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(narrator)
Previously...
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00:00:08,041 --> 00:00:10,174
on "The Making of
the Mob: New York"...
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00:00:11,442 --> 00:00:15,011
For nearly a decade,
Charles "Lucky" Luciano
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00:00:15,013 --> 00:00:19,015
has run his criminal empire
from a maximum-security prison.
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00:00:19,017 --> 00:00:21,083
But the outbreak
of World War II...
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(President Roosevelt) A date
which will live in infamy.
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00:00:25,389 --> 00:00:28,223
...has given him
the opportunity to get out.
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00:00:28,225 --> 00:00:29,757
You'll never guess
who I got a call from.
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00:00:29,759 --> 00:00:32,126
Who?
The FBI.
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(narrator) From behind bars,
Luciano strikes deals
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00:00:35,231 --> 00:00:38,031
with the FBI
and the U.S. Navy...
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Well, listen, sir,
just because we're businessmen,
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doesn't mean
we're not patriots.
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We'll lock down the docks.
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...using the Mafia's control
of the waterfront
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to gain leverage
with the government.
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00:00:48,675 --> 00:00:50,675
Come on, let's go,
we can move faster.
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00:00:50,677 --> 00:00:54,311
(narrator) But Luciano's former
acting boss, Vito Genovese,
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00:00:54,313 --> 00:00:56,479
becomes a major problem...
(door banging)
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Freeze! Freeze! Don't move,
don't move, don't move!
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00:00:59,784 --> 00:01:02,084
...when he's arrested
in Italy
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00:01:02,086 --> 00:01:04,252
and sent back to New York
on a murder rap.
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He's gonna testify.
How could you be so stupid?
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(narrator) With a witness
lined up to testify,
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Luciano orders a hit...
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Time for your daily dose.
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(coughing)
...that saves Genovese,
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but does nothing to earn
Luciano his freedom.
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(Luciano) When will we know?
That's up to Dewey.
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(narrator) Finally, Thomas Dewey
lets Luciano out of prison,
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00:01:28,607 --> 00:01:30,640
but at a steep price.
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They're deporting you...
to Italy.
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(Luciano) You came all
this way to see me go.
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(narrator) Now, Luciano
will have to figure out
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00:01:39,782 --> 00:01:42,449
how to keep control
of the American Mafia...
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Come visit me
sometime, huh?
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...from 4,000 miles away.
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♪♪
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(man)
♪ This ain't no time ♪
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♪ To feel sorry
for myself ♪
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♪ I can't help it ♪
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♪ 'Cause there's nobody else ♪
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♪ And
I walk these streets ♪
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00:02:10,274 --> 00:02:13,642
♪ With your name
on my tongue ♪
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♪ But I dare not speak ♪
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♪ Only
there it belongs ♪
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♪ There's got to be
a better way ♪
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♪ Better way ♪♪
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(gunshot echoes)
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(church bell tolling)
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♪♪
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(door squeaking)
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(narrator)
After 10 years in prison,
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00:02:58,179 --> 00:03:00,812
Lucky Luciano
is finally a free man.
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00:03:03,382 --> 00:03:05,583
But he's been exiled to Italy
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00:03:05,585 --> 00:03:09,219
and told he can never
return to America.
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00:03:14,658 --> 00:03:16,425
In the 40 years
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00:03:16,427 --> 00:03:19,861
since Luciano arrived
in the United States,
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00:03:19,863 --> 00:03:23,464
the no-name
Sicilian immigrant
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has become a legend.
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00:03:26,467 --> 00:03:28,534
Creating a criminal empire
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00:03:28,536 --> 00:03:31,270
alongside the friends
he's had for decades.
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00:03:34,574 --> 00:03:37,409
(Joe Mantegna) Lucky Luciano
is a Sicilian immigrant
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00:03:37,411 --> 00:03:40,211
and actually fits
that perfect mold of a guy
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00:03:40,213 --> 00:03:42,646
who comes to this country.
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00:03:42,648 --> 00:03:46,549
It's almost like achieving
the American dream, but...
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00:03:46,551 --> 00:03:48,484
the dark side as opposed
to the light side.
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00:03:50,553 --> 00:03:53,488
(narrator) Now, Luciano's been
forced to leave the future
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00:03:53,490 --> 00:03:57,191
of the American Mafia
in the hands of his crew.
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(seagull calling)
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00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,667
Nothing's changed,
gentlemen.
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00:04:08,735 --> 00:04:11,303
Lucky's still
calling the shots.
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00:04:12,905 --> 00:04:14,906
You're being modest,
Frank.
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00:04:14,908 --> 00:04:16,741
Of course,
he is.
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00:04:16,743 --> 00:04:18,275
He's a modest guy.
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(narrator)
With Luciano 4,000 miles away,
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00:04:22,447 --> 00:04:26,649
Frank Costello is the acting
boss of Luciano's family
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00:04:26,651 --> 00:04:29,918
and must keep the peace between
the five New York crime families
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00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,653
run by gangsters
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00:04:31,655 --> 00:04:35,323
like Joe Bonanno
and Joe Profaci.
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00:04:35,325 --> 00:04:36,857
You have our confidence.
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00:04:44,665 --> 00:04:47,933
(narrator) The man Costello
replaced, Vito Genovese,
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00:04:47,935 --> 00:04:50,335
has been released from prison
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00:04:50,337 --> 00:04:53,271
only to find himself demoted
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00:04:53,273 --> 00:04:55,339
within the organization.
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What's on your mind, Vito?
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00:05:08,786 --> 00:05:11,586
How do we make things right
between me and Charlie?
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I think you're talking
to the wrong guy.
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00:05:19,026 --> 00:05:22,795
He's got me running the street
gang like some punk.
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00:05:22,797 --> 00:05:25,364
That's not right.
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00:05:25,366 --> 00:05:26,732
It's out of my hands.
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00:05:26,734 --> 00:05:28,667
I thought you was
in charge here?
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00:05:28,669 --> 00:05:30,902
Do you want me to go
over Charlie's head?
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00:05:32,537 --> 00:05:34,938
He's making me
look like a fool.
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00:05:38,976 --> 00:05:42,044
(Selwyn Raab) Vito
Genovese was very envious.
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00:05:44,814 --> 00:05:47,382
He felt that he had been
short-changed,
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00:05:47,384 --> 00:05:50,351
weren't getting all the benefits
and all the wealth.
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00:05:50,353 --> 00:05:53,387
And it was no question
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00:05:53,389 --> 00:05:57,023
that he was an archrival
of Costello.
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(narrator) While Costello
deals with Genovese,
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00:06:00,061 --> 00:06:02,995
Meyer Lansky is overseeing
an aggressive plan
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00:06:02,997 --> 00:06:05,430
to expand the Luciano empire
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00:06:05,432 --> 00:06:08,732
outside the United States.
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It's nice being close
to the sea.
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We have the same thing
in New York,
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00:06:15,705 --> 00:06:17,771
but it's nothing like this.
You have Coney Island.
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00:06:17,773 --> 00:06:19,906
We have Coney Island.
(chuckling)
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(narrator) Meyer Lansky has
spent years paying off
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powerful Cuban politician
Fulgencio Batista.
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Toast.
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To a beautiful future
in a beautiful place.
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(Meyer Lansky II)
My grandfather loved Cuba.
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He loved the Cuban people.
He loved the weather.
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00:06:40,092 --> 00:06:42,092
Hopefully we'll be spending
a lot of time down here.
