Ep #38 - Richard A. Lertzman's 60s Pick - Oceans 11
Ocean’s 11 (1960)
Cinema60 welcomes Richard A. Lertzman, author of biographies on Dr. Feelgood, Mickey Rooney and Peter Falk, to talk frankly about his new book Deconstructing the Rat Pack: Joey, The Mob and The Summit as well as the true impetus behind Ocean’s 11 (1960). Where some authors lose themselves by indulging in the Rat Pack’s dreamlike world of booze, broads and gambling, Richard decided to get the true story by going to the least likely source: Joey Bishop. Known as the “Frown Prince of Comedy,” Joey Bishop’s reputation as a once journeyman comic/MC turned egomaniacal nightmare preceded him.
In this episode, Bart, Jenna and Richard discuss the astonishing impact that The Rat Pack had on its era, from getting a president elected to the lasting legacy that looms over Las Vegas to this day. Richard also gets into the nitty-gritty on how Ocean’s 11 was conceived as a stroke of marketing genius, while Bart and Jenna grill him on the tales of terror about Joey Bishop as a person and a professional.
The following film is discussed:
• Ocean's 11 (1960)
Directed by Lewis Milestone
Starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Angie Dickinson, Richard Conte, Cesar Romero, Akim Tamiroff, Henry Silva, Norman Fell, Shirley MacLaine, Hank Henry, Buddy Lester, Red Skelton, George Raft
Also mentioned:
• All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Directed by Lewis Milestone
Starring Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, John Wray
• Some Came Running (1958)
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine
• Sergeants 3 (1962)
Directed by John Sturges
Starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.
• 4 for Texas (1963)
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ursula Andress
• Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.
• Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)
Directed by Billy Wilder
Starring Dean Martin, Kim Novak, Ray Walston
• Texas Across the River (1966)
Directed by Michael Gordon
Starring Dean Martin, Alain Delon, Joey Bishop
• Bugsy (1991)
Directed by Barry Levinson
Starring Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel
• “The Danny Thomas Show” (1953–1965)
• “The Thin Man” (1957-1959)
• “The Twilight Zone” (1959–1964)
• “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961–1966)
• “The Joey Bishop Show” (1961–1965)
