The film was not that interesting for story but completely engaging as history. It documents the allure of Reno when it was the world's casino capitol. Some of the bits and pieces:
-Harolds Club inside and out. Today the exterior mural is at the rodeo grounds between Reno and Sparks. The club itself is a vacant lot next to Harrahs. The interesting parking garage, scene of most of the final action, is also gone.
-A Harolds Club billboard is passed on the drive from Midwestern to the heist.
-University of Nevada Reno (Midwestern University in the film). Nice outdoor winter shots of buildings and Manzanita Lake.
-The Union Pacific crossing on Virginia Street. Today the tracks are 20 feet below grade and pass under. In 1955 the line was a visible connection to the real world far away. The wall of accelerating passenger coaches effectively ends the heist.
-Harold Smith. He has 2 lines and puts on his glasses to examine a slot machine while Guy Madison waits outside the vault. Smith was proud of his role in the film, and discusses it in his autobiography.
All this is well documented in postcards, stills and old 8mm tourist film from back in the day. But this is the best quality view of Reno when it was still a collection of family gambling businesses that grew beyond anyone's expectations.
-Harolds Club inside and out. Today the exterior mural is at the rodeo grounds between Reno and Sparks. The club itself is a vacant lot next to Harrahs. The interesting parking garage, scene of most of the final action, is also gone.
-A Harolds Club billboard is passed on the drive from Midwestern to the heist.
-University of Nevada Reno (Midwestern University in the film). Nice outdoor winter shots of buildings and Manzanita Lake.
-The Union Pacific crossing on Virginia Street. Today the tracks are 20 feet below grade and pass under. In 1955 the line was a visible connection to the real world far away. The wall of accelerating passenger coaches effectively ends the heist.
-Harold Smith. He has 2 lines and puts on his glasses to examine a slot machine while Guy Madison waits outside the vault. Smith was proud of his role in the film, and discusses it in his autobiography.
All this is well documented in postcards, stills and old 8mm tourist film from back in the day. But this is the best quality view of Reno when it was still a collection of family gambling businesses that grew beyond anyone's expectations.