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00:06:42,094 --> 00:06:43,726
(Lansky II) Batista knew
that my grandfather
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00:06:43,728 --> 00:06:45,627
was known for being honest.
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He brought him over
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and he started
cleaning up the games.
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(man)
There we go. Big winner.
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(narrator)
With Batista on the payroll,
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Lansky moves forward
transforming
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Havana's seedy hotels
into five-star casinos...
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00:07:05,442 --> 00:07:08,944
that had the potential to make
millions of dollars a day.
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(Rich Cohen) Meyer Lansky wanted
to be a legitimate businessman.
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00:07:15,418 --> 00:07:18,452
And he just knew
how to run a casino.
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I mean, the numbers, the odds,
how the house always wins.
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What games they should play,
how to take care of people.
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00:07:23,758 --> 00:07:26,358
And his idea
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00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,861
was really to do that
ultimately in Cuba.
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(narrator) While Lansky's
laying the foundation in Cuba,
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Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
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has set up a stronghold
for the family in California.
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Take good care of her, that's
what you could do for me, right?
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Thank you,
here we go.
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00:07:48,478 --> 00:07:50,411
Hey, how we doing
over here, huh?
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(narrator)
Luciano's trusted hit man
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has been in Los Angeles
since the late '30s.
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He's infiltrated
the movie industry,
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using mob-run unions to gain
leverage with the studios.
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00:08:01,121 --> 00:08:04,088
But after his years
of loyalty,
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00:08:04,090 --> 00:08:07,991
Siegel still has nothing
to call his own.
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Lucky Luciano,
Vito Genovese,
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00:08:22,672 --> 00:08:26,106
Frank Costello,
Meyer Lansky.
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00:08:26,108 --> 00:08:29,609
Each of Siegel's childhood crew
has either been the boss
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00:08:29,611 --> 00:08:32,778
or has had the freedom
to run his own operation.
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Siegel wants
to be remembered
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00:08:37,183 --> 00:08:39,717
as more than just
a trigger man.
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He wants a lasting legacy.
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00:08:45,590 --> 00:08:49,059
Siegel sees his opportunity
300 miles east
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00:08:49,061 --> 00:08:51,895
in a stretch of
barren Nevada desert
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00:08:51,897 --> 00:08:54,564
known as Las Vegas.
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00:08:54,566 --> 00:08:56,933
(Oscar Goodman)
Las Vegas was a patch of sand.
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00:08:56,935 --> 00:08:59,769
There weren't any buildings
taller than two stories high.
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It didn't have
any kind of a reputation.
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00:09:01,939 --> 00:09:03,672
It was hard to get to.
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(narrator)
It may be a barren desert now,
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00:09:06,743 --> 00:09:09,310
but Siegel sees
what no one else can,
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a gambling mecca.
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00:09:11,847 --> 00:09:14,681
Nevada is one of
the few states in the country
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00:09:14,683 --> 00:09:16,949
that has legalized gambling.
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(Siegel) I've been having
this vision, right?
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00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,087
And I look off into the dark
desert and see these lights.
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00:09:23,089 --> 00:09:25,189
They're so bright that
they'll blind you, right?
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00:09:25,191 --> 00:09:27,658
And I see people
and hotels
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00:09:27,660 --> 00:09:30,794
and casinos and money.
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00:09:30,796 --> 00:09:33,029
Lots
of money.
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00:09:33,031 --> 00:09:35,164
(narrator)
Siegel's vision
168
00:09:35,166 --> 00:09:37,933
is a European-style
mega hotel and casino
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00:09:37,935 --> 00:09:41,636
that will attract the Hollywood
crowd and the high rollers.
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00:09:41,638 --> 00:09:44,105
And also bring in tourists
willing to cough up
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00:09:44,107 --> 00:09:46,207
thousands of dollars
a night.
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Siegel names his hotel
after his nickname
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00:09:50,312 --> 00:09:52,312
for his long-legged
girlfriend,
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00:09:52,314 --> 00:09:55,148
Virginia Hill,
the Flamingo.
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(Goodman) Bugsy Siegel
saw that the future
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00:09:58,686 --> 00:10:01,687
of entertainment
and gambling
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00:10:01,689 --> 00:10:03,655
and all that
Las Vegas stands for,
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00:10:03,657 --> 00:10:06,224
as far as being an exciting
tourist destination,
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00:10:06,226 --> 00:10:09,694
would be possible here
in this desert.
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00:10:09,696 --> 00:10:12,029
(narrator) But in order to
make his dream a reality,
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00:10:12,031 --> 00:10:14,631
Siegel needs one thing...
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00:10:14,633 --> 00:10:17,200
money.
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00:10:17,202 --> 00:10:21,137
(Siegel) It's a little
town called Las Vegas.
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00:10:21,139 --> 00:10:23,305
(Luciano)
How much, Benny?
185
00:10:23,307 --> 00:10:25,974
A million dollars.
A million dollars?
186
00:10:25,976 --> 00:10:28,076
You want us to pump a million
dollars into the desert
187
00:10:28,078 --> 00:10:29,977
when we already got
casinos making money?
188
00:10:29,979 --> 00:10:33,146
Yeah, 'cause there's
one major difference.
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00:10:33,148 --> 00:10:37,183
Gambling in Vegas is legal.
190
00:10:37,185 --> 00:10:39,351
100%.
Legal, huh?
191
00:10:39,353 --> 00:10:41,653
I'm telling you, you got
people from L.A. coming over.
192
00:10:41,655 --> 00:10:42,920
You got people
from up North.
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00:10:42,922 --> 00:10:44,855
Get the bigwig
movie stars out there,
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00:10:44,857 --> 00:10:46,756
get some appearances going,
some press.
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00:10:46,758 --> 00:10:48,824
I'm talking fancy casino.
196
00:10:48,826 --> 00:10:50,992
You know, nice restaurants,
good hotel rooms.
197
00:10:50,994 --> 00:10:52,893
It's a good investment,
right?
198
00:10:52,895 --> 00:10:54,761
You put that money in,
we get this thing going,
199
00:10:54,763 --> 00:10:56,996
we'll triple that profit
in a week.
200
00:10:56,998 --> 00:10:59,365
And, listen, I've stood
by you a long time.
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00:10:59,367 --> 00:11:01,834
I think this is a good idea.
202
00:11:01,836 --> 00:11:04,002
Well, you better
be right, Benny.
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00:11:06,071 --> 00:11:10,007
(narrator) Luciano pledges to help
fund his friend's Las Vegas dream.
204
00:11:11,342 --> 00:11:13,276
But he knows he'll need
an even bigger venture
205
00:11:13,278 --> 00:11:16,779
if he's going to maintain
his place in the Mafia.
206
00:11:16,781 --> 00:11:19,782
In the case of organized crime
figures, you have to be successful.
207
00:11:19,784 --> 00:11:23,285
You have to make money.
You have to be imaginative.
208
00:11:23,287 --> 00:11:25,186
And if you're not
making money,
209
00:11:25,188 --> 00:11:28,155
you're gonna lose stature
in the family.
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00:11:41,068 --> 00:11:44,136
(narrator) During the war,
Vito Genovese made millions
211
00:11:44,138 --> 00:11:47,205
exporting Italy's legally
manufactured heroin
212
00:11:47,207 --> 00:11:50,107
to the United States.
213
00:11:53,411 --> 00:11:55,678
Now, Luciano seizes
214
00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:58,346
what's left of Genovese's
smuggling operation...
