Ocean's Eleven (1960)

46% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(130,023 ratings)

During a Los Angeles Christmas, a group of 82nd Airborne vets assembles under the leadership of gamblin' man Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) to rip off five Las Vegas casinos just after the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day. Playboy Jimmy Foster (Peter Lawford) joins in the scheme because he's sick… More During a Los Angeles Christmas, a group of 82nd Airborne vets assembles under the leadership of gamblin' man Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) to rip off five Las Vegas casinos just after the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day. Playboy Jimmy Foster (Peter Lawford) joins in the scheme because he's sick of needing his oft-married mother's money, especially now that she's about to wed Duke Santos (Cesar Romero), a self-made man with all sorts of underworld ties. After he receives the news that he could die at any time, newly released convict Anthony Bergdorf (Richard Conte) reluctantly agrees to participate so he can leave some money to his estranged wife and young son. Ocean's own wife, Beatrice (Angie Dickinson), doesn't think much of her husband's promise of a big score to come, but her quiet protests don't dissuade him. With Las Vegas garbage man and fellow vet Josh Howard (Sammy Davis Jr.) and several casino employees among their number, the titular band of thieves have just a few days to get ready for their caper. When Duke Santos, Jimmy's mother, and one of Ocean's discarded paramours all show up in Sin City at the same time as the veterans, the crew's perfect plans face some serious hurdles. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 8 min.
Directed By: Lewis Milestone
Written By: Harry Brown, Charles Lederer
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 10, 1960 Wide
On DVD: May 13, 2008
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Laboring under the handicaps of a contrived script, an uncertain approach and personalities in essence playing themselves, the production never quite makes its point, but romps along merrily unconcerned that it doesn't.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Terminally boring.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Young people are likely to find this more appropriate and bewitching than do their elders. The latter are likely to feel less gleeful in the presence of heroes who rob and steal.
Karen Croft, Salon.com
The original Ocean's is fun, fun, fun.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Chummy caper comedy, mainly for Rat Pack fanciers.
Colin Kennedy, Empire Magazine
There are many incidental pleasures to be had.
, Film4
Considering the iconic status of all involved, the result is disappointing.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Sinatra, Davis, and Martin performed their club acts at night and worked on this Las Vegas-set film during the day, and the good time they were having fairly jumps off the screen.
, Time Out
The heist itself, though, is a superb piece of movie-making.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
One suspects that the most memorable moments occurred off-camera.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Sluggishly paced, shoddily staged, and featuring a plot full of inconsistencies
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
At least as entertaining as the remake. Probably better.
Edward Johnson-Ott, NUVO Newsweekly
Tepid. The idea is so much better than the execution.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Brad W

Oceans 11 always is a fun thing to watch, its one of those movies that make us love going to the cinema.
Lady D

Whilst I did watch this the wrong way around, ie. The remake before the original, I was pleasantly surprised with the differences between the two. Whilst the main plot sort of remains the same, this version does give you songs from the Rat pack and managed to give a surprise ending… More
Whilst I did watch this the wrong way around, ie. The remake before the original, I was pleasantly surprised with the differences between the two. Whilst the main plot sort of remains the same, this version does give you songs from the Rat pack and managed to give a surprise ending differing from that of the remake. Both were cleverly crafted to suit the era of the heist and the technology surrounding it, whilst using the individual skills of the crew.
Tim S

One of the few cases when the remake is much better.
Thomas B

this movie is the original heist movie, and one of the rat pack's best
danny d

a fun and energetic heist flick. this is one of those rare instances where the remake is probably a bit better than the original, but this rat pack film is still a lot of fun to watch. the logic that the thieves use at the end of the film falls down under scrutiny, but the film is… More
a fun and energetic heist flick. this is one of those rare instances where the remake is probably a bit better than the original, but this rat pack film is still a lot of fun to watch. the logic that the thieves use at the end of the film falls down under scrutiny, but the film is very good and worth a watch.
Aaron N

Danny Ocean: Why waste those cute little tricks that the Army taught us just because it's sort of peaceful now. The first big movie to feature the original Rat Pack. Its a caper flick that has of course been remade into a hipper (and better) film, but this is still enjoyable.… More
Danny Ocean: Why waste those cute little tricks that the Army taught us just because it's sort of peaceful now. The first big movie to feature the original Rat Pack. Its a caper flick that has of course been remade into a hipper (and better) film, but this is still enjoyable. Its basically an excuse for these guys to hang around with each other, bouncing off ad-libbed one-liners, and getting to have fun in Vegas. Vince Massler: If it's so fool-proof, why hasn't somebody done it yet. Danny Ocean: Same reason nobody's gone to the moon yet - no equipment. Jimmy Foster: And we're equipped.
Chris W

An awesome caper film from the Rat Pack. I really enjoyed the remake, but this one is something quite special, and needs to be sought after by fans of the remake and its sequels.
xGary X

I was expecting great things from this, but even before the seemingly endless title sequence was finished I was getting impatient. An hour later, and I was STILL waiting for something to happen. Instead of a snazzy comic heist movie, I was getting a cross between an boys own club and… More
I was expecting great things from this, but even before the seemingly endless title sequence was finished I was getting impatient. An hour later, and I was STILL waiting for something to happen. Instead of a snazzy comic heist movie, I was getting a cross between an boys own club and a 50s sitcom with songs tacked on. It's WAY too long, horribly self-indulgent and offers nothing but sharp suits, songs and sexism. George Clooney's remake is far better.
Michael G

