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Many of the movie’s standout scenes have roots in real events. The infamous scene where Tommy, in one split second, kills Spider during a poker game is mirrored closely to reality, save for the grisly aftermath of Spider's murder. Hill also recollects how the character Billy Batts's brutal demise took place over several weeks, a detail left out for narrative efficiency.
Scorsese streamlined events like the high-profile Air France heist, which in the film appears simplified but is touched with authenticity. The heist echoes true events wherein Hill and his crew executed meticulous surveillance before pulling off the $5 million robbery.