215
00:12:01,116 --> 00:12:03,283
and makes it his own.
216
00:12:04,752 --> 00:12:07,787
(Sal Polisi)
The drug business was huge.
217
00:12:07,789 --> 00:12:09,388
The amount of money
that you could make
218
00:12:09,390 --> 00:12:11,156
in one day with drugs,
219
00:12:11,158 --> 00:12:13,224
it would take you years
to make gambling.
220
00:12:13,226 --> 00:12:15,392
(narrator) With heroin
now illegal in Italy,
221
00:12:15,394 --> 00:12:19,062
Luciano invests hundreds of
thousands of dollars
222
00:12:19,064 --> 00:12:21,898
converting Sicilian
candy factories
223
00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,400
into underground
heroin labs.
224
00:12:24,402 --> 00:12:27,736
(speaking Italian)
225
00:12:27,738 --> 00:12:29,137
(responding
in Italian)
226
00:12:29,139 --> 00:12:31,239
(narrator)
Luciano knows
227
00:12:31,241 --> 00:12:33,975
with his vast criminal network
in the United States,
228
00:12:33,977 --> 00:12:37,778
he already has a market
of millions of customers.
229
00:12:37,780 --> 00:12:40,947
All he needs now is a way
to smuggle the drugs
230
00:12:40,949 --> 00:12:44,317
into America undetected.
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00:12:44,319 --> 00:12:46,384
♪♪
232
00:12:50,122 --> 00:12:53,124
Hey, wake up, your portrait's in
"The New York Times". (chuckling)
233
00:12:53,126 --> 00:12:55,993
Uh... thank you.
234
00:12:57,328 --> 00:12:59,862
Charlie. Oh.
235
00:12:59,864 --> 00:13:02,097
So good to see you.
236
00:13:02,099 --> 00:13:03,765
Even if it is a pain
in the ass to get here.
237
00:13:03,767 --> 00:13:05,466
It's good to see you, too.
238
00:13:05,468 --> 00:13:07,734
(exhaling)
But don't unpack yet.
239
00:13:07,736 --> 00:13:09,168
And wire your wife.
240
00:13:09,170 --> 00:13:11,103
Let her know we'll be gone
for a few more weeks.
241
00:13:11,105 --> 00:13:14,506
What? What's going on?
242
00:13:14,508 --> 00:13:17,041
I want to go to Cuba.
243
00:13:17,043 --> 00:13:19,743
See this operation
you've built for us.
244
00:13:19,745 --> 00:13:22,312
(narrator)
Luciano realizes
245
00:13:22,314 --> 00:13:25,281
that Cuba is the missing piece
to what could be
246
00:13:25,283 --> 00:13:28,284
a billion dollar
drug operation in America.
247
00:13:28,286 --> 00:13:30,286
Now all he needs to do
248
00:13:30,288 --> 00:13:33,822
is sell the idea
to the rest of the Mafia.
249
00:13:37,293 --> 00:13:39,360
(seagull calling)
250
00:13:43,398 --> 00:13:45,465
(narrator)
After seven months in exile,
251
00:13:45,467 --> 00:13:48,768
Lucky Luciano
leaves Italy in secret...
252
00:13:50,771 --> 00:13:52,304
and heads to a country
253
00:13:52,306 --> 00:13:55,073
that's become a safe haven
for the mob...
254
00:13:56,475 --> 00:13:59,409
and is only 90 miles away
from America...
255
00:14:02,346 --> 00:14:04,413
Cuba.
256
00:14:07,784 --> 00:14:11,086
Meyer Lansky's association
with the Cuban government
257
00:14:11,088 --> 00:14:14,055
allows mobsters to operate
without interference,
258
00:14:14,057 --> 00:14:16,323
making it the perfect place
259
00:14:16,325 --> 00:14:19,225
for Luciano
to make his comeback.
260
00:14:24,497 --> 00:14:26,831
Luciano calls for a gathering
261
00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:29,500
that will bring the Five
Families to the island country
262
00:14:29,502 --> 00:14:31,869
to reaffirm his status
263
00:14:31,871 --> 00:14:36,006
and announce a plan
to expand the Mafia's power.
264
00:14:36,008 --> 00:14:39,475
It will become known
as the Havana Summit.
265
00:14:41,878 --> 00:14:44,346
(ship horn blows)
(jazz band playing)
266
00:14:44,348 --> 00:14:46,214
(Luciano) You ladies
enjoying yourselves?
267
00:14:46,216 --> 00:14:48,516
(narrator)
For his long-awaited return,
268
00:14:48,518 --> 00:14:51,185
Luciano decides to go big
269
00:14:51,187 --> 00:14:54,821
and brings a well-known
performer in from New York City
270
00:14:54,823 --> 00:14:57,223
named Frank Sinatra.
271
00:14:57,225 --> 00:14:59,458
♪♪
272
00:15:01,427 --> 00:15:05,062
(Michael Green) Why shouldn't a
group of wealthy entrepreneurs
273
00:15:05,064 --> 00:15:07,898
who are gathered for an event
hire an entertainer?
274
00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:10,100
It happens all the time.
275
00:15:10,102 --> 00:15:12,268
In this case, it happened to be
a bunch of gangsters
276
00:15:12,270 --> 00:15:14,403
bringing in the guy
we came to know
277
00:15:14,405 --> 00:15:16,471
as the "Chairman
of the Board".
278
00:15:18,106 --> 00:15:20,440
Sinatra did indeed
have friends in the Mafia.
279
00:15:20,442 --> 00:15:24,210
But if you're a singer,
who are you dealing with?
280
00:15:24,212 --> 00:15:26,445
I mean, who owns
the nightclubs?
281
00:15:26,447 --> 00:15:28,513
Mafia leaders.
282
00:15:30,282 --> 00:15:33,117
(Richard Hammer) They had this big party.
You look very nice.
283
00:15:33,119 --> 00:15:35,986
Everybody came
and they brought money
284
00:15:35,988 --> 00:15:38,321
and they brought gifts
to Luciano.
285
00:15:38,323 --> 00:15:40,990
(indistinct chatter)
286
00:15:40,992 --> 00:15:44,093
Everybody was happy,
and they thought that Luciano
287
00:15:44,095 --> 00:15:46,528
would be on the next boat
back to the United States.
288
00:15:52,368 --> 00:15:55,403
(narrator) With America's
top gangsters assembled,
289
00:15:55,405 --> 00:15:57,471
Luciano gets down to business.
290
00:15:59,307 --> 00:16:01,941
(Luciano) I called this meeting
to personally tell you
291
00:16:01,943 --> 00:16:04,076
about our intentions
for the future.
292
00:16:04,078 --> 00:16:06,411
(narrator) His first proposal
is to get the families
293
00:16:06,413 --> 00:16:10,181
to invest in Bugsy Siegel's
Las Vegas casino
294
00:16:10,183 --> 00:16:14,118
in an attempt to do
what Lansky has done for Cuba
295
00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,253
on American soil.
296
00:16:16,255 --> 00:16:18,588
Part two
of Luciano's plan
297
00:16:18,590 --> 00:16:22,525
is an even more ambitious
and lucrative proposal.
298
00:16:22,527 --> 00:16:25,261
(Luciano) We're gonna be bringing a
lot more heroin into the country.
299
00:16:25,263 --> 00:16:28,330
From Italy to Cuba
to Florida...
