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Hollywood's Vegas gaming guide

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

The 1991 drama “Bugsy” explored how mobster Bugsy Seigel created Las Vegas. The harrowing 1995 drama “Leaving Las Vegas” examined the life of a failed writer (Nicolas Cage in his Oscar-winning performance) who goes to Vegas to drink himself to death. And the 1964 Elvis Presley musical “Viva Las Vegas” revolved around a car racer who could swivel his hips like nobody’s business.

But most films set in Vegas focus on gambling. The latest, “21,” opening Friday, is based on a true story,about how five MIT students are taught to count cards by their professor and head to Vegas to win at blackjack.

But, of course, no one can beat the system.

Here’s a look at several other films who have played their cards right in Sin City: