The Sting (1973)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writer (WGA):

David S. Ward (written by)

Release Date:

10 January 1974 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Recapture "the STING Experience". REMEMBER HOW GOOD THE FEEL WAS THE FIRST TIME (re-release)

Plot:

In 1930s Chicago, a young con man seeking revenge for his murdered partner teams up with a master of the big con to win a fortune from a criminal banker.

Plot Keywords:

Con | Big Con | Revenge | Long Con | Courier

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Henry Gondorff
Robert Redford	...	Johnny Hooker
Robert Shaw	...	Doyle Lonnegan
Charles Durning	...	Lt. Wm. Snyder
Ray Walston	...	J.J. Singleton
Eileen Brennan	...	Billie
Harold Gould	...	Kid Twist
John Heffernan	...	Eddie Niles
Dana Elcar	...	F.B.I. Agent Polk
Jack Kehoe	...	Erie Kid
Dimitra Arliss	...	Loretta
Robert Earl Jones	...	Luther Coleman (as Robertearl Jones)
James Sloyan	...	Mottola (as James J. Sloyan)
Charles Dierkop	...	Floyd (Bodyguard)
Lee Paul	...	Bodyguard

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:PG (video rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG | South Korea:15 | Brazil:Livre | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1974) | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Zanuck/Brown Productions

Trivia:

Technical advisor John Scarne doubled for Paul Newman's hands in the film. It was he who did all of the card manipulations and deck switching in the film. It would have taken a long time for someone to be able to master all of the card routines shown. In the film, we see Scarne's hands disappear off screen; a clever invisible cut hides the switch; Newman's hands return, and the camera pans up to his face.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: As Hooker flees Snyder under the El, a modern car and box truck can be seen in the distance ahead.

Quotes:

Billie: Who told you this guy was in here?
Lieutenant William Snyder: Nobody. I just know what kind of woman he likes. Going to check all the joy houses till I find him.
Billie: Oh, well maybe I could help you, if you tell me his name.
Lieutenant William Snyder: I doubt it. Which way are the rooms?
Billie: Right through there. But I wouldn't go in there if I were you.
Lieutenant William Snyder: What you are going to do, call the cops?
Billie: I don't have to. You'd be busting in on the Chief of Police just up the hall.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NYPD Blue: Zeppo Marks Brothers (#1.18)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

PINE APPLE RAG

My all-time favourite!

I love this movie! I LOVE IT!! The first time I saw it I was about eight, or so, and I've probably seen it a hundred times since then and I still enjoy it as much! Infact I still discover new things and details in scenes that I haven't thought about before...

This movie has everything: Great script, great acting, style, fantastic camerawork, excitement, Robert Redford & Paul Newman, HUMOUR, great SOUNDTRACK, perfect lines - and above all - it presents the COOLEST ACTOR I've EVER seen on screen!

No, no... Redford & Newman in all honour, but the coolest actor is without competition ROBERT SHAW as Doyle Lonnegan. (Or was it Linneman? ;))

I've never seen a performance like that one by Robert Shaw... Probably the greatest supporting role performance ever made. So complete! So genius! So elegant! AND SO COOL!!

This movie is just - wow! - one of the kind. Don't miss it for the world. And I'll never forgive you if you miss Robert Shaw.

I'll con you if you do. ;)

My vote: 10/10