Phil Messina designed and built 20 different sets as well as several partial sets into existing locations. The lead cast members also lived at the Bellagio during filming, each in separate 7000 sq. The cast and crew attribute Bellagio’s graciousness and accommodations to the relationship Jerry had with the casino.

Standard operations were also disrupted in order to film movie scenes, such as closing valet parking for multiple days, turning off the Bellagio fountains, closing down the conservatory and botanical gardens, putting up a fake wall in front of the Le Cirque restaurant, and more. Production designer, Phil Messina also noted that 25-30% of the casino was given to the cast and crew at any one time, which was unprecedented. The cast and crew were allowed unrestricted 24-hour access.

Steve Wynn sold Bellagio to Kirk Kerkorian before filming began, but he and Jerry Weintraub were also old friends, so everything moved forward as planned. Producer Jerry Weintraub had a great relationship with Steve Wynn who owned Bellagio at the time of their deal to allow Ocean’s Eleven to film there. Nearly five weeks were spent filming the interior and exterior of Bellagio. The Horse Gentlemen’s Club (formerly known as Crazy Horse Too)īellagio was featured for a great majority of the film. Throughout the movie, there are nice overviews of the Las Vegas Strip. On May 5, 2015, Clark County commissioners declared May 5th “Betty Willis Day” in her honor. The second most successful robbery in the history of Las Vegas in the film’s storyline is one that occurred at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in 1971.įinally, the *closest* any man has ever come to robbing a Las Vegas casino happened at Caesars Palace in 1987.īetty Willis designed the Welcome to Las Vegas sign and never copyrighted it, considering it a gift to the city.

It was later known as Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon, then was closed, renovated, and eventually reopened as The Cromwell in 2014. The third most successful robbery took place at a casino called the Horseshoe.īarbary Coast was actually the name of the hotel & casino during filming. In the beginning of the film, the three most “successful” robberies in the history of Las Vegas are described. Check out all of the Nevada filming locations below for Ocean’s Eleven: For the most part, Ocean’s Eleven was filmed on location in Las Vegas.

Ocean's eleven casino hotel