300
00:16:28,332 --> 00:16:31,299
and then from
New York to Los Angeles.
301
00:16:31,301 --> 00:16:33,301
You guys are gonna have to
get your transportation,
302
00:16:33,303 --> 00:16:36,270
your storage and your
distribution in order.
303
00:16:36,272 --> 00:16:39,206
Because if we do
this thing right,
304
00:16:39,208 --> 00:16:41,308
we'll make 10 times more
than we did last year
305
00:16:41,310 --> 00:16:44,177
and then 10 times more
the year after that.
306
00:16:44,179 --> 00:16:46,612
And everybody
will get their cut.
307
00:16:46,614 --> 00:16:50,616
How about the guy who set
the whole thing up?
308
00:16:50,618 --> 00:16:53,151
What do you mean, Vito?
309
00:16:53,153 --> 00:16:55,219
You know what I'm talking about.
No, I don't.
310
00:16:56,354 --> 00:16:58,421
Where's my cut?
311
00:16:59,956 --> 00:17:02,991
Why don't we talk
about that after?
312
00:17:09,063 --> 00:17:10,930
(narrator)
While the assembled families
313
00:17:10,932 --> 00:17:13,632
agree to Luciano's proposals,
314
00:17:13,634 --> 00:17:16,701
Genovese feels he's being
cut out of the heroin racket
315
00:17:16,703 --> 00:17:18,502
he set up in Italy.
316
00:17:18,504 --> 00:17:20,671
♪♪
317
00:17:22,740 --> 00:17:25,108
Luciano's factories in Italy
318
00:17:25,110 --> 00:17:28,177
begin producing tens of
thousands of pounds of heroin,
319
00:17:28,179 --> 00:17:31,146
which is then smuggled
across the Atlantic
320
00:17:31,148 --> 00:17:35,350
through the Caribbean
and into the United States.
321
00:17:35,352 --> 00:17:37,485
Luciano was key
in setting up,
322
00:17:37,487 --> 00:17:41,155
uh, the importation
of heroin.
323
00:17:41,157 --> 00:17:43,323
He had set up
324
00:17:43,325 --> 00:17:46,192
the first pipeline
325
00:17:46,194 --> 00:17:48,594
for the heroin to come
into the United States.
326
00:17:48,596 --> 00:17:51,129
(narrator) From his
headquarters in Havana,
327
00:17:51,131 --> 00:17:54,132
Lucky Luciano
is now in control
328
00:17:54,134 --> 00:17:56,567
of a global
narcotics empire.
329
00:17:59,771 --> 00:18:03,073
But there's still
even more money to be made.
330
00:18:10,147 --> 00:18:12,148
2,000 miles from Cuba
331
00:18:12,150 --> 00:18:14,550
in the middle of
the Nevada desert,
332
00:18:14,552 --> 00:18:17,452
Bugsy Siegel had
just broken ground
333
00:18:17,454 --> 00:18:20,188
on a luxury hotel
and casino.
334
00:18:29,598 --> 00:18:32,099
When you talk about
visionaries of Las Vegas,
335
00:18:32,101 --> 00:18:33,633
you gotta put
at the very top
336
00:18:33,635 --> 00:18:35,701
a fella like
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.
337
00:18:35,703 --> 00:18:38,737
(narrator) The Five Families have
invested millions of dollars
338
00:18:38,739 --> 00:18:41,840
in Siegel's vision
to turn Las Vegas
339
00:18:41,842 --> 00:18:44,809
into the gambling capital
of the country.
340
00:18:44,811 --> 00:18:47,311
Bugsy, we gotta
talk numbers.
341
00:18:47,313 --> 00:18:48,845
So in order to be
ready for opening,
342
00:18:48,847 --> 00:18:51,514
we need 300,000
for building material,
343
00:18:51,516 --> 00:18:53,349
500,000 for plumbing
344
00:18:53,351 --> 00:18:55,384
and 700,000 for labor?
345
00:18:55,386 --> 00:18:58,553
Yeah.
How is this possible?
346
00:18:58,555 --> 00:19:02,223
(narrator) But the massive project
is already encountering problems.
347
00:19:02,225 --> 00:19:05,426
(Green) Siegel wasn't necessarily
the best businessman.
348
00:19:05,428 --> 00:19:08,195
The Flamingo's costs
349
00:19:08,197 --> 00:19:11,264
were
spectacularly overrun.
350
00:19:11,266 --> 00:19:13,733
That's a million and a half
more I need to come up with.
351
00:19:13,735 --> 00:19:15,701
We're in the desert.
I got trucks coming, I got--
352
00:19:15,703 --> 00:19:18,503
Listen, hey,
keep the guys working.
353
00:19:18,505 --> 00:19:20,338
I'll get the money.
354
00:19:20,340 --> 00:19:22,440
Just build
the damn hotel.
355
00:19:22,442 --> 00:19:26,343
(narrator) Siegel's operation
has gone wildly over budget,
356
00:19:26,345 --> 00:19:30,347
forcing him to borrow more money
from the Five Families.
357
00:19:30,349 --> 00:19:32,248
Now more than ever,
358
00:19:32,250 --> 00:19:34,783
he needs the Flamingo
to succeed.
359
00:19:41,257 --> 00:19:43,324
♪♪
360
00:19:46,761 --> 00:19:50,396
(narrator) Lucky Luciano is running
his criminal empire from Cuba.
361
00:19:50,398 --> 00:19:52,431
And he's using
the island nation
362
00:19:52,433 --> 00:19:55,400
to smuggle heroin
into the United States.
363
00:19:55,402 --> 00:19:58,236
My pleasure, my pleasure,
enjoy yourselves.
364
00:19:58,238 --> 00:20:00,271
(chatter)
365
00:20:00,273 --> 00:20:02,606
There was so much money
in the drug trade
366
00:20:02,608 --> 00:20:06,710
that every family sooner
or later got into it.
367
00:20:06,712 --> 00:20:09,512
No one could
stay away from it.
368
00:20:14,684 --> 00:20:16,418
(narrator) While the mob
is making a fortune
369
00:20:16,420 --> 00:20:18,753
on Luciano's drug ring...
370
00:20:20,489 --> 00:20:22,756
Vito Genovese believes
371
00:20:22,758 --> 00:20:24,924
he's the one
who deserves the respect
372
00:20:24,926 --> 00:20:27,660
and a larger cut
of the profit.
373
00:20:29,763 --> 00:20:32,731
(Hammer) Luciano, he just
did not like Genovese.
374
00:20:32,733 --> 00:20:34,399
He hated him.
375
00:20:34,401 --> 00:20:36,567
Genovese was a powerful man,
376
00:20:36,569 --> 00:20:38,936
uh, but, uh,
they didn't get along.
377
00:20:38,938 --> 00:20:40,504
They never got along.
378
00:20:52,983 --> 00:20:55,217
(softly)
I like your--
379
00:20:55,219 --> 00:20:57,485
Did you forget about
our meeting, Charlie?
380
00:21:04,492 --> 00:21:06,826
No, I didn't forget
about our meeting.
381
00:21:09,729 --> 00:21:12,430
You're holding
me down, Charlie.
382
00:21:12,432 --> 00:21:14,498
And I want to know why.
383
00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:18,301
You want to know the truth?
Yeah.
384
00:21:18,303 --> 00:21:19,835
'Cause you're stupid.
385
00:21:21,370 --> 00:21:23,971
I done all right
for myself.
386
00:21:23,973 --> 00:21:26,373
Yeah.
