It is generally accepted that the character of Hyman Roth was based on Meyer Lansky, the Mob's financial genius.

Much like Roth in the movie, Lansky always made money for his partners, and because of that he was admired and revered by the Mob. He was certainly one of the most influential gangsters of the 20th century.

I just came across a part of an interview with Lansky (written about by columnist Jimmy Breslin). It deals with the subject of Bugsy Siegel, the real life counterpart of Moe Greene. This appeared in the NY Daily News the day after Lansky died (January 15, 1983):

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Lansky was renowned as a stone cold killer as well as a financial wizard. For years rumors abounded that Lansky had given the nod to the mob slaying of his best pal, Bugsy. Lansky always denied the rumors, but Jimmy Breslin had his doubts. In a column written the day after Lanksy died, Breslin related this anecdote:

"If he leaves us anything, it is the memory of his eyes.

"There was a day when Sid Zion, writing his book, 'Read All About It,' sat with Lansky and said to him, 'Tell the truth, didn't you give the okay to get Ben Siegel hit?'

"Lansky had been smiling, and now his face became straight. The eyes became small ice ponds.

" 'He was the best friend I ever had,' Lansky said. 'His grandchildren are coming to visit with me. Why don't you stay here a few days and see for yourself? How could I get a guy killed if I have his grandchildren coming to visit me?' Lansky's eyes kept staring.

" 'That was when I knew that he had Siegel killed,' Zion said."

Meyer Lansky


[ August 04, 2001: Message edited by: SC ]