A Reel Retro Review: OCEAN'S 11 (1960)

 With very few new films to review for the foreseeable future, Reel Speak will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week. Not just for the sake of filling time, but to hopefully introduce some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

As stated in the preface, the intent of Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews is to uncover some obscure or forgotten films from cinema’s glorious past. It’s hard to think of anything done by the late great Frank Sinatra and his famed Rat Pack as obscure or forgotten, but in 2001 when director Steven Soderbergh did a successful remake of Sinatra’s heist film OCEAN’S 11, the 1960 film fell off the face of the Earth in a hurry. An ensemble film that is full of stars and set during the glory days of Las Vegas, here now is the original 11. 

 

Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra), recruits members of his former WWII unit (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Richard Conte, Joey Bishop, Henry Silva, Buddy Lester, Richard Benedict, Norman Fell, Clem Harvey), to pull off a Las Vegas heist; to simultaneously rob five casinos. 

 

Every film has what George Lucas always referred to as a “spaghetti supper scene”, in which the characters get together at a table (actual or metaphorical), and discuss what the goal of the film is. It’s exposition at its most basic; as the characters talk about the goal, the audience is thusly informed. OCEAN’S 11 is a film that is no hurry to get to dinner. The first full hour is spent assembling the characters from all over the country, and with each stop even more time is spent with them…establishing their lifestyle and any possible problems that would lead them to want to pull off a heist. The group does not get together to discuss the job until the movie is over an hour deep, and with a total running time of 127 minutes…leaves just another hour to do the job. Once the job finally gets underway, the method they use borders on ludicrous, but for a 1960’s film it’s a relief to see guys using their minds to get around obstacles instead of relying on endless technology. 

 

Director Lewis Milestone has a subtext on his hands on what men tend to do with themselves once they come home from war, but this is put aside in favor of spending time with the crew, with most of the camera on the Rat Pack. As would be expected, Frank, Dean, and Sammy get most of the screentime, with occasional little showpieces for their talents. Dean goes undercover at a casino as a show headliner and leads a few musical numbers, but Sammy breaks into song in the most random and ridiculous places. 

 

Acting is fine all around. The Rat Pack at this point had been around each other a long time and the chemistry is there. The film is also peppered with a few cameos; Shirley MacLaine and Red Skelton making short yet very good appearances. The supporting cast of Angie Dickinson, and Cesar Romero (Joker from TV’s BATMAN), both very good. 

 

OCEAN’S 11 is a flawed, yet fun caper that is a tribute to the Vegas of old just as it is a showcase for Sinatra and his friends. It was improved upon by Soderbergh in nearly every way, but is worth a look just as a slice of entertainment history. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it 

 

*

 

Reel Facts: When Sinatra was first told of the story for OCEAN’S 11, he famously joked, “Forget the movie, let’s pull the job!”. Richard Conte would later go on to play Don Barzini in THE GODFATHER (1972).