387
00:21:26,375 --> 00:21:28,641
Because me and Meyer and Frank
have looked out for you
388
00:21:28,643 --> 00:21:31,677
all your life,
that's why.
389
00:21:31,679 --> 00:21:34,479
I earned my place
in this thing.
390
00:21:34,481 --> 00:21:36,614
And I deserve
some respect.
391
00:21:36,616 --> 00:21:38,849
You deserve what
I tell you you deserve.
392
00:21:40,451 --> 00:21:42,518
And you've earned nothing.
393
00:21:45,321 --> 00:21:47,455
Well, since we're
telling the truth...
394
00:21:49,458 --> 00:21:51,859
how's it feel to know you're
never going back to New York?
395
00:21:53,728 --> 00:21:55,762
Must hurt.
396
00:21:57,564 --> 00:22:00,298
It's gonna hurt even more
when the feds catch up with you.
397
00:22:03,035 --> 00:22:05,436
How would the feds
know where I am, Vito?
398
00:22:06,838 --> 00:22:08,972
Who's to say
they don't already know?
399
00:22:13,644 --> 00:22:15,611
Huh? What have you got?
(grunting)
400
00:22:17,380 --> 00:22:19,347
Come on.
(grunting continues)
401
00:22:23,551 --> 00:22:26,486
(coughing)
402
00:22:26,488 --> 00:22:28,721
(narrator) For decades,
Luciano and Genovese
403
00:22:28,723 --> 00:22:30,823
have been loyal
business partners.
404
00:22:30,825 --> 00:22:33,659
But Luciano realizes
that from now on,
405
00:22:33,661 --> 00:22:36,928
Genovese can't be trusted.
406
00:22:40,499 --> 00:22:42,933
Meanwhile, 2,000 miles away
407
00:22:42,935 --> 00:22:45,001
in a Nevada desert,
408
00:22:45,003 --> 00:22:47,703
Bugsy Siegel's
luxury hotel and casino
409
00:22:47,705 --> 00:22:49,971
is finally complete.
410
00:22:51,573 --> 00:22:53,507
To build the Flamingo,
411
00:22:53,509 --> 00:22:56,543
Siegel's borrowed
the modern-day equivalent
412
00:22:56,545 --> 00:22:59,378
of $60 million
from the mob.
413
00:23:01,647 --> 00:23:04,582
(Cohen) Bugsy saw his
chance in Las Vegas
414
00:23:04,584 --> 00:23:07,685
because he'd invested everything
in this sort of dream
415
00:23:07,687 --> 00:23:10,788
of building a legitimate
gambling empire
416
00:23:10,790 --> 00:23:14,091
just like Steve Wynn
or anybody else.
417
00:23:14,093 --> 00:23:18,095
(narrator) Bugsy Siegel knows the
Flamingo has to be a huge success.
418
00:23:24,635 --> 00:23:28,638
But on opening night,
a huge storm hits Las Vegas.
419
00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,707
And with many of
the hotel rooms unfinished,
420
00:23:31,709 --> 00:23:35,510
Bugsy Siegel's big opening
is a bust.
421
00:23:41,750 --> 00:23:44,384
Bugsy Siegel,
he had this great vision
422
00:23:44,386 --> 00:23:47,920
of having this luxury resort
in the middle of the desert
423
00:23:47,922 --> 00:23:51,823
that would attract people,
that would become something big.
424
00:23:51,825 --> 00:23:54,559
But the night
the Flamingo opened,
425
00:23:54,561 --> 00:23:56,961
December 26th, 1946,
426
00:23:56,963 --> 00:23:58,963
the hotel
wasn't ready.
427
00:23:58,965 --> 00:24:01,899
And the costs
428
00:24:01,901 --> 00:24:05,535
were spectacularly
overrun.
429
00:24:07,504 --> 00:24:10,005
Virginia,
get me a drink.
430
00:24:10,007 --> 00:24:12,073
Sure.
431
00:24:21,583 --> 00:24:24,117
Chin up, huh?
We'll be all right.
432
00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,686
It's this weather
slowing everyone down.
433
00:24:26,688 --> 00:24:28,753
Yeah.
It'll be all right, baby.
434
00:24:32,157 --> 00:24:34,658
Here's to you,
doll.
435
00:24:35,926 --> 00:24:37,927
(narrator)
In the first week it's open,
436
00:24:37,929 --> 00:24:40,829
the Flamingo loses
the modern-day equivalent
437
00:24:40,831 --> 00:24:43,932
of $3.6 million
438
00:24:43,934 --> 00:24:47,101
and Siegel is forced
to shut down.
439
00:24:47,103 --> 00:24:49,803
His Las Vegas dream
440
00:24:49,805 --> 00:24:51,871
has turned
into a nightmare.
441
00:24:58,078 --> 00:25:00,179
♪♪
442
00:25:02,615 --> 00:25:04,449
(narrator)
In 1947,
443
00:25:04,451 --> 00:25:06,517
just two weeks after
its opening night,
444
00:25:06,519 --> 00:25:09,419
Bugsy Siegel's
Las Vegas hotel
445
00:25:09,421 --> 00:25:11,788
has been forced to close.
446
00:25:11,790 --> 00:25:14,123
And his boss
and business partner,
447
00:25:14,125 --> 00:25:17,126
Lucky Luciano,
wants answers.
448
00:25:25,501 --> 00:25:28,035
(Luciano)
Meyer, this isn't good.
449
00:25:28,037 --> 00:25:29,970
There's a lot of money
unaccounted for.
450
00:25:29,972 --> 00:25:32,706
I really think this thing
can make money.
451
00:25:32,708 --> 00:25:34,607
He just needs
a little more time.
452
00:25:37,544 --> 00:25:39,478
Meyer, I love you
like a brother.
453
00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,813
And I love Ben
like a brother.
454
00:25:41,815 --> 00:25:44,048
But time is
running out on him.
455
00:25:44,050 --> 00:25:46,884
You know it,
he knows it.
456
00:25:46,886 --> 00:25:50,487
(narrator) Meyer Lansky manages
to buy more time for Bugsy Siegel
457
00:25:50,489 --> 00:25:53,122
to make the Flamingo
a success.
458
00:25:54,991 --> 00:25:57,993
And Siegel knows
that this time,
459
00:25:57,995 --> 00:26:00,462
he has to pull it off.
460
00:26:00,464 --> 00:26:03,865
He finally completes the
construction of the guest rooms.
461
00:26:03,867 --> 00:26:07,668
He pays publicists
to hype the event...
462
00:26:07,670 --> 00:26:10,003
(excited chatter)
463
00:26:10,005 --> 00:26:12,005
...and calls in favors
464
00:26:12,007 --> 00:26:14,540
from all of his
celebrity friends.
465
00:26:14,542 --> 00:26:16,542
(excited chatter continues)
466
00:26:16,544 --> 00:26:18,577
(Cohen) Bugsy was kind of
like the Italian gangster
467
00:26:18,579 --> 00:26:20,178
of Jewish gangsters.
468
00:26:20,180 --> 00:26:23,181
He was flash, he was out in
public, he was dating starlets.
469
00:26:23,183 --> 00:26:26,950
And sort of like his full-time
gig was being Bugsy Siegel.
