American Gangster (2007)

***American Gangster*** is a 2007 American biographical crime film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. The film is fictionally based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War, before being detained by a task force led by detective Richie Roberts. The film stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in their first lead acting roles together since 1995's *Virtuosity*. The film also co-stars Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Norman Reedus, Ruby Dee, Lymari Nadal and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Development for the film initially began in 2000, when Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment purchased the rights to a *New York* magazine story about the rise and fall of Lucas. Two years later, screenwriter Steven Zaillian introduced a 170-page scriptment to Scott. Original production plans were to commence in Toronto for budget purposes; however, production eventually relocated permanently to New York City. Because of the film's rising budget Universal canceled production in 2004. After negotiations with Terry George, it was later revived with Scott at the helm in March 2005.

## Shooting

* Filming was from July 31st, 2006 - November 14th, 2006.

## Cast

* Denzel Washington - Frank Lucas
* Russell Crowe - Richie Roberts
* Chiwetel Ejiofor - Huey Lucas
* Josh Brolin - Detective Trupo
* Lymari Nadal - Eva
* Ted Levine - Lou Toback
* Roger Guenveur Smith - Nate
* John Hawkes - Freddie Spearman
* RZA - Moses Jones
* Yul Vazquez - Alfonse Abruzzo
* Malcolm Goodwin - Jimmy Zee
* Ruby Dee - Mahalee Lucas
* Ruben Santiago-Hudson - Doc
* Carla Gugino - Laurie Roberts
* Skyler Fortgang - Michael Roberts
* John Ortiz - Javier J. Rivera
* Cuba Gooding Jr. - Nicky Barnes
* Armand Assante - Dominic Cattano
* Kathleen Garrett - Mrs. Cattano
* Joe Morton - Charlie Williams
* Ritchie Coster - Joey Sadano
* Bari K. Willerford - Joe Louis
* Idris Elba - Tango
* Common - Turner Lucas
* Warner Miller - Melvin Lucas
* Albert Jones - Terrence Lucas
* J. Kyle Manzay - Dexter Lucas
* T.I. - Stevie Lucas (as Tip Harris)
* Melissia Hill - Redtop
* Quisha Saunders - Darlynn
* Kevin Corrigan - Campizi
* Robert Funaro - McCann
* Jon Polito - Rossi
* Tom O'Rourke - Banker
* Robert C. Kirk - Police Captain
* Tom Stearns - 2-Star General
* KaDee Strickland - Richie's Attorney (as Kadee Strickland)
* Jon DeVries - Judge James Racine (as John Devries)
* Jim R. Coleman - Bailiff
* Lee Shepard - Laurie's Attorney (as Lee Shepherd)
* Gavin Grazer - Mike Sobota
* Linda Powell - Social Worker
* Roxanne Amandez - Paramedic
* Norman Reedus - Detective in Morgue
* Pierra Francesca - Stewardess
* Eddie Rouse - Detective at Party
* Maryann Urbano - Real Estate Broker (as Mary Ann Urbano)
* Cedric Sanders - Serviceman in Cafe
