Ever since Mark Wahlberg moved from California to Nevada to form what was, at one time, being hailed as “Hollywood 2.0” directors and film productions have been increasingly drawn to the bright lights and audacious architecture of the state’s most famous city.
One of the latest of these was Simon Cellan Jones. Shooting the film The Family Plan, featuring Mark Wahlberg, the British director was given complete control over one of the city’s most iconic features. Cellan Jones got his hands on the controls of the vast fountains of Lake Bellagio.
He said, “It was crazy for a stuck-up English guy to see how excessive you Americans are.” While a novel experience to a British director coming to the US, in Hollywood, making use of the grandeur of The Strip isn’t uncommon. With so many options, though, it’s the Bellagio that keeps production teams coming back for more.
The Bellagio’s Big Draw
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Arguably, the Bellagio is the most iconic of all of the Las Vegas casinos. While it’s not as out there in its features and architecture as some of its high-end contemporaries, it exudes class and sophistication. Some of this comes from the dancing fountains on Lake Bellagio out front.
The hotel and casino constantly welcomes world-class performers from around the world to its stage, boasts a whole host of top-tier restaurants, and even features five Italian-inspired pools on the grounds that are set in the gardens. With its Venetian theme, the Bellagio is the ultimate mix of Vegas magnificence and class.
It’s the opulence of the venue that continues to make it a huge draw and the epitome of Las Vegas entertainment. This is why online gambling studios make ties to the casino, most overtly with the Live Bellagio Roulette or Baccarat games. These live online casino games stream players directly to a Bellagio table.
Better still, one of the venue’s professional croupiers is at hand to run the game and even chat with players in real-time. Having the Bellagio be the centrepiece of this live game is hugely appealing to players. It’s for similar reasons to this, along with the iconic scenery, that Hollywood keeps on coming back to the Bellagio.
Movies that Made the Most of Las Vegas’ Iconic Venue
Easily the most famous and intrinsically tied film to the Bellagio is Ocean’s Eleven. The suave and classy heist film found the ideal location to set its story, with its all-star cast looking every bit the part of the Bellagio’s most premier guests. The casino floor, epic fountains, and conservatory all featured in the 2001 hit film.
As if the venue didn’t offer enough of a draw for guests, Ocean’s Eleven continues to encourage fans to stay at the famed hotel. In a very different genre, The Hangover and The Hangover Part III also made use of the Bellagio, from its fountains to the interior, while the old friends stumble their way back to understanding what happened the night before.
The 1995 drama from Paul Verhoeven, Showgirls, also made use of the Bellagio. Being set in Las Vegas, it naturally tapped into the lavishness of the Bellagio suites as the story took Elizabeth Berkley through the levels of Sin City society.
The Family Plan was just the most recent flick to make use of the glory of the Bellagio, but it certainly won’t be the last – especially as the venue was so welcoming to the director wanting to play with their famous fountains!