470
00:26:29,788 --> 00:26:32,122
♪♪
471
00:26:32,124 --> 00:26:34,190
(chatter)
472
00:26:38,328 --> 00:26:40,595
(narrator)
On a clear Las Vegas night,
473
00:26:40,597 --> 00:26:43,130
three months after
closing its doors,
474
00:26:43,132 --> 00:26:46,766
The Flamingo was ready
for its second grand opening.
475
00:26:52,171 --> 00:26:54,138
And gamblers from
all over the country
476
00:26:54,140 --> 00:26:56,306
show up to spend
their money.
477
00:26:56,308 --> 00:26:59,275
(indistinct chatter)
478
00:27:00,910 --> 00:27:02,810
Bugsy Siegel's Flamingo Hotel
479
00:27:02,812 --> 00:27:04,378
was really the first
of its kind.
480
00:27:04,380 --> 00:27:06,813
It had its great restaurants,
481
00:27:06,815 --> 00:27:08,247
it had
its terrific bars,
482
00:27:08,249 --> 00:27:11,250
swimming pools,
gorgeous women.
483
00:27:11,252 --> 00:27:13,819
I mean,
it was a precursor
484
00:27:13,821 --> 00:27:15,821
of what Las Vegas
is today.
485
00:27:15,823 --> 00:27:18,356
Welcome to the Flamingo.
Enjoy yourself.
486
00:27:18,358 --> 00:27:20,991
How are you tonight? Good, how are you?
You look beautiful.
487
00:27:20,993 --> 00:27:23,393
Oh, thank you.
(slot machine clinking)
488
00:27:23,395 --> 00:27:26,695
(narrator) After more than a year
of delays and budget overages...
489
00:27:29,832 --> 00:27:33,701
Bugsy Siegel's big gamble
on a forgotten desert town
490
00:27:33,703 --> 00:27:36,403
finally pays off.
491
00:27:45,912 --> 00:27:49,381
While Bugsy Siegel
is riding high,
492
00:27:49,383 --> 00:27:51,783
Vito Genovese
is convinced
493
00:27:51,785 --> 00:27:54,352
it's time he gets
a bigger cut of the profits
494
00:27:54,354 --> 00:27:56,354
for laying the groundwork
495
00:27:56,356 --> 00:27:59,423
for Luciano's
Italian heroin racket.
496
00:28:00,925 --> 00:28:03,026
I just can't get it
out of my head.
497
00:28:03,028 --> 00:28:05,128
Try.
I'm trying.
498
00:28:05,130 --> 00:28:07,830
Well, then try harder.
499
00:28:15,371 --> 00:28:18,940
They had nothing before me...
nothing!
500
00:28:18,942 --> 00:28:21,876
Now what are
they clearing?
501
00:28:21,878 --> 00:28:24,278
A couple million dollars.
502
00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,714
Every week.
Each and every week.
503
00:28:28,749 --> 00:28:30,816
That's my money.
504
00:28:37,022 --> 00:28:39,790
You should take it back.
505
00:28:39,792 --> 00:28:43,226
Baby, it's not
that complicated.
506
00:28:52,836 --> 00:28:55,137
(narrator) As Vito
Genovese looks for a way
507
00:28:55,139 --> 00:28:58,140
to be the boss once again,
508
00:28:58,142 --> 00:29:00,275
the U.S. government
509
00:29:00,277 --> 00:29:03,244
eliminates one of his
greatest obstacles.
510
00:29:03,246 --> 00:29:06,146
The Federal Bureau
of Narcotics
511
00:29:06,148 --> 00:29:09,249
has had Lucky Luciano
under surveillance in Cuba.
512
00:29:09,251 --> 00:29:12,418
And soon learns of
his drug ring
513
00:29:12,420 --> 00:29:14,987
importing heroin
into the United States
514
00:29:14,989 --> 00:29:17,155
on a massive scale.
515
00:29:24,128 --> 00:29:27,430
The United States decided that
they didn't want Luciano here.
516
00:29:27,432 --> 00:29:30,232
And they put pressure
on the Cuban government...
517
00:29:32,335 --> 00:29:34,869
and made the Cuban government
518
00:29:34,871 --> 00:29:36,737
send him back
to Italy,
519
00:29:36,739 --> 00:29:40,373
which was the last thing
he wanted to do at that point.
520
00:29:43,510 --> 00:29:45,444
(narrator)
In March of 1947,
521
00:29:45,446 --> 00:29:48,113
Luciano is forced
to board a ship
522
00:29:48,115 --> 00:29:50,181
bound for Italy.
523
00:29:52,017 --> 00:29:54,084
♪♪
524
00:29:55,953 --> 00:29:58,154
Destroying his dreams
525
00:29:58,156 --> 00:30:01,090
of returning
to America.
526
00:30:09,031 --> 00:30:12,299
(narrator) After being
deported to Italy again,
527
00:30:12,301 --> 00:30:14,868
Lucky Luciano's control
of his empire
528
00:30:14,870 --> 00:30:17,370
has continued to crumble.
529
00:30:17,372 --> 00:30:19,538
And he's made
a dangerous new enemy
530
00:30:19,540 --> 00:30:21,873
out of Vito Genovese.
531
00:30:23,976 --> 00:30:28,145
While Bugsy Siegel's casino
is finally turning a profit,
532
00:30:28,147 --> 00:30:30,480
none of the mob bosses
who invested
533
00:30:30,482 --> 00:30:34,150
are getting their cut.
534
00:30:34,152 --> 00:30:36,986
Well, how fast do we get to making that up?
I don't know.
535
00:30:36,988 --> 00:30:39,188
This is an investment, there's a
certain way it should be run.
536
00:30:39,190 --> 00:30:41,323
It should be here.
$6 million.
537
00:30:41,325 --> 00:30:42,891
He's gotten
very soft, Bugsy.
538
00:30:42,893 --> 00:30:45,026
Listen, I trust Bugsy,
I grew up with him.
539
00:30:45,028 --> 00:30:48,095
Yeah, but he has a soft spot,
you know, and he can't see.
540
00:30:48,097 --> 00:30:50,063
He likes the broads too much.
That's what I'm talking about.
541
00:30:50,065 --> 00:30:51,798
Exactly.
He's become Mr. Hollywood.
542
00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:53,332
But all this exposure's
not needed.
543
00:30:53,334 --> 00:30:55,067
(narrator)
In New York,
544
00:30:55,069 --> 00:30:57,069
the other families are
beginning to lose patience
545
00:30:57,071 --> 00:30:59,237
with Bugsy Siegel.
546
00:30:59,239 --> 00:31:01,572
There were stories that
Virginia Hill stole money.
547
00:31:01,574 --> 00:31:04,341
There were stories
that Bugsy Siegel stole money.
548
00:31:04,343 --> 00:31:07,510
And the investors are
not happy with all that.
549
00:31:07,512 --> 00:31:10,913
And, eventually,
mobsters get together
550
00:31:10,915 --> 00:31:14,416
and are debating what are
we going to do about this?
551
00:31:17,420 --> 00:31:19,120
(car horn honking)
552
00:31:20,188 --> 00:31:22,255
(clock ticking
slowly)
553
00:31:31,131 --> 00:31:33,098
(door opens)
554
00:31:33,100 --> 00:31:35,834
What happened?
555
00:31:39,104 --> 00:31:41,205
Virginia Hill
is what happened.
556
00:31:41,207 --> 00:31:43,540
One of our guys at the airport
just spotted Miss Hill
557
00:31:43,542 --> 00:31:45,942
on a flight to Switzerland
with a ton of luggage.
558
00:31:50,180 --> 00:31:52,381
The Flamingo
is packed every night.
