Fathoming ‘Ocean’s Eleven’

I wonder if Marshall Fine has seen the same “Ocean’s Eleven” the rest of us have seen, a funny, suspenseful, entertaining movie that still works and gives us a glimpse of the way Las Vegas was in the early days (“The Right Pack for a Remake,” June 25). Hardly a “hokey, pokey” picture to anyone not deafened by the latest special-effects marvels, the sly humor displayed by Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, in particular, make it as watchable now as ever!

As for the so-called “long-forgotten bit players,” Richard Conte was one of the best film noir actors ever; Norman Fell was a chameleon as everything from crooked businessman to “Mr. Roper” in “Three’s Company,” and Henry Silva was one of the scariest heavies ever in both movies and TV.

Too bad Fine left his taste in the 20th century as well as his memory; fortunately, a good remake with George Clooney will showcase the original and remind us all what movies are about: to entertain.

JULIE T. BYERS

Temple City

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Vegas is a lot bigger than when the Rat Pack robbed the Sands, Sahara, Flamingo, Desert Inn and Riviera. Now it would have to be the Bellagio, the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Excalibur and New York New York.

Rather than spread it out up and down the west side of the Strip, I would hit five casinos all in one central location, the corner of Flamingo and the Strip: Bally’s, the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Hilton and the Barbary Coast.

CARLO PANNO

Tarzana