Ocean's Eleven (1960)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Chummy caper comedy, mainly for Rat Pack fanciers.
Why We Rated This
for Ages 11–13
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Ocean's Eleven (1960) was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
Parents need to know that the whole movie amounts to a glorification of thievery. Not one character questions whether it's morally right to pull off the big casino robbery, just whether they can get away with it. In accord with the studio censorship codes of yesteryear, though, crime does not pay in the end (except a modest handout to an innocent, struggling widow). The Las Vegas "fun city" ambiance of gambling and high times is robustly present, with much drinking, smoking, and other grownup pursuits idealized. Note that the casinos are shown behaving legally and ethically, even forbidding a prominent celebrity (comic Red Skelton, portraying himself) from exceeding his betting limit. That little vignette is as close as it comes to a Gamblers Anonymous PSA. Households who disapprove of gambling altogether still won't be happy. Neither will those sensitive to the male characters' occasional denigration of women and a few racial gags made at Sammy Davis Jr.'s expense.
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the popularity of Ocean's Eleven in its time. Do kids today find the actor-entertainers all that charming? Are their swaggering ways and attitudes toward women still "cool," or backwards and embarrassing? You can also discuss the enduring appeal of caper movies. Consider the ironic twist ending and Hollywood's old studio-censorship rule that dictated outlaws could never be allowed to succeed in the end (the George ClooneyOcean's Eleven remake and sequels didn't have this problem). Why do you think clever lawbreaking and heists became especially popular on movie screens in the rebellious 1960s?
More on Ocean's Eleven (1960)
What’s the Story?
Is It Any Good?
The already-lengthy plot seems poised for a couple more twists, but an unexpected complication suddenly and sharply wraps it up. Ocean's 11 isn't sloppy or slapdash -- it just feels like watching the legendary group of good buddies share a joke you aren't quite in on yourself.
Movie Details
Run time: 127 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/19/1960, DVD release: 1/8/2002
MPAA Rating: NR

Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.
