Ocean’s 11 movie storyline. Danny Ocean and his friend Jimmy Foster recruit their buddies to rob four of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. The men are all known to one another and served in the Airborne during the war. The plan is to knock out the electricity supply to the city and for their electrical expert, Tony Bergdorf, to set the wiring so that the activation of the emergency generators would open the doors to all of the cashier’s offices.
The men take up jobs in the casinos – entertainers, waiters, busboys – and all goes well until Bergdorf has a heart attack just after the robbery. Not only does his death suggest to Jimmy Foster’s soon to be father-in-law Duke Santos just who the robbers are, Danny and the men make an important mistake when they think they’ve found the perfect way to ship the money out of Las Vegas without getting caught.
Ocean’s 11 is a 1960 American heist film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring five of the Rat Pack: Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop.[3] Centered on a series of Las Vegas casino robberies, the film also stars Angie Dickinson, Cesar Romero, Richard Conte, Akim Tamiroff, Henry Silva, Ilka Chase, Norman Fell, Patrice Wymore, and Buddy Lester, and includes cameo appearances by Shirley MacLaine, Red Skelton, and George Raft.
The film served as the primary inspiration for the Ocean’s film series (2001–2007) a collection of heist films directed, edited or produced by Steven Soderbergh featuring an ensemble cast. The first film of the series, a remake of the original, Ocean’s Eleven, featured Dickinson and Silva in a cameo.
The Las Vegas portion of the film was all shot on location at the Flamingo, Sands, Desert Inn, Riviera, and Sahara hotels. One segment was also filmed at the former Las Vegas Union Pacific Depot. In Los Angeles, two locations were used. The opening barber shop scene was filmed at 9740 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. The scenes taking place at Spyros Acebos’s house were filmed at 230 Ladera Drive, Beverly Hills, which at the time belonged to Hollywood agent Kurt Frings.
Peter Lawford was first told of the basic story of the film by director Gilbert Kay, who heard the idea from a gas station attendant. Lawford eventually bought the rights in 1958, imagining William Holden in the lead. Sinatra became interested in the idea, and a variety of writers worked on the project. When Lawford first told Sinatra of the story, Sinatra joked, “Forget the movie, let’s pull the job!” The animated title sequence was designed by Saul Bass. The film’s closing shot shows the main cast walking away from the funeral home, with the Sands Hotel marquee behind them, listing their names as headliners.
About the Cast
The film derives its name from this group of 11 people.
Ocean’s 11
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean
Dean Martin as Sam Harmon
Sammy Davis, Jr. as Josh Howard
Peter Lawford as Jimmy Foster
Richard Conte as Tony Bergdorf
Joey Bishop as “Mushy” O’Connors
Henry Silva as Roger Corneal
Buddy Lester as Vince Massler
Richard Benedict as George “Curly” Steffans
Norman Fell as Peter Rheimer
Clem Harvey as Louis Jackson
Others
Angie Dickinson as Beatrice Ocean
Cesar Romero as Duke Santos
Patrice Wymore as Adele Elkstrom
Akim Tamiroff as Spyros Acebos
Ilka Chase as Mrs. Restes
Jean Willes as Gracie Bergdorf
Hank Henry as Mr. Kelly, the mortician
Lew Gallo as Jealous Young Man
Robert Foulk as Sheriff Wimmer
Cameos
Shirley MacLaine as Tipsy Woman (Martin’s kisser)
George Raft as Jack Strager (Casino Owner)
Red Skelton as Himself
Richard Boone as the Minister (voice)
Red Norvo as Himself / Hotel Vibraphonist
Ocean’s 11 (1960)
Directed by: Lewis Milestone
Starring: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Richard Conte, Joey Bishop, Henry Silva, Buddy Lester, Richard Benedict, Norman Fell, Clem Harvey, Angie Dickinson, Cesar Romero, Patrice Wymore, Akim Tamiroff, Ilka Chase
Screenplay by: Harry Brown, Charles Lederer
Cinematography by: William H. Daniels
Film Editing by: Philip W. Anderson
Costume Design by: Howard Shoup
Set Decoration by: Howard Bristol
Art Direction by: Nicolai Remisoff
Music by: Nelson Riddle
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: August 3, 1960 (Las Vegas), August 10, 1960 (USA)
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