Writing a book about a gambler is a fairly sure thing. Wrote the screenplay of the feature film owning mahowny, starring philip seymour hoffman. Jul 22, 2003 the film owning mahowny is based loosely on the true story of an assistant bank managergambling addict chronicled in gary rosss 1987 book stung. Jun 07, 2017 what are the best nonfiction books about con men. Brian molony is a canadian selfadmitted compulsive former gambler from toronto, famous for embezzling millions from the canadian imperial bank of commerce, the secondlargest bank in canada, to feed his personal gambling habit molony, who had developed a passion for the racetrack and gambling from the age of ten years, and acted as a bookie for his schoolmates, graduated from the. The films mahowny is entrusted with access to multimillion dollar accounts, which he steals from to fund regular gambling expeditions to. I got my copy via bookfinder online, but easily obtained via amazon used book sellers. Molonys story was told in the bestselling 1987 book stung by journalist gary ross, which. Yes although i had seen the movie owning mahowny a few times, and applaud the nowdeceased phillip seymour hoffman for his incredible performance,and the writersdirector for capturing the essence of this incredible story the movie can not capture the depth of delusion brian molony experienced during his years of out of control crazed. Mahowny also has a gambling addiction, and is indebted to his bookie maury chakin for slightly over ten grand.
Brian agreed, so philip took a limo to brians suburban office and. I saw the movie owning mahowny starring phillip seymourhoffman, which is based on the book. Gary stephen rosss bestselling nonfiction book stung chronicles molony s 18 months of increasingly brazen fraud and outofcontrol gambling. Infamous rather than famous, brian molony is a compulsive gambler whose gambling habits hit the headlines.
Kwakwakawakw community of kingcome inlet, located about 500 kilometres north of vancouver, and five kilometres up a shallow fjord. The incredible obsession of brian molony is the story of a longterm embezzler and gambler that was made into the film owning mahowny with philip seymour hoffman. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. An obsession, and not much more world socialist web site. That, in turn, led to the multiaward nominated 2003 film, owning mahowny, starring philip seymour hoffman as dan mahowny. Apr 29, 2003 a bonedry comedy, richard kwietniowskis owning mahowny is based on the true story of the unprepossessing canadian bank drone brian molony, who, back in the early 80s, managed to embezzle. Based on the story of the largest oneman bank fraud in canadian history. I almost wept with relief when i saw owning mahowny, says gary ross, author of stung. In the years that followed, the truth of what occurred that morning has been obscured by partisans on both sides. I had some pretty wild times when i was young, he said. The master on and off the set with philip seymour hoffman. Information on some of the most famous gamblers in history. Brian molony was at home playing bridge with friends as a college basketball championship game played out on tv. And in 2003, he was portrayed on the big screen by none other than philip seymour hoffmann.
To cover his marker, mahowny creates a fictional loan account, and draws cash from it. Asked whether philip seymour hoffmans portrayal matched with the real brian molony, journalist gary ross replied, remarkably so. This book was inspiration for, owning mahowny, which was released the. A bonedry comedy, richard kwietniowskis owning mahowny is based on the true story of the unprepossessing canadian bank drone brian molony, who, back in the early 80s, managed to. I thought it was an amazing story, brian molony was a machine when it came to gambling, the iceman. He was one of the brightest stars at the canadian imperial bank of commerce, a brilliant young banker on his way to the top. Owning mahowny is based on a book by gary ross that documents the true story of brian molony, a bank officer who was a compulsive gambler and embezzled millions of dollars to support his habit. Philip flattered me by saying my book, stung, helped persuade him to take. Deepest fear i dont know what id make of my life if my daughter predeceased me. For unknown reasons, brian molony here is renamed dan mahowny philip seymour hoffman, just promoted to assistant branch manager of a large toronto bank.
This came out in 1987 and was published by ballantine paperback books. Brian molony, the canadian gambler who embezzled millions. Owning mahowny, which opens friday across the country, turns out to be. But even more enjoyable is the original nonfiction book, no limit the incredible obsession of brian molony which is fastidiously researched and told by gary ross. The incredible obsession of brian molony, which became the feature film owning mahowny, starring philip seymour hoffman. I am considering molony a con artist because of the years he spent fooling his employers, not only with shady business practices but with an unassuming. His investigative portrait of a gamblingaddicted banker who. The incredible obsession of brian molony on your kindle in under a minute.
Although it was never molonys intention to travel the baleful path of addiction and selfdestruction, his problematic ways started at the young of ten. Its time for some light relief from all those trading strategies if you can call it that. The incredible obsession of brian molony by gary ross. This book was inspiration for, owning mahowny, which was released the following year. Well you see, brian had a thing for money, in fact, he adored it, but not for reasons of personal enrichment, no. With philip seymour hoffman, minnie driver, john hurt, maury chaykin. Famous gamblers information on legendary gamblers play. Money and power is a comprehensive history with a balanced but undiluted. Molony embezzled the money to fund his escalating gambling addiction. I enjoyed both the movie owning mahowny with philip seymour hoffman and the book, although i liked the movie a little better. The unsuspecting bank was soon fuelling that obsession, as molony helped himself to hundreds of thousands, then millions, of dollars in fraudulent loans. The community is located on an inlet with the same name, north and east of.
