Lewis Milestone’s Ocean’s 11 is the original Rat Pack caper: stylish, lounge-smooth, and built on charisma as much as plot. Set across the glittering casinos of Las Vegas, the film follows a band of World War II veterans who reunite for a daring New Year’s Eve robbery that aims to empty five casinos at once. The tone is cool, conversational, and deceptively relaxed, masking a meticulously timed plan underneath.
Detailed Summary
The Reunion of the Paratroopers
Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) gathers ten former 82nd Airborne paratroopers. Each man has a specific skill, and each is recruited with casual charm rather than high-stakes persuasion. The plan sounds insane at first: rob five Las Vegas casinos simultaneously at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The Plan: Precision, Timing, and Blackout
Their strategy hinges on a citywide power outage timed exactly at midnight. During the blackout, the men—already planted inside the casinos as employees—will seize the cash rooms. The brilliance lies in synchronization and the assumption that chaos will mask the theft.
Inside the Casinos
As New Year’s Eve unfolds, the movie cross-cuts between smoky casino floors, backstage corridors, and the men waiting for their cue. The blackout hits. In the darkness, they move like a trained unit, collecting the money and funneling it into a central collection point without raising suspicion.
The Unexpected Complication
Everything goes according to plan until one of the crew, Jimmy Foster (Richard Conte), suffers a fatal heart attack shortly after the robbery. This moment changes the tone of the film. The crew now has to hide the stolen money inside Jimmy’s coffin before his funeral to avoid police detection.
The Funeral and the Fatal Irony
The plan to retrieve the money after the funeral becomes the crew’s final move. However, through a cruel twist of fate, the coffin containing the money is cremated.
Movie Ending
The crew arrives at the cemetery, confident they will recover the fortune hidden in Jimmy’s coffin. Instead, they learn the coffin has already been sent for cremation. They rush to stop it, but it’s too late. The stolen millions literally go up in smoke. The men, who executed a near-perfect robbery, are left with nothing. There is no last-minute miracle, no clever recovery. The ending is bleak, ironic, and unforgettable. They pulled off one of the greatest heists imaginable and lost everything due to a mundane procedural detail. The final image of the group silently walking away captures the film’s message about chance, fate, and the limits of control.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. The film ends definitively with no post-credits material.
Type of Movie
Ocean’s 11 is a stylish heist crime film blended with Rat Pack-era comedy and drama, driven more by character chemistry and atmosphere than high-octane action.
Cast
- Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean
- Dean Martin as Sam Harmon
- Sammy Davis Jr. as Josh Howard
- Peter Lawford as Jimmy Foster
- Joey Bishop as “Mushy” O’Connors
- Richard Conte as Anthony Bergdorf
- Buddy Lester as Vince Massler
- Richard Benedict as Curly Steffens
- Norman Fell as Peter Rheimer
- Clem Harvey as Roger Corneal
- Red Skelton (cameo)
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Nelson Riddle, whose jazzy, brassy arrangements perfectly match the Vegas nightlife and Rat Pack swagger. The music is essential to the film’s cool, lounge-infused identity.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed on location in Las Vegas, which was rare and expensive at the time. Key casinos featured include:
- Sands Hotel and Casino
- Sahara Hotel
- Riviera Hotel
- Desert Inn
- Flamingo
These weren’t just backdrops. They were the movie’s living set pieces, giving authenticity and glamour that studio sets could never replicate.
Awards and Nominations
The film did not receive major awards recognition upon release. Over time, however, it has gained cult classic status for its cultural impact and iconic cast rather than its accolades.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Much of the film was shot at night after the Rat Pack finished performing live shows in Vegas.
- The cast often gambled between takes, sometimes losing more than their paychecks.
- Sinatra insisted on a loose, improvisational feel to many scenes.
- Real casino staff appear as extras in several sequences.
- The relaxed pacing reflects the real-life camaraderie of the Rat Pack.
Inspirations and References
The film was not based on a book but drew inspiration from post-war camaraderie stories and the rising glamour of Las Vegas in the late 1950s. It also helped define the template for modern ensemble heist films.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No widely documented alternate endings exist. Some extended banter scenes among the crew were trimmed to maintain pacing, but the iconic tragic ending was always intended.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The synchronized blackout across Las Vegas at midnight.
- The tense transfer of money into Jimmy’s coffin.
- The silent realization at the crematorium.
Iconic Quotes
- Danny Ocean: “You fellas ready to make some history?”
- Sam Harmon: “This is why we never got rich in the war.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Real gamblers in the background were unaware a movie was being filmed.
- Several scenes subtly reference the cast’s real-life stage personas.
- Casino marquees show actual performers from that week in Vegas history.
Trivia
- The Rat Pack used the film as an excuse to vacation together in Las Vegas.
- Sinatra reportedly rewrote dialogue on set to sound more natural.
- The movie popularized the idea of the “Vegas heist” long before it became a genre staple.
Why Watch?
Because Ocean’s 11 (1960) is less about the robbery and more about style, chemistry, and irony. It’s a time capsule of Las Vegas at its peak and a masterclass in how charisma can carry a film.
Director’s Other Works (Lewis Milestone)
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
- Of Mice and Men (1939)
- The Red Pony (1949)
- Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
