Machine Gun McCain

Machine Gun McCain

Year: 1969

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Giuliano Montaldo

DramaActionCrime

After 12 years in prison for armed robbery, tough Hank McCain becomes a pawn in a low‑level mobster’s revolt against a powerful don. When he realizes he’s been double‑crossed, he launches a daring Las Vegas casino heist that ignites a street war across Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Blood, lust, wedding vows—or his trusty machine gun—won’t stop him from chasing the loot.

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Timeline & Setting – Machine Gun McCain (1969)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Machine Gun McCain (1969). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

Set in the mid-1960s, a period when casino expansion and mob influence were prominent in Las Vegas. The era provides a backdrop of glittering wealth and ruthless power struggles. The events unfold with the procedural grit and style typical of contemporary gangster cinema.

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas serves as the glamorous stage for a clash between casino ambition and Mafia power. The Royal Casino-Hotel sits at the center of a neon-lit underworld where risk, wealth, and violence intertwine. The city’s image as a high-stakes playground shapes the plot and the fate of its characters.

🏙️ City 🎰 Gambling hub

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

Main Characters – Machine Gun McCain (1969)

Meet the key characters of Machine Gun McCain (1969), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Hank McCain — John Cassavetes

An experienced ex-bank robber who becomes the reluctant mastermind of the Royal Casino heist. He is wary of his son’s naivete and of Adamo’s broader scheme, yet his determination pushes him to proceed. McCain meticulously assesses risk, pursues the target, and ignores alarms in pursuit of a dangerous score. His fate is sealed by the escalating violence around him.

🗡️ Crime 🧭 Cunning ⚖️ Morality

Irene Tucker — Britt Ekland

A young, eager woman drawn into McCain’s world and relationship. She appears hopeful for a new life but becomes a pawn within the Mafia’s power games. Her bond with McCain deepens as danger mounts, yet she remains vulnerable to the violence surrounding them. She is ultimately killed as the net closes in.

💃 Romance 💥 Danger 💔 Tragedy

Charlie Adamo — Peter Falk

The Mafia’s West Coast operations chief who pushes to cash in on the Royal deal. He arranges for McCain’s release and helps orchestrate the initial plan, but his authority is undermined by Francesco’s insistence on control. He negotiates behind the scenes, hoping to profit, while navigating shifting loyalties. In the end, Francesco’s restructuring of the operation leaves Adamo exposed and eliminated.

💼 Mafia 🧭 Manipulation ⚔️ Violence

Don Francesco DeMarco — Gabriele Ferzetti

A powerful Mafia don who tolerates competition only until it threatens his empire. He orders Adamo to halt the plan once he uncovers the conspiracy, and he ruthlessly extracts information to maintain control. His pursuit of orders and punishment demonstrates the ruthless logic of mob power. The don’s actions set the final fate of the conspirators and lovers alike.

💼 Mafia 🏛️ Power ⚔️ Violence

Rosemary Scott — Gena Rowlands

McCain’s old lover and confidante who helps arrange safe passage for the couple. She remains a trusted ally until capture forces a desperate, fatal choice. Her suicide underscores the personal cost of the mob world and her unwavering loyalty. Her actions influence the escape and underscore the tragedy of the plot.

🕊️ Loyalty 🤝 Past partnership 💔 Tragedy

Abe Stilberman — Steffen Zacharias

The Royal’s manager who resists Adamo’s attempt to buy a stake. He upholds the casino’s independence and becomes a focal point for Adamo’s pressure. His stance helps trigger the cascade of events that lead to the heist and the Mafia’s counter-moves.

🏢 Casino Manager 💰 Independence 🚥 Tension

Joni Adamo — Florinda Bolkan

Don Francesco’s wife, embedded within the mob’s information network. She plays a role in exposing Adamo’s involvement through her connections. She contributes to the web of intrigue that drives the mob’s response to the failed plan.

👩‍💼 Family ties 🧩 Intrigue

Jack McCain — Pierluigi Aprà

Hank McCain’s son who helps orchestrate the plan to spring his father and rob the Royal. He acts as a liaison between Adamo and the operation, driven by his own motives and the promise of reward. His role amplifies the danger and complexity of the heist.

👨‍👦 Family 🧭 Manipulation ⚠️ Danger

Pete Zacari — Tony Kendall

One of Adamo’s cohorts who participates in executing the plan. He represents the network of operators backing Adamo’s bid and adds to the scheme’s complexity with each move. His fate is tied to the plan’s success and the Mob’s eventual reactions.

🧭 Mob scheme 💥 Violence

Don Salvatore — Salvo Randone

A mob figure within Francesco’s circle, part of the larger network that coordinates the empire’s interests. His presence reinforces the scale of the mob operation and the reach of the don’s authority. He remains a background force behind the immediate events.

💼 Mafia 🌐 Network

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

Major Themes – Machine Gun McCain (1969)

Explore the central themes of Machine Gun McCain (1969), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Betrayal

The plot hinges on shifting loyalties and hidden agendas. Adamo’s schemes collide with Francesco’s authority, exposing how easily trust can be weaponized. Characters pretend to be allies while manipulating others for personal gain. The story’s tension peaks as betrayals unravel the planned heist.

💰 Greed

Greed drives the actions of multiple players, from Adamo’s bid for a stake in the Royal to Hank McCain’s willingness to risk everything for a criminal score. The lure of wealth fuels deception, coercion, and a chain of violent decisions. The pursuit of profit ultimately brings about collapse and catastrophe for the principals involved.

💀 Mortality

The film foregrounds the fragility of life amid calculated risk and brutal force. Protagonists live by a code that often ends in bloodshed, with deaths cascading from the heist’s fallout. Violence begets more violence, leaving little room for mercy or redemption. The ending underscores the inescapable finality of their choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

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Machine Gun McCain Summary

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