Jones talks to DJ and producer David Holmes about his work on the soundtrack for director Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 Ocean’s Eleven remake, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Ellen also speaks to author Shawn Levy about the unparalleled showbiz glamour of mid-century Las Vegas and the quintessential Rat Pack Vegas movie, Ocean’s 11.  

Sean Levy’s book 'Rat Pack Confidential' explores the behind-the-scenes stories of the Rat Pack, which included stars like Sinatra and Martin, and their significant influence on Las Vegas' reputation. 

The original 'Ocean's Eleven' (1960) featured cameos from these icons and illustrated the suave yet mischievous charm that defined their era. Holmes was told by the director Soderbergh not to watch the original movie before working on the soundtrack. 

_{Ocean's Eleven is a fresh take on the 1960 Rat Pack original film. (Image: Pictorial Press Ltd)}

He acknowledged that it was difficult not to give wink and a nod to the music of that era, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Perry Como. Holmes said the sound of Vegas was a cacophony where he recorded the sounds of the slot machines and the chaos. 

Unescapable Link to Mafia Portrayed in Films  

As filmmakers began to delve deeper into the complexities of Las Vegas, the city became both a paradise and a prison—a place where dreams could be made or shattered. In 'Casino' (1995), Martin Scorsese expertly depicted the intricate relationship between the mafia and Las Vegas, highlighting its sordid history as well as the seduction of its glitz and glamor. 

Critically acclaimed films like 'Leaving Las Vegas' (1995) further explored the city’s darker aspects through a haunting lens. The tale of an alcoholic seeking refuge in the arms of despair poignantly captured the tragic element of a city that never tells you “no" and often chews people up and spits them out.  

Despite its duality, Las Vegas remains a bibliophile's and filmmaker's playground.  

Las Vegas Shown as Complex of Hope, Despair, Glitz and Shadow 

Steven Soderbergh's remake of the film involving veterans rob casinos at midnight on New Year's Eve reflects the audacious spirit of possibility that characterizes this city. Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Ted Griffin. The first instalment in the Ocean's film trilogy, it is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name. 

With each story, from the glamor of the Ocean's franchise to the honesty of 'Leaving Las Vegas,' we are reminded of the layered complexities of Las Vegas—a city that embodies hope, despair, glitz, and shadow.

As modern cinema continues to wrestle with these tensions, Las Vegas stands not just as a backdrop but as a profound symbol of the American dream, a place that attracts and entraps, where the promise of fortune often comes hand in hand with the chaos of human experience. 

The allure of Las Vegas endures, a testament to its power to inspire both dreams and cautionary tales that echo long after the credits roll.