* Jason Veasey - Serviceman in Cafe
* Roosevelt Davis - Army Captain
* Roger Bart - US Attorney
* Eric Silver - White Kid
* Mitchell Green - Tango's Bodyguard
* Saycon Sengbloh - Tango's Woman
* Conor Romero - Tough Teenager
* Daniel Hilt - Tough Teenager
* Daniel Farcher - Tough Teenager
* David Spearman - Civilian Cleaning Staff
* Maurice Ballard - Civilian Cleaning Staff
* Paul Doherty - TV Newscaster
* William C. Tate - Baptist Minister (as William Tate)
* George Lee Miles - Frank's Lawyer
* Jason Furlani - Bailiff
* Chris McKinney - Reporter on TV
* Ric Young - Chinese General
* David Wayne Britton - Army Colonel
* Tommy Guiffre - Medical Examiner
* Laurence Lowry - Paramedic
* Dan Moran - Army Captain
* Marjorie Johnson - Charlene
* Larry Mitchell - FBI Agent
* Chuck Cooper - Private Doctor
* Kevin Geer - Law School Professor
* Chance Kelly - MP
* Hamilton Clancy - Seller
* Sam Freed - Judge
* Joey Klein - Chemist
* Scott Dillin - 4th Amigo (as Scotty Dillin)
* Anthony Hamilton - Funk Band Singer
* Sarah Hudnut Brody - Assistant Prosecutor (as Sarah Hudnut)
* Jeff Greene - Metal Door Worker
* Tyson Hall - Drug Dealer
* Kirt Harding - Drug Dealer
* Bryant Pearson - Drug Dealer
* Al Santos - Mechanic (as Alfredo Luis Santos)
* Chuuch - Dealer (as William Hudson)
* Christopher A. Sawyer - Dealer
* Dylan Gallagher - Casket Loader
* Jehan-Pierre 'The Preacher' Vassau - Narc Officer (as Jehan-Pierre Vassau)
* Dawn A. Douglas - Narc Officer
* Robbie Neigeborn - Cop in Narc Headquarters
* Clinton Lowe - Man Arrested in Elevator
* Wilhelm Lewis - Head Wedding Photographer
* James Hunter - Deacon
* Neville White - Deacon
* Lonnie Gaetano - Prison Guard
* Jeff Mantel - Officer Walsh
* Serena Joan Springle - The Proctor
* Ron Piretti - Judge
* Nino Del Buono - Announcer
* Arthur Mercante - Referee (as Arthur M. Mercante)
* Panama Redd - Policeman
* Robert Wiggins - Piano Player
* Fab 5 Freddy - Smalls Patron
* Jonah Denizard - Store Manager
* Steve McAuliff - Mounted Policeman
* Fatima Robinson - Dancer
* Karen Adisson - Dancer
* Autavia Bailey - Dancer
* Candyce Barnes - Dancer
* Janelle Cambridge - Dancer
* Cicily Daniels - Dancer (as Cicely Daniels)
* Andrea Edmead - Dancer (as Andrea Rose Edmead)
* Ortos J. Gutierrez - Dancer
* Celestine Rae - Dancer (as Celestina Henry)
* Luam Keflezgy - Dancer (as Luam Keflezghi)
* Monique Gall - Dancer (as Monique Lea)
* Flavia Tamara Livolsi - Dancer
* Tamara Marrow - Dancer
* Shannon MacMillan - Dancer (as Shannon McMillan)
* Jonathan Medero - Dancer
* Marielys Molina - Dancer
* Kesha Nichols - Dancer
* Nefertiti Robinson - Dancer
* Krista Saab - Dancer
* Luis Salgado - Dancer
* Carlos Sierra Lopez - Dancer (as Carlos Sierra-Lopez)
* Latonya Tolbert - Dancer (as LaTonya Tolbert)
* Sandra Park - Singer
* Yuri Kamino-Fennell - Singer

