The entire crew (except for Donnie) was pretty certain a rat told the cops about their unlicensed casino/nightclub with the lion in the parking lot. I am guessing that such an establishment would be busted and closed down opening night without the need of an informant. What makes them think they were ratted out?
"He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator."
I'm guessing opening a nightclub is not the problem. The problem was that it was a gambling establishment. The fact that all the cops come around and bust up the place on day 1 is strange.
shareI think that's the point. We discover that Richie 'forgot' to pay off the cops the reality being the FBI expense fund couldn't cover it. If the cops had to be paid off it's logical to assume the establishment don't have all the requisite permits most presumably a gambling license.
There's a moral to this story Del Boy but for the life of me I can't find it!
I don't know if you can or cannot have a license for having a gambling establishment in Florida.
In any case, I think that you can do some illegal gambling in your restaurant. The question is, how long would it take for the cops to find out and sent 20 cops to break everything and arrest everyone.
"I think that's the point. We discover that Richie 'forgot' to pay off the cops the reality being the FBI expense fund couldn't cover it."
==That's another weird thing. Couldn't the FBI inform the cops about their operation? All they have to do is tell the sargent and he won't send 20 cops.
Well I'm pretty sure gambling is regulated on all federal territory in the US. Besides the police probably would have busted the joint anyway, they were well within their rights and there's nothing the Fed's could have done about it, I mean what charges would they bring? Obstructing a federal investigation perhaps but in any case the FBI weren't there. It was a covert op and except for Donnie and Richie there would have been zero interaction by the Fed's.
There's a moral to this story Del Boy but for the life of me I can't find it!
here is some speculation.
1. Mafia tend not to excel in analytical thinking.
2. Mafia are inherently paranoid about rats because its an inherently traitor-based lifestyle where people are constantly betraying each other. That's not an opinion, that's a fact of history.
3. The Florida mafia (Trafficante) influenced the cops to do the bust. Whether the mob controlled the Florida cops or just tipped them off anonymously is not spelled out in the film. Sonny Red back in NY was on the phone with Trafficante, so Sonny Red and Trafficante were were responsible for the bust. In essence, they were the 'rat's, ratting out Sonny Black's crew. Which goes back to 2, the inherent betrayal of the Mafia lifestyle.
4. Lefty was the one talking about Rats, but Lefty was also basically responsible for getting the crew involved in Florida in the first place because he was linked to Donnie. Lefty may have been attempting to divert attention from his own failure and shine the light on someone else.
3 is right.
In the extended cut there is a scene where Trafficante calls Sonny Red to tell him that he took care of Sonny Black´s Florida business...
"...because of a rat!"
Not the best quote in the movie, but my favorite one. It's amazingly versatile when talking to your cat.
Besides, I did Tony Montana impersonations for 15 to 20 years and now I gotta change up the act.
That's another weird thing. Couldn't the FBI inform the cops about their operation? All they have to do is tell the sergeant and he won't send 20 cops.
They were running a "charity event" and had the proper permits for the gambling. Donnie Brasco tells the cops this when they show up, then they ask if he has a permit for the lion.
As far as the place getting destroyed, it was done at the orders of Trafficante, and possibly Sonny Red.
It's all in the dialogue. Just have to pay attention.
I've lived 32 years in Florida and have been to "charity gambling events." They are highly regulated and there is no cash allowed on the tables or machines (if any). Only tokens purchased centrally can be used. Any Boy Scout could figure out this was not a legit charity gambling enterprise which goes back to my original question. Why would they think an illegal (permit or not) mafia run casino in Florida would not get busted the first night? Yeah, I realize Trafficante was the rat behind the bust but it was inevitable from the gitgo. Unless a fault in the story, hard to believe wise guys are so stupid.
He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.
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In the extended cut there is a scene where Trafficante calls Sonny Red to tell him that he took care of Sonny Black´s Florida business...