Last Man Standing: The Chronicles of Myron Sugerman is a heartwarming retrospective of the life of Myron Sugerman, the last “real” Jewish gangster. Listening to Myron, who is 83 years young at the time of production, is like witnessing your grandpa tell tales from his childhood in colorful detail. Last Man Standing is a bit of a slow-burn but that only reaffirms director Jonny Caplan’s commitment to methodical storytelling and giving space to let Myron tell his story in his own words.

The Last “Real” Jewish Gangster

Myron was born in the 1930s in Newark, New Jersey. His father, Barney “Sugie” Sugerman, was involved in the mob scene, yet was also regarded as a respectable figure in that community. Despite being in a gang, his father was not a gangster, and Myron differentiates between the two labels. Regardless of his father’s actual involvement, one thing is clear. Myron was born into a life of crime, but he chose to exercise his influence by following in his father’s footsteps. Taking on the family business, Myron sold and operated slot machines, jukeboxes, and more for over 50 years.

From Mobster to Family Man

Dealing with the machinery wasn’t all fun and games. In this line of work, Myron did business with top-ranking gang members. They included the Gambino crime family, the Colombian Cali Cartel, and the Japanese organized crime syndicate called the Yakuza, among others. Myron recounts his life as an outlaw living outside the law, traveling worldwide, and making business deals with dangerous men. He even talks about helping a famous Nazi hunter track down the Angel of Death, Josef Mengele, in Paraguay. His exciting life has since been tamed as a now-married father of three, with Myron humbly reflecting on his riskier moments. He has no complaints and few regrets, he admits towards the end of the film. One thing is for certain, Myron Sugerman led a fascinating life.

Takeaway

Director Jonny Caplan doesn’t stray far from the traditional interview-style documentary in Last Man Standing. The archival images are abundant and the modern-day footage, which shows Myron attending weekly lunches with his old gang pals at an Italian restaurant or Jewish deli, is intimate and heartwarming. As he’s matured, Myron candidly speaks about his contributions to history. And despite his questions about the relevance of his legacy, Myron’s contribution of sharing his story with the world is an incredible gift. The film had its World Premiere at the Miami Jewish Film Festival.