**Rest of cast listed alphabetically:**

* Brian Albanese - Spectator (uncredited)
* Mauricio Alexander - Cop in Squad Room (uncredited)
* Brian Keith Allen - Narc Squad Detective (uncredited)
* Tony Terrell Alston - Army Soldier (uncredited)
* Andrea Barnett - Woman at the Club (uncredited)
* Fred Benjamin - Wilt Chamberlain (uncredited)
* Ephraim Benton - Thug #4 (uncredited)
* Aj Billions - Spectator (uncredited)
* Lloyd Booker - Neighborhood Man (uncredited)
* Taylor Brandon - PFC Ward (uncredited)
* Myo Campbell - Red Carpet Walker (uncredited)
* Dj Nino Carta - Bartender (uncredited)
* Kal Cauthen - Restaurant Ambassador (uncredited)
* John Cenatiempo - Cop #1 (uncredited)
* Daniel R. Cooper - Checker Player (uncredited)
* J.W. Cortes - Narc Officer in Hallway (uncredited)
* Tom Coughlin - Student taking bar exam (uncredited)
* Dono Cunningham - Soldier (uncredited)
* Cris D'Annunzio - Frank McNamara (uncredited)
* Ernest Dancy - Hustler (uncredited)
* Makeia Davis - Nicky Barnes' Bodyguard (uncredited)
* Michael Den Dekker - Undercover Cop (uncredited)
* Ev Depaolis - Nicky's Girl (uncredited)
* Mark DiConzo - Soldier (uncredited)
* Monique Dupree - Club Dancer (uncredited)
* Brian Edwards - Housing Resident (uncredited)
* Sharlene Falls - Club Dancer (uncredited)
* Mark Falvo - Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
* Joseph Ferrante - Gangster at Funeral (uncredited)
* Wanda Ferreiras - Bridesmaid (uncredited)
* Eddie Goines - Hallway Guy (uncredited)
* Jeremy Good - Soldier (uncredited)
* Anthony L. Gurino - Soldier (uncredited)
* Kelvin Hale - Drug Room Door Security (uncredited)
* Johnathan Hallgrey - 1971 Penthouse Party Guest (uncredited)
* Gabriel Hansen - Mechanic Drug Dealer (uncredited)
* Jermel Howard - Kid Gangster #1 (uncredited)
* Hristo Hristov - Bookie / Soldier (uncredited)
* Brevard Hudson - Lucas (Drug Enforcer) (uncredited)
* Joe James - Nicky Barnes Right Hand Man (uncredited)
* Mark A. Keeton - Rock Star (Ali-Frazier Match) (uncredited)
* Khafre King - Pedestrian (uncredited)
* Atif Lanier - Frank Lucas' Bodyguard (uncredited)
* Nikolett Lemmon - Elevator Mom with Kids (uncredited)
* Tina Lorraine - Harlem Junkie (uncredited)
* Shawn Luckey - Nicky Barnes' Guy (uncredited)
* Racheline Maltese - Dying Junkie (uncredited)
* Dominick Mancino - Mobster (uncredited)
* Nick Mastromarco - Bystander (uncredited)
* Daniel Maysen - Fight Spectator (uncredited)
* Tracie Mick-Shoemaker - Mrs. Saldano (Eva's Waitress) (uncredited)
* Frances Mignano - Marie Saldano (uncredited)
* Ismaelpeter Casillas Nelson - Baseball Player (uncredited)
* Walter Wiz Nichols - Bartender (uncredited)
* Robert Nicotra - Gangster (uncredited)
* Richard M. Nixon - Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
* Daniel Nugent - Newark Detective (uncredited)
* Richard O'Brien - Muhammad Ali's Trainer (uncredited)
* Jerrod Paige - Muhammad Ali (uncredited)
* Michelle Joan Papillion - Smalls Patron (uncredited)
* Artie Pasquale - Mobster (uncredited)
* Tasha Perri - Factory Worker (uncredited)
* Kevin Pinassi - Building Maintenance Guy (uncredited)
* Anthony Pittman - Drug Addict (uncredited)
* Nick Poltoranin - Mobster (uncredited)
* Bartolo Raffaele - Gangster (uncredited)
* Paula Rittie - Maid of Honor (uncredited)
* Enrique Sebastian Rivas - Narc Detective (uncredited)
* Germir Robinson - Elevator Kid with Mom and Sister (uncredited)
* Louis Rosario - Teenage Vandal (uncredited)
* Niko Rusakov - Army Soldier (uncredited)
* Vincent James Russo - Corrupt Undercover Detective (uncredited)
* Robert Sciglimpaglia - Press Photographer (uncredited)
* Billy Smith - Bookkeeper (uncredited)
* Shayna Smith - Clubgoer (uncredited)
* Aija Terauda - Nicky's Girl (uncredited)
* Karl Thwaites - Street Kid (uncredited)
* Brigid Turner - Wilt Chamberlain's Girl / Waitress (uncredited)
* Kevin Van Doorslaer - Student (uncredited)
* Tacuma Vanterpool - Junkie (uncredited)
* Tammy Vaughn - Diana Ross (uncredited)
* Philippe Vonlanthen - Skeet Shoot Handler (uncredited)
* Julian Walker - Smalls Doorman (uncredited)
* Adrain Washington - Detective Reynolds (uncredited)
* Craig Weintraub - MSG Spectator (uncredited)
* Clarence Williams III - Bumpy Johnson (uncredited)
* Derrick Williams - Junkie (uncredited)
* Brad Lee Wind - Trupo's Detective in Library (uncredited)
* Ray Wineteer - Photographer (uncredited)
* Dolores Winn - Funeral Mourner (uncredited)