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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 10 general entries.
Special Topics
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Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
Ocean's Eleven (1960)
Lewis Milestone. Lewis Milestone directed the Las Vegas theft caper movie. He also directed such classics as "All Quiet on the Western Front" and Marlon Brando's 1962 "Mutiny on the Bounty" among other great films. Mark Robson directed Sinatra in "Von Ryan's Express", and Gordon Douglas directed Frank's "Tony Rome" movies. Jerry Lewis was Dean Martin's partner in several comedies and went on to direct and star in many movies of his own, such as the original "The Nutty Professor" and "Cinderfella".
Angie Dickenson. Angie plays Mrs. Ocean. Shirley MacLaine has a cameo appearance as a drunken gambler. Ika Chase plays Mrs. Restes and Jean Willes portrays Mrs. Bergdorf, the wife of Tony Bergdorf, who is the group's master electrician in the movie (played by Richard Conte).
Angie was in several movies before "Ocean's Eleven" including "Rio Bravo" with John Wayne. In the movie "The Killers" she was slapped around by future president Ronald Reagan. She went on to star as Pepper Anderson in the 1970's TV police drama "Police Woman".
Sammy Davis, Jr.. Sammy Davis, Jr. plays Josh Howard, who works for the sanitation department. Norman Fell plays Peter Rheimer and Peter Lawford is a playboy named Jimmy Foster. Norman Fell went on to star as Mr. Roper, the original landlord on "Three's Company". Peter Lawford starred in a variety of movies from the 1950s through the 1970s and was President John F. Kennedy's brother-in-law. Sammy Davis, Jr. was a headliner at The Frontier Casino in Las Vegas for many years, yet was required to stay in a rooming house. During the early years in Vegas, Davis and other African-American artists, such as Nat King Cole and Count Basie, could entertain at, but often could not reside at the hotels at which they performed.
Dean Martin. Dean Martin plays Sam Harmon, a nightclub entertainer in one of the casinos. Dean's character is the only dissenting member of the gang, when they initially plot the caper, but he eventually relents. He is one of several gang members who work inside the hotels so they can scope them out. In addition to "Ocean's Eleven", Dean starred in several movies after his Martin-Lewis movies, such as John Wayne's "Rio Bravo" and "The Young Lions" with Marlon Brando. In the early 1960s he had his own hit television variety program. Joey Bishop was a comedian who eventually had his own television show in the sixties. His co-host was Regis Philbin.
The 82nd Airborne. They were all in the 82nd Airborne together in WWII. This is mentioned several times during the movie. Danny Ocean is a former lieutenant. The other former servicemen all have specific skills and they plan the robbery with the precision of a military operation. It is originally Frank Sinatra/Danny Ocean's idea to rob the five Las Vegas casinos (Sands, Desert Inn, Flamingo, Riviera and Sahara) on New Year's Eve.
Cesar Romero. Cesar Romero, who plays the suave Duke Santos, offers to get the casinos their money back after the robbery, for thirty percent of their loss, because he still has underworld connections. He suspects his fiancee's son is in on it when Bergdorf dies and they mention the 82nd Airbourne. George Raft is featured in a cameo, playing a casino owner. Akim Tamiroff plays Spyros Acebos and an uncredited Richard Boone is the voice of the unseen preacher at the end of the movie. Starting in 1933's "The Shadow Laughs", Romero was a Cuban-American actor who starred in many movies and appeared on numerous television shows such as "Falcon Crest", until his death on New Years Day in 1994. He portrayed the Joker on the "Batman" television series.
In Bergdorf's casket. When Bergdorf's widow arranges for the casket to be sent to San Francisco, the boys get the idea to smuggle the money out in his casket. They set $10,000 aside for his widow. Cesar Romero/Duke Santos figures out the scheme and bribes the funeral director to tell him if anything suspicious occurs. He then shows up at the funeral parlor during the service.
Red Skelton. Red Skelton is the uncredited comedian who interrupts the men while they are scoping out the alarm systems. Red had his own network ensemble cast variety show from 1951 to 1971. The "Red Skelton Show" won an Emmy for "Outstanding Comedy" in 1952. Red also starred in several movies including "The Zigfield Follies" and "Around the World in Eighty Days". He passed away in 1997. The Red Skelton Bridge spans the Wabash River near his hometown of Vincennes, Indiana.
Auld Lang Syne. Ocean's inside men sneak in, following the infrared trails already laid out, get into the cashier's cages and direct the cashiers to sing "Auld Lang Syne" before calling security. One of the crew goes to the vault in each of the five casinos, where they stuff small, carry-on, airline duffel bags with cash. They dump the satchels into small garbage cans out on the street. Sammy Davis then bypasses the roadblocks by carrying the cans in a garbage truck.
"Ain't That A Kick In The Head?" is actually sung by Martin in two scenes. The tune to which "Auld Lang Syne" is universally sung is a pentatonic Scottish folk melody, believed to be a sprightly dance in a much quicker tempo.
Crematorium. While sitting at the funeral service they ask someone "What's that noise?" A man sitting at the end replies "Cremation. The coffin is being burnt." The final scene has the group slowly walking along the sidewalk looking dejected. As Sammy, trailing the group, passes in front of the camera, the large marquee sign behind him is seen to have his name and those of Martin, Sinatra, Lawford and Bishop. Joey Bishop was the last of the Rat Pack cast members to pass away on October 17, 2007.
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