GANGSTER AND COP PAL UP

The real cop and gangster of American Gangster became life long friends.

In the film American Gangster, director Ridley Scott shows the relationship between notorious Harlem drug dealer Frank Lucas and the New Jersey detective Richie Roberts who tracked him down and ultimately got him to rat against fellow dealers for a reduced sentence.

The real Roberts who is played by Russell Crowe in the film talks about how they finally nabbed Lucas.

“We kind of finally realized after a lot of investigation, a lot of intelligence that Lucas was the one who was bringing in the stuff. And it was the mafia who had to come to him to get their stuff.”

The cop and the gangster became unlikely friends and remain so to this day. The real Frank Lucas played by Denzel Washington in the film says Richie is always there for him.

“Well Richie is a sentimental guy and if he likes you he’ll go the extra mile for you. He’ll do anything for you. Like I told you he sent my kids to school, he’d send my kids to school today. He’d do anything for you. Richie do anything for you. I mean anything he’d do for you. He’ll mouth off but the end of the day it’s a done deal. He’d do anything for you. He’s a good man I love the son of a bitch, I do.”

American Gangster, opening Friday November 2nd also stars Wu Tang Clan’s Rza as a member of Crowe’s team, Josh Brolin as a crooked New York City cop and Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Lucas’ nemesis Nicky Barnes.