Oh my God! I forgot--there was a movie I shut off before the end and this was it! I was like Malcolm McDowell in Clockwork Orange when they ran the conditioning on him! This was one of the biggest pieces of shit ever and I couldn't get through it! I hate this movie in ways that… More
Oh my God! I forgot--there was a movie I shut off before the end and this was it! I was like Malcolm McDowell in Clockwork Orange when they ran the conditioning on him! This was one of the biggest pieces of shit ever and I couldn't get through it! I hate this movie in ways that can only be properly expressed through acts of mayhem and violence. I think I came to the realization that if I wanted to see a bunch of douchebags get drunk and hang out I could do that with my own friends. The boozy ballads and shit-stained self-indulgence were way too much and it went on f o r e v e r. This was right down there with watching Woody Allen act in one of his own movies after 1995. But then again I don't mind these guys too much individually, but when you get them together it's just fucktard city. Half a star each for Angie Dickinson and the Shirley Maclaine cameo. If nothing else, they made it irrepressibly easy for Steven Soderbergh to leave them in the dust.
Justin Y

A classic Rat Pack movie. Not as high-tech as Soderberghs, but still very good. Unlike Soderbergh's version where they rob 1 vault which belongs to three casinos, the gang robs 5 different casino vaults at once.
Roy G

At least as entertaining as the remake. Probably better.
Sarah G

The one and only time when the re-make is heaps better.
Bradley W

Oceans 11 always is a fun thing to watch, its one of those movies that make us love going to the cinema.
meril l

Nothing like the new one. Quite boring in fact. Just a lot of men smoking and talking. You almost miss the actual theft.
Andre T

This is excellent like the remake but a little surprise in the end and the charm of Jazz.
Marion R

Waaay better than the remake. How can you go wrong with the Rat Pack!
Timothy O

Bored the piss out of me.
Sean S

The rat pack has so much fun with this movie you will too. The ending is much better then the remake.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean

            Dean Martin as Sam Harmon

            Sammy Davis Jr. as Josh Howard

            Peter Lawford as Jimmy Foster

            Angie Dickinson as Beatrice Ocean

            Richard Conte as Anthony 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 Vincent Massler

            Richard Benedict as Curly Stephans

            Murray Alper as Deputy

            Don 'Red' Barry as McCoy

            Marjorie Bennett as Customer

            Nicky Blair as Usher

            Paul Bryar as Cop

            John Craven as Cashier

            Ronnie Dapo as Timmy

            Norman Fell as Peter Rheimer

            Robert Foulk
            
            Lew Gallo as Jealous young man

            Gregory Gaye as Freeman

            Jay Gerard as Cab Driver

            Eddie Gomez as Riviera MC

            Clem Harvey as Louis Jackson

            Hank Henry as Mr. Kelly

            John Holland as Man

            John Indrisano as Texan

            Mike Jordan as Bartender

            William Justine as Parelli

            David Landfield as Flamingo MC

            David Leonard as Rabbi

            Shirley MacLaine as Motel drunk

            Charles Meredith as Mr. Cohen

            Tom Middleton as TV newscaster

            Anne Neyland as Dolores

            Red Norvo as Vibraphonist (uncredited)

            Ted Otis
            
            Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton as Maj. Taylor

            Carmen Phillips as Hungry girl

            Louis Quinn as De Wolfe

            George Raft as Jack Strager

            Myrna Ross as Passenger

            Al Silvani as Boss

            Richard Sinatra as Attendant

            Red Skelton as Client

            Joan Staley as Helen

            Barbara Sterling as Second Girl

            George E. Stone as Proprietor

            H.T. Tsiang as Houseboy

            Jean Willes as Mrs. Bergdorf

            Harry Wilson as Extra

            Hoot Gibson as Road Block Deputy

            James Waters as Disposal Attendant

            Rummy Bishop as Castleman

            Dick Hudkins as Drunk

            Leonard George as Police Operator

            Helen Jay as Girl

            Jack Santoro
            
            Robert "Buddy" Shaw
            
            Norman Brooks as Himself

            Sammy Davis
            
            George Clooney
            
            Brad Pitt
            
            Matt Damon
            
            Don Cheadle
            
            Andy Garcia
            
            Casey Affleck
            
            Julia Roberts
            
            Carl Reiner
            
            Scott Caan
            
            Elliott Gould
            
            Edward Jemison
            
            Bernie Mac
            
            Shaobo Qin
            
            Holly Marie Combs
            
            Michael De Lano
            
            John Fiore
            
            Eydie Gorme
            
            Joshua Jackson
            
            Dave Jensen
            
            Joe La Due
            
            Jim Lampley
            
            Steve Lawrence
            
            Wayne Newton
            
            Rick Reed
            
            Robin Sachs
            
            John Robotham
            
            Jerry Weintraub
            
            Tony Allison
            
            Rusty Meyers
            
            Frank Patton
            
            Miguel Pérez
            
            Richard Steele
            
            Timothy Paul Perez
            
            J.P. Manoux
            
            Larry Merchant
            
            Barry Watson
            
            Kelly Adkins
            
            James Alfonso
            
            Frankie Jay Allison
            
            William Allison
            
            Scott Clark Beringer
            
            Cecelia Birt
            
            Barry Brandt
            
            Joe Coyle
            
            James Curatola
            
            Siegfried Fischbacher
            
            Carol Florence
            
            Lori Galinski
            
            Mark Gantt
            
            Roy Uwe Ludwig Horn
            
            Wladimir Klitschko
            
            Tommy Kordick
            
            Charles La Russa
            
            Lennox Lewis
            
            Paul L. Nolan
            
            Robert Peters
            
            Tim Snay
            
            Ronn Soeda
            
            Larry Sontag
            
            Gregory Stenson
            
            William L. Johnson
            
            Vincent Ward
            
            Scott L. Schwartz
            
            David Sontag
            
            Jorge R. Hernandez
            
See full cast