Owning mahowny is a 2003 canadian film about gambling addiction with a cast that includes. Owning mahowny stars philip seymour hoffman and minnie driver. Owning mahowny is the truelife account of one mans gambling addiction and one of historys biggest banking scandals. A canadianbritish movie directed by richard kwietniowski was based on a true story of brian molony. Abagnale, antwone fisher, brian molony, jackie kallen and jim morris have three things in common. I used this book for an oral presentation on in a criminal justice class, everyone seemed to. Philip seymour hoffman played dan mahowny, the character based on molony.
I used this book for an oral presentation on in a criminal justice class, everyone seemed to enjoy his story. We look at the big winners, the big losers, the cheats, top poker players and successful card counters. Owning mahowny, recipient of numerous academy award nominations, is not only in roger eberts top ten movies of 2003, but is fairly accurate. In this bio, you will learn about brian molonys early life of gambling and how he was. Former cibc loans officer brian molony seen on may 4, 1984 in joyceville. His theft was uncovered and he was arrested in april 1982. But they all seem to have recognized that what made brian molony renamed dan mahowny. Those who knew brian molony, the reallife man who inspired owning mahoney, confirm that hoffman completely embodied his subjects essence with his quiet, earnest longing. Library books september a list of 21 titles created 5 months ago. This is one of the explicit movies that addressed the issue of extreme addiction. The film owning mahowny is based loosely on the true story of an assistant bank managergambling addict chronicled in gary rosss 1987 book. Owning mahowny with richard kwietniowski director and cowriter thursday, may 1, 2003. Reviewer eldon yellowhorn concludes indian horse is the composition that will forever evoke the name richard wagamese.
In the movie it is safe to say that mahownys skill at gambling is nonexistent, often placing blanket bets on future race cards and the weeks basketball games with no. In owning mahowny, based on a true story, hoffman is cast in the title role as the high ranking executive in charge of loans for a toronto bank. Early in the morning of 3 december 1854, colonial troopers attacked a group of civilian gold diggers who had thrown up a stockade in defiance and defense. Brian molony is a canadian selfadmitted compulsive former gambler from toronto, famous for embezzling millions from the canadian imperial bank of commerce, the secondlargest bank in canada, to feed his personal gambling habit.
The character dan mahowny is indeed an unexciting guy who speaks in a monotone. Brian molony bio a great gambler and embezzler gambling sites. Molony s story was told in the bestselling 1987 book stung by journalist gary ross, which formed the basis for the screenplay. Although it was never molonys intention to travel the baleful path of addiction and selfdestruction, his. The unsuspecting bank was soon fuelling that obsession. Owning mahowny is based on the true story of brian molony, a toronto bank official, who had an addiction to gambling. In a hotel lobby, he asked me dozens of questions about brian molonys background, his. It does sound like the role of plutarch heavensbee is pivotal in the final books, though, and thats one of the reasons the filmmakers were so keen to cast hoffman. Owning mahowny ist ein kanadischbritisches filmdrama des regisseurs richard. Its not the only book about the infamous goldman sachs but if you want to get to know the person behind the persona, look no further. In 2003, ross bestseller about a canadian gambling addict became the basis for the movie owning mahowny. Brian molony worked alongside the author to ensure he was getting all the facts right.
I doubt that this is in the film, so i thought id post an. Owning mahowny 2003 the movie is about a bank manager with a gambling problem, who gets access to a multimilliondollar account that would rapidly change his life. In fact, he wasnt that good with cards and he wasnt a notorious hustler. Dan mahowny was one of the brightest stars at the canadian imperial bank of. Feb 05, 2014 roger ebert listed it in his top ten movies of 2003, and gary ross who wrote the book the movie was based on, stung. The characters name was changed to dan mahowny, in part because his real name brian molony was very similar to the name of the canadian prime minister at the time brian mulroney. Gary ross has 42 books on goodreads with 1064 ratings. Margaret cravens bestseller set in kingcome inlet, i heard the owl call my name 1967, prompted a 1973 movie starring tom courtenay and dean jagger, directed by daryl duke. The incredible obsession of brian molony gary stephen ross on. Et owning mahowny, based on the 1987 bestseller stung by gary ross, is the true story of. Kwakwakawakw community of kingcome inlet, located about 500 kilometres north of vancouver, and five kilometres up a shallow fjord margaret cravens bestseller set in kingcome inlet, i heard the owl call my name 1967, prompted a 1973 movie starring tom courtenay and dean jagger, directed by daryl dukeread moreabout.
Online gambling in canada best canadian gambling sites. Maybe youve seen owning mahowny this is the reallife story that inspired the film. The true story is about a canadian banker, brian molony, who used his access as a bank manager one of canadas youngest to feed his gambling addiction. A revelatory history of goldman sachs, the most dominant, feared, and controversial investment bank in the world. This movie tells the story of canadian imperial bank of commerce clerk brian molony. The films mahowny is entrusted with access to multimillion dollar accounts, which he steals from to fund regular gambling expeditions to atlantic city. Considered by many to be the most accurate movie portrayal of problem gambling, owning mahowny is based on the reallife events of brian molony, a toronto banker who was convicted of embezzling money from a canadian bank. Its as if he just wanted to spend it only while gambling.