# "Ocean's Eleven"...WTF does the title mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053 "2001-12-05T16:42:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/1 "2001-12-05T16:42:08Z")
While I have about zero interest in seeing the movie, one thing is bugging the heck out of me. What the heck does the title mean? Eleven things that belong to the ocean? The ocean is eleven…something? Improper use of an apostrophe? ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/2 "2001-12-05T16:49:46Z")
It refers to the main character, “Danny Ocean and his hand-picked crew of specialists” (from the website) 45 ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/3 "2001-12-05T16:50:30Z")
I don’t think this counts as a spoiler, since (A) this is a remake of a Frank Sinatra film, and (B) you can find your answer in the trailer that’s currently playing in theatres. The George Clooney character’s last name is Ocean. This may or may not have been the case in the Sinatra original – it’s been a while since I saw it. However, in the original the plot is different – it revolves around refitting a sunken WW2 submarine and using it to rob cruise ships. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/4 "2001-12-05T16:54:48Z")
Ah. So Danny **Ocean’s** crew of **eleven** criminal specialists. Got it. Now I can go back to ignoring those damn commercials. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/5 "2001-12-05T17:00:27Z")
OK, so what does _The Dirty Dozen_ mean? d&r ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/6 "2001-12-05T17:08:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DAVEW0071 \* > \*\*OK, so what does _The Dirty Dozen_ mean? > \*\* It means “Darned fine entertainment”! ---
**Author:** ![Slip\_Mahoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Slip\_Mahoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slip_Mahoney)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/7 "2001-12-05T17:16:37Z")
> [@](#): > > it revolves around refitting a sunken WW2 submarine and using it to rob cruise ships Nope. It’s about robbing several Las Vegas casinos, **Cap’n.** You’re thinking of another movie, who’s name escapes me at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/8 "2001-12-05T17:20:46Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Cap’n Crude_ > However, in the original the plot is different – it revolves around refitting a sunken WW2 submarine and using it to rob cruise ships. Are you sure? It’s been a long while since I’ve seen the original _Ocean’s Eleven_, but I seem to recall the oroginal’s plot being (and I’m trying to avoid a spoiler here) the planning and execution of a massive heist carried out on a number of Las Vegas casinos. FWIW, in the original, Frank Sinatra’s character was indeed named Danny Ocean. The film starred many of his Rat Pack friends: Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin among them. And if you look carefully, one of the eleven gang members is played by Norman Fell–later to be Mr. Roper of _Three’s Company_ fame. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/9 "2001-12-05T17:23:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cap’n Crude \* > \*\*I don’t think this counts as a spoiler, since (A) this is a remake of a Frank Sinatra film, and (B) you can find your answer in the trailer that’s currently playing in theatres. > > The George Clooney character’s last name is Ocean. This may or may not have been the case in the Sinatra original – it’s been a while since I saw it. However, in the original the plot is different – it revolves around refitting a sunken WW2 submarine and using it to rob cruise ships. \*\* You are thinking of the wrong movie. Neither the new or the old version has anything to do with submarines and robbing cruise ships. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/10 "2001-12-05T17:28:05Z")
Hm. Not only did **Slip** beat me to it, but I also misspelled “original.” Well, to make this post worth something, I’ll add that _The Dirty Dozen’s_ name comes from the fact that there were twelve of them (a dozen), and at one point, they decided not to shave as a protest of some sort. Because of their looks and their number, they became known as the Dirty Dozen. ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/11 "2001-12-05T17:34:02Z")
From the IMDB the movie with the submarine and Sinatra was called “Assault on the Queen” [http://us.imdb.com/Title?0060135](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0060135) 45ACP ::wondering when this will get moved to Cafe Society:: ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/12 "2001-12-05T17:38:41Z")
Dang, Dang, DANG! “Assault on _ **A** _ Queen” Sorry 45ACP ::wonders when he will learn to read:: ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/13 "2001-12-05T18:08:43Z")
The original Ocean’s 11 put me to sleep. probably cuz i am too young to care that all those people were in a movie together(and it was boring). the new one looks better, but still boring. ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/14 "2001-12-05T18:42:22Z")
What could possibly be boring about the Rat Pack robbing casinos in Vegas? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/15 "2001-12-05T21:06:34Z")
Off to Cafe Society. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/16 "2001-12-05T23:35:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DAVEW0071 \* > **OK, so what does _The Dirty Dozen_ mean?** From the book and the movie, after the group decided to quit bathing and shaving to protest having to build their guards’ quarters before their own, they were nicknamed “the Dirty Dozen” by one of the guards (in the movie the guard who did the nicknaming was Richard Jackle). I’m sure someone will ask about “Robin and the Seven Hoods” any minute. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/17 "2001-12-06T01:15:24Z")
The original “Ocean’s 11” should put you to sleep. It’s one of those movies that looks like it should be good, but it really isn’t. The story goes on too long and has too many tangents. It’s nice to look at, but it really drags after a while. I hope that Steven Soderbergh can come up with a livelier version. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/18 "2001-12-07T05:09:13Z")
> [@](#): > > From 45ACP: > “Assault on A Queen” Right – sorry, I was indeed mistaken. It occurs to me now that I never saw the original _Ocean’s Eleven,_ in that case. Man, how about that _Robin and the Seven Hoods?_ Great flick, and Sammy really turns it loose in his solo song and dance near the end. I wonder if we could get Savion Glover to play him in the remake? 😃 Don’t even get me started on _Von Ryan’s Express._ ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oceans-eleven-wtf-does-the-title-mean/97053/19 "2001-12-07T05:31:25Z")
BTW, I was just in Montreal and “Ocean’s 11” translates to “L’(something weird and long) de Las Vegas” in French. I forget the exact word but it’s on the dasherboards at the Molson Centre so if you see a Habs game on TV you’ll see it.