559
00:31:52,383 --> 00:31:54,516
They're turning people away
at the door.
560
00:31:56,585 --> 00:31:59,620
Where the hell
is the money?
561
00:32:01,122 --> 00:32:02,589
I'll tell you
where it is.
562
00:32:02,591 --> 00:32:06,025
It's on a damn plane to
Switzerland with Virginia Hill.
563
00:32:11,564 --> 00:32:14,566
It's gotta be done,
Meyer.
564
00:32:14,568 --> 00:32:18,469
(sighs) Lucky and I don't
like it any more than you do.
565
00:32:24,275 --> 00:32:25,608
Frank...
566
00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:27,943
Let me talk to him.
567
00:32:55,938 --> 00:32:58,005
♪♪
568
00:33:06,613 --> 00:33:11,616
♪ Jesus, I am coming
home today ♪
569
00:33:11,618 --> 00:33:14,285
♪ For I have found ♪
570
00:33:14,287 --> 00:33:17,655
♪ There's joy in Thee alone ♪
571
00:33:17,657 --> 00:33:20,391
♪ From the path of sin ♪
572
00:33:20,393 --> 00:33:23,227
♪ I turn away ♪
573
00:33:23,229 --> 00:33:28,231
♪ Now I am coming home ♪
574
00:33:28,233 --> 00:33:34,369
♪ Jesus, I am coming
home today ♪
575
00:33:34,371 --> 00:33:40,307
♪ Never, never more from Thee
to stray ♪ (phone ringing)
576
00:33:40,309 --> 00:33:45,311
♪ Lord I now accept
Thy precious promise ♪
577
00:33:45,313 --> 00:33:47,446
(gunshots)
578
00:33:51,517 --> 00:33:53,985
(gunshots continue,
glass shattering)
579
00:34:03,361 --> 00:34:07,397
(phone ringing)
580
00:34:15,672 --> 00:34:17,739
(ringing continues)
581
00:34:34,056 --> 00:34:36,157
(Bugsy)
To the Lower East Side Gang.
582
00:34:37,425 --> 00:34:39,125
Salud.
583
00:34:43,630 --> 00:34:47,099
You came all this way
to see me go?
584
00:34:47,101 --> 00:34:49,267
Had to say good-bye.
585
00:34:55,240 --> 00:34:57,274
(Polisi)
In the life,
586
00:34:57,276 --> 00:34:59,376
you justify your actions
587
00:34:59,378 --> 00:35:02,278
and you figure a way out
to make yourself believe
588
00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:05,314
that it's okay
to do illegal things,
589
00:35:05,316 --> 00:35:08,116
immoral things,
commit acts of violence.
590
00:35:11,220 --> 00:35:13,186
You can't have any regrets.
591
00:35:16,156 --> 00:35:19,458
(narrator)
On June 20th, 1947,
592
00:35:19,460 --> 00:35:23,761
Bugsy Siegel is shot
nine times in Beverly Hills.
593
00:35:23,763 --> 00:35:26,096
Siegel becomes
594
00:35:26,098 --> 00:35:28,231
the first of Luciano's
original crew
595
00:35:28,233 --> 00:35:30,298
to be killed.
596
00:35:33,201 --> 00:35:35,068
The death of
Bugsy Siegel still--
597
00:35:35,070 --> 00:35:36,402
it's like the death
of John F. Kennedy.
598
00:35:36,404 --> 00:35:37,770
It's a big mystery.
599
00:35:37,772 --> 00:35:40,405
He lost a lot of
the mob's money.
600
00:35:40,407 --> 00:35:43,441
And he had done something
that people got killed for
601
00:35:43,443 --> 00:35:45,176
doing with the mob.
602
00:35:45,178 --> 00:35:47,411
And the people most often
killed by the mob
603
00:35:47,413 --> 00:35:50,413
are other mobsters, so it
seems to fit that pattern.
604
00:35:52,783 --> 00:35:55,151
(Green)
Exactly what was decided
605
00:35:55,153 --> 00:35:57,286
is not entirely known.
606
00:35:57,288 --> 00:35:59,521
As for who did it,
there have been stories
607
00:35:59,523 --> 00:36:01,689
that it was this hit man
or that hit man.
608
00:36:01,691 --> 00:36:03,524
That it was because
of the skimming,
609
00:36:03,526 --> 00:36:05,926
that it was due to the Flamingo
not making profits.
610
00:36:05,928 --> 00:36:09,195
There's even a theory that
because he and Virginia Hill
611
00:36:09,197 --> 00:36:11,730
had a very difficult
relationship,
612
00:36:11,732 --> 00:36:13,932
that her brother
was avenging that,
613
00:36:13,934 --> 00:36:16,301
and it had nothing to do
with the mob.
614
00:36:16,303 --> 00:36:17,869
What happened?
615
00:36:17,871 --> 00:36:19,871
Well, according to the Beverly
Hills Police Department,
616
00:36:19,873 --> 00:36:22,173
it is still an open case.
617
00:36:23,542 --> 00:36:26,310
(narrator)
20 minutes after his murder,
618
00:36:26,312 --> 00:36:28,712
Meyer Lansky's men
619
00:36:28,714 --> 00:36:31,614
take control of
the Flamingo.
620
00:36:36,753 --> 00:36:38,787
♪♪
621
00:36:39,922 --> 00:36:42,823
(narrator)
In 1947, Bugsy Siegel,
622
00:36:42,825 --> 00:36:45,559
one of Lucky Luciano's
oldest friends
623
00:36:45,561 --> 00:36:48,962
and business partners,
has been murdered.
624
00:36:50,898 --> 00:36:53,499
And while the mob has moved
quickly to take over
625
00:36:53,501 --> 00:36:55,300
Siegel's hotel in Las Vegas
626
00:36:55,302 --> 00:36:57,869
and Luciano's authority
has been restored...
627
00:36:59,705 --> 00:37:02,406
another member of
Luciano's operation
628
00:37:02,408 --> 00:37:05,975
begins organizing
his own fight for control.
629
00:37:09,479 --> 00:37:12,647
Frustrated by his lack of
power within the Mafia...
630
00:37:14,249 --> 00:37:17,985
Vito Genovese
wants to be boss again
631
00:37:17,987 --> 00:37:22,222
and begins to look outside
the Luciano family for help.
632
00:37:25,326 --> 00:37:27,527
He reaches out
to a mid-level gangster
633
00:37:27,529 --> 00:37:29,595
in one of the other
New York families.
634
00:37:29,597 --> 00:37:32,364
A 46-year-old
Sicilian underboss
635
00:37:32,366 --> 00:37:34,766
in the Mangano family
636
00:37:34,768 --> 00:37:37,301
named
Carlo Gambino.
637
00:37:39,237 --> 00:37:41,238
Why don't you tell me
what's on your mind?
638
00:37:41,240 --> 00:37:44,007
(sighs)
639
00:37:47,244 --> 00:37:50,246
I don't know how much more of
this crap I can take, Carlo.
640
00:37:50,248 --> 00:37:52,281
Oh, you know Lucky.
641
00:37:52,283 --> 00:37:55,017
The man holds
a grudge.
642
00:37:56,519 --> 00:37:58,887
You think I plan on taking
orders from the Manganos
643
00:37:58,889 --> 00:38:01,522
and Anastasia
the rest of my life?
644
00:38:01,524 --> 00:38:04,825
So what are you waiting for?
The right opportunity.
