Whether watching the 1960 original or 2001 remake, “Ocean’s 11” is a definitive Las Vegas movie. Tomorrow marks 64 years since the first version debuted in New York and Los Angeles (following a Vegas premiere one week earlier), setting the stage for an unlikely film legacy that spans decades.
🐀 Rat Pack Roundup
“Ocean’s 11” is a heist film, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. The plot features the group, known off-screen as the Rat Pack, trying to rob five Vegas casinos in a single night — New Year’s Eve.
🎰 Film Locations on the Strip
The final shot of the film shows the stars in front of the Sands marquee. Filming was concurrent with Rat Pack appearances in the resort’s famous Copa Room with shoots often taking place between 3 a.m. and dawn. In addition to the Sands, the film was also shot on location at the Flamingo, Desert Inn, Riviera, and Sahara.
Frank Sinata, Richard Conte, and Peter Lawford in “Ocean's 11.” (Hulton Archive/Getty)
👎 Actually, It Wasn’t That Good
To say the original “Ocean’s 11” received mixed reviews would be generous. The movie has a rating of 45% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, based on retrospective reviews, although the audience score is much higher at 81%.
🎬 Remaking the Rat Pack
The remake, adjusted slightly as “Ocean’s Eleven,” was better received by critics and at the box office, featuring a new Rat Pack led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Its success led to a pair of sequels and a female-focused spin-off. A prequel set in 1960s Europe is in the works, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
🎶 Vegas Icons
The “Ocean’s 11” legacy has only solidified the Rat Pack as iconic fixtures in Las Vegas. Today, you can visit the footprints of the five stars near a plaque on the sidewalk of the Venetian, built on the site of the demolished Sands. You’ll also see a “reunion” sculpture marking the intersection where Frank Sinatra Drive, Dean Martin Drive, and Sammy Davis Jr. Drive meet west of the Strip. If that’s not enough, take a trip back in time at “The Rat Pack is Back,” a tribute show at the Tuscany Suites & Casino.
- Is there a more definitive Las Vegas film than “Ocean's 11”? Maybe the Hangover 🍸
