Feature Movie Description... continued.
Owning Mahowny - 2003
is based on a true story about a bank executive who committed the largest one man fraud in Canadian history. The movie was released in 2003 and is set in the time of 1980-1982 when the actual events occurred. This movie is based on the book “Stung: The Incredible Obsession of Brian Molony” by Gary Stephen Ross that tells the real story of Brian Molony which the character of Dan Mahowny is based upon. Dan Mahowny is a mild mannered bank executive with an addiction to gambling. His job gives him access to a 20 million account. When he encounters a losing streak he “borrows” from this account and eventually takes 10.2 million dollars over an 18 month period to fuel his gambling addiction. The story is dark and disturbing as it deals with the subject of gambling addiction. Like most addicts Dan Mahowny is in denial. When confronted by his girl friend about his gambling, he tells "I don't have a gambling problem. I have a financial problem." What is even more disturbing is the way the greedy casino executives coax and encourage him to remain gambling. At one point the casino flies “the cage” from Atlantic City to Toronto to get a signature which would allow Mahowny money to gambling with. This took place in 1980 and a lot has changed but some of the tactics used by the casinos remain today.