645
00:38:04,827 --> 00:38:06,893
As should you.
646
00:38:08,695 --> 00:38:10,862
Just stay
in the game.
647
00:38:20,805 --> 00:38:23,606
(narrator) Genovese sees
an ally in Gambino.
648
00:38:26,610 --> 00:38:28,811
A like-minded mobster
with ambitions
649
00:38:28,813 --> 00:38:31,346
of climbing the ranks
of the New York Mafia.
650
00:38:32,981 --> 00:38:35,716
Carlo Gambino was old school,
651
00:38:35,718 --> 00:38:38,351
quiet, reticent,
652
00:38:38,353 --> 00:38:41,921
secretive,
very secretive.
653
00:38:47,994 --> 00:38:49,894
(narrator)
While Genovese and Gambino
654
00:38:49,896 --> 00:38:52,930
wait for their chance
to make a move,
655
00:38:52,932 --> 00:38:56,867
a new challenge rises
for the New York underworld.
656
00:38:56,869 --> 00:38:59,669
In May of 1950,
657
00:38:59,671 --> 00:39:03,673
an ambitious U.S. senator
named Estes Kefauver
658
00:39:03,675 --> 00:39:07,576
forms a committee
to investigate the Mafia,
659
00:39:07,578 --> 00:39:09,744
including New York's
most notorious mobsters.
660
00:39:11,379 --> 00:39:14,381
It's the largest effort
to expose organized crime
661
00:39:14,383 --> 00:39:16,015
in U.S. history
662
00:39:16,017 --> 00:39:19,685
in what will come to be known
as the Kefauver Hearings.
663
00:39:19,687 --> 00:39:21,787
A Senate investigating
committee
664
00:39:21,789 --> 00:39:24,856
held a series of hearings
to get at organized crime.
665
00:39:24,858 --> 00:39:27,525
In addition, they made
the very smart decision
666
00:39:27,527 --> 00:39:29,860
to televise
some of the hearings.
667
00:39:29,862 --> 00:39:32,596
(narrator) In front of a
television audience of 30 million,
668
00:39:32,598 --> 00:39:34,864
the Mafia takes the stand.
669
00:39:34,866 --> 00:39:37,633
I decline to answer
on the grounds
670
00:39:37,635 --> 00:39:39,401
that it may incriminate me.
671
00:39:39,403 --> 00:39:41,636
I refuse to answer
672
00:39:41,638 --> 00:39:45,039
on the grounds that it may
tend to incriminate me.
673
00:39:45,041 --> 00:39:46,974
(Goodman)
The witnesses are very cool.
674
00:39:46,976 --> 00:39:49,876
They just take the Fifth,
which the Constitution provides,
675
00:39:49,878 --> 00:39:52,678
and say they're not going to
tend to incriminate them.
676
00:39:57,516 --> 00:39:59,450
(narrator)
As the hearings drag on,
677
00:39:59,452 --> 00:40:01,485
acting boss Frank Costello
678
00:40:01,487 --> 00:40:04,387
begins to see his name
mentioned in the press,
679
00:40:04,389 --> 00:40:07,623
often linked to horrific
murders and crimes.
680
00:40:09,959 --> 00:40:12,627
When he's finally
called to testify,
681
00:40:12,629 --> 00:40:15,962
Costello decides to take
a different approach.
682
00:40:19,499 --> 00:40:22,567
Frank, you have to listen to me.
I'm listening.
683
00:40:22,569 --> 00:40:25,570
You gotta take the Fifth. That's
what makes you look guilty.
684
00:40:25,572 --> 00:40:27,972
Moses, will you
talk to him?
685
00:40:27,974 --> 00:40:30,908
Frank,
the more you talk,
686
00:40:30,910 --> 00:40:32,976
the more trouble
you're gonna get into.
687
00:40:32,978 --> 00:40:35,912
I can talk
to these men.
688
00:40:35,914 --> 00:40:38,514
(Talese) Frank Costello
was rather unique.
689
00:40:38,516 --> 00:40:41,750
He had hope,
aspiration and drive
690
00:40:41,752 --> 00:40:44,119
to be perceived
691
00:40:44,121 --> 00:40:46,488
as a somewhat
legitimate person.
692
00:40:46,490 --> 00:40:49,023
And he thought he was part
of American capitalism.
693
00:40:50,825 --> 00:40:54,026
What have you ever done for
your country as a U.S. citizen?
694
00:40:57,163 --> 00:40:58,930
(clearing throat)
Paid my tax.
695
00:40:58,932 --> 00:41:02,533
(crowd murmuring)
696
00:41:02,535 --> 00:41:05,102
(Raab) Frank Costello
went before TV cameras
697
00:41:05,104 --> 00:41:06,770
when there was
an investigation
698
00:41:06,772 --> 00:41:09,105
into organized crime
in America.
699
00:41:09,107 --> 00:41:10,806
He thought he could outwit
700
00:41:10,808 --> 00:41:13,942
some lowly
prosecutor or lawyer.
701
00:41:13,944 --> 00:41:17,412
Do you want to
qualify your answer?
702
00:41:17,414 --> 00:41:19,514
Yes, I'd like
to qualify it.
703
00:41:19,516 --> 00:41:21,716
How so?
704
00:41:21,718 --> 00:41:23,851
I want what I said,
705
00:41:23,853 --> 00:41:25,652
specifically
what I said,
706
00:41:25,654 --> 00:41:28,054
on the official record.
707
00:41:28,056 --> 00:41:30,122
(Green)
Costello made a mistake
708
00:41:30,124 --> 00:41:32,624
in thinking
that he could handle
709
00:41:32,626 --> 00:41:34,726
a Senate
investigating committee
710
00:41:34,728 --> 00:41:37,462
the way he handled
local politicians.
711
00:41:37,464 --> 00:41:39,797
They're different
breeds of cat.
712
00:41:39,799 --> 00:41:42,166
(Senator)
It contradicts
713
00:41:42,168 --> 00:41:45,569
your earlier testimony.
714
00:41:45,571 --> 00:41:48,138
(Costello)
No, it doesn't.
715
00:41:48,140 --> 00:41:50,206
(Senator) Would you like
me to refresh your memory?
716
00:41:50,208 --> 00:41:52,908
(Costello) Ahem, you don't
need to refresh my memory.
717
00:41:52,910 --> 00:41:54,709
My memory's fine.
718
00:41:54,711 --> 00:41:56,510
(Senator)
I'd be happy to read back
719
00:41:56,512 --> 00:41:58,578
your earlier testimony.
720
00:41:58,580 --> 00:42:00,980
(Costello) I can refresh
my own memory, thank you.
721
00:42:00,982 --> 00:42:04,149
Guy lost his mind.
722
00:42:04,151 --> 00:42:06,184
(narrator)
With the hearings revealing
723
00:42:06,186 --> 00:42:09,153
a weakness in
Costello's leadership,
724
00:42:09,155 --> 00:42:11,989
Vito Genovese
knows his opportunity
725
00:42:11,991 --> 00:42:15,225
has finally come.
726
00:42:15,227 --> 00:42:18,027
And with Carlo Gambino
on his side,
727
00:42:18,029 --> 00:42:21,530
Genovese is ready
to strike back
728
00:42:21,532 --> 00:42:23,532
at Lucky Luciano
729
00:42:23,534 --> 00:42:26,601
by taking down
Frank Costello.
730
00:42:32,708 --> 00:42:34,775
♪♪