"Same reason nobody's gone to the moon yet - no equipment."
"And we're equipped."
In the sixties a bunch of old army buddies, led by Danny Ocean (Sinatra) and Jimmy Foster (Lawford), decided to use their expertise, "why waste those cute little tricks that the Army taught us just because it's sort of peaceful now." They will be robbing 5 casinos in Las Vegas on New Years Eve (after everyone sings "Auld Lang Sy): Sands, Flamingo, Desert Inn, Riviera, Sahara.
The men are not professional theives; they treat the job as a military operation, each with his own reason. With two men in each casino (one working for the casino, and one playing), and Josh (Davis) serving as transportation between, they prepare for the holiday. Three people stand in the way, all who are visiting the casinos in question: Adele (Wymore) Danny's angry ex, Mrs. Restes (Chase) Jimmy's wealthy but overbearing mother, and Duke Santos (Romero) the ex con who is marrying Jimmy's mother.
The team is Danny who loves danger, Jimmy who wants to break free from his mother, Sam (Martin) the singer, Josh the garbage man, Tony (Conte) who was just released from prison, Mushy (Bishop), Roger (Silva), Vince (Lester), Curly (Benedict), Peter (Fell), Clem (Harvey), and the brains of the outfit Spyros Acebos (Tamiroff), who also funds the operation.
I love this movie...it's funny (intentionally, plus some of the technology is hysterical). Like the 2001 version, the cast already knew each other (5 were in the Rat Pack) and seem to be having a good time being together. While the newer Eleven is more about setting up and pulling off the heist, this film shows the aftermath of the heist. They aren't professional criminals, and looking at it now this scenario isn't even possible (elaborating gives away too much). There are some interesting cameos, if you have a wealth of knowledge about entertainers in the 50-60s, you'll appreciate them (my grandparents taught me well). Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. sing, and the songs are repeated later in the film (just in case you forgot them). I am proud to say, I have the song "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" (Dean's song) on my iPod.
Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but I do enjoy this film. I don't really think you can compare it's remake. Other than the name Danny Ocean, robbing a casino in Vegas, and 11 guys...they don't really have much in common. Character names, motive, actual heist, and outcome are all different. I enjoy both, but in different ways.
Dude, it's quotable: there are some interesting phrasing (perhaps its a bit sexist, but thats how culture was at the time...deal with it)
Rent it: if you're a Rat Pack fan, this is the best of their films
Ocean's Eleven (1960) 127 minutes
Director: Lewis Milestone
Starring: Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean
Dean Martin as Sam Horton
Sammy Davis Jr. as Josh Howard
Peter Lawford as Jimmy Foster
Angie Dickinson as Beatrice Ocean
Richard Conte as Tony Bergdorf
Cesar Romero as Duke Santos
Patrice Wymore as Adele Ekstrom
Joey Bishop as Mushy O'Connors
Akim Tamiroff as Spyros Acebos
Henry Silva as Roger Corneal
Ilka Chase as Mrs. Restes
Buddy Lester as Vince Massler
Richard Benedict as Curly Steffens
Norman Fell as Peter Rheimer
Clem Harvey as Louis Jackson
The men are not professional theives; they treat the job as a military operation, each with his own reason. With two men in each casino (one working for the casino, and one playing), and Josh (Davis) serving as transportation between, they prepare for the holiday. Three people stand in the way, all who are visiting the casinos in question: Adele (Wymore) Danny's angry ex, Mrs. Restes (Chase) Jimmy's wealthy but overbearing mother, and Duke Santos (Romero) the ex con who is marrying Jimmy's mother.
The team is Danny who loves danger, Jimmy who wants to break free from his mother, Sam (Martin) the singer, Josh the garbage man, Tony (Conte) who was just released from prison, Mushy (Bishop), Roger (Silva), Vince (Lester), Curly (Benedict), Peter (Fell), Clem (Harvey), and the brains of the outfit Spyros Acebos (Tamiroff), who also funds the operation.
I love this movie...it's funny (intentionally, plus some of the technology is hysterical). Like the 2001 version, the cast already knew each other (5 were in the Rat Pack) and seem to be having a good time being together. While the newer Eleven is more about setting up and pulling off the heist, this film shows the aftermath of the heist. They aren't professional criminals, and looking at it now this scenario isn't even possible (elaborating gives away too much). There are some interesting cameos, if you have a wealth of knowledge about entertainers in the 50-60s, you'll appreciate them (my grandparents taught me well). Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. sing, and the songs are repeated later in the film (just in case you forgot them). I am proud to say, I have the song "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" (Dean's song) on my iPod.
Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but I do enjoy this film. I don't really think you can compare it's remake. Other than the name Danny Ocean, robbing a casino in Vegas, and 11 guys...they don't really have much in common. Character names, motive, actual heist, and outcome are all different. I enjoy both, but in different ways.
Dude, it's quotable: there are some interesting phrasing (perhaps its a bit sexist, but thats how culture was at the time...deal with it)
Rent it: if you're a Rat Pack fan, this is the best of their films
Ocean's Eleven (1960) 127 minutes
Director: Lewis Milestone
Starring: Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean
Dean Martin as Sam Horton
Sammy Davis Jr. as Josh Howard
Peter Lawford as Jimmy Foster
Angie Dickinson as Beatrice Ocean
Richard Conte as Tony Bergdorf
Cesar Romero as Duke Santos
Patrice Wymore as Adele Ekstrom
Joey Bishop as Mushy O'Connors
Akim Tamiroff as Spyros Acebos
Henry Silva as Roger Corneal
Ilka Chase as Mrs. Restes
Buddy Lester as Vince Massler
Richard Benedict as Curly Steffens
Norman Fell as Peter Rheimer
Clem Harvey as Louis Jackson
I didnt like at all. Sorry folks but the humour, if it ever was there, was completely lost on me. I was glad to leave the cinema at the end
ReplyDeleteI didnt get on with this film despite all the hype and rave press reviews. I was glad when it ended. In fact I had to watch it in two parrs as I fell asleep it was so boring!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this film. I thought it was going to be awful once i realised it was a musically. But it was brilliant. I loved the singing, loved the acting and the atmosphere throughout. As to the storyline it couldnt have been better, brilliant. A1 film
ReplyDeleteLike a grown ups fair tale and not one that I would recommend. very disappointed, given all the rave reviews I read in the press
ReplyDeleteI couldnt see anything funny in this film. the whole thing was so slow moving and boring. this is another film I was so glad to see the end of. What a waste of my time watching it
ReplyDeleteAn OK film. It wssnt the horror film I had expected, very toned down affair really. Its worth a look if you havnt got anything else in mind to see
ReplyDelete