The Sting (1973)

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 | Con Man | Courier | Con Artist | Revenge

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 10 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
Sally Kirkland	...	Crystal
Avon Long	...	Benny Garfield
Arch Johnson	...	Combs
Ed Bakey	...	Granger
Brad Sullivan	...	Cole
John Quade	...	Riley
Larry D. Mann	...	Train Conductor
Leonard Barr	...	Burlesque House Comedian
Paulene Myers	...	Alva Coleman
Joe Tornatore	...	Black Gloved Gunman
Jack Collins	...	Duke Boudreau
Tom Spratley	...	Curly Jackson
Kenneth O'Brien	...	Greer
Ken Sansom	...	Western Union Executive
Ta-Tanisha	...	Louise Coleman
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	Roulette Dealer (as William Benedict)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patricia Bratcher	...	Manicurist (uncredited)
Robert Brubaker	...	Bill Clayton from Pittsburgh (uncredited)
Susan French	...	Landlady (uncredited)
Bruce Kimball	...	Lacey the Bouncer (uncredited)
Alexander Lockwood	...	Landlord (uncredited)
Chuck Morrell	...	FBI Agent Chuck (uncredited)
Byron Morrow	...	Mr. Jameson from Chicago (uncredited)
Pearl Shear	...	Lady in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Bank Officer (uncredited)
Guy Way	...	Gambling Den Boss (uncredited)

Directed by
George Roy Hill

Writing credits (WGA)
David S. Ward		(written by)

Produced by
Tony Bill	....	producer
Robert Crawford Jr.	....	associate producer (as Robert L. Crawford)
Julia Phillips	....	producer
Michael Phillips	....	producer (as Michael)
David Brown	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Richard D. Zanuck	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Reynolds		(film editor)

Casting by
William Batliner		(uncredited)
Robert J. LaSanka		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Henry Bumstead

Set Decoration by
James W. Payne		(set decorations) (as James Payne)

Costume Design by
Edith Head		(costumes)

Makeup Department
Jim Gillespie	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Gary Liddiard	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Connie Nichols	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Mark Reedall	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ernest B. Wehmeyer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Dismukes	....	second assistant director
Ray Gosnell Jr.	....	first assistant director (as Ray Gosnell)
Sergio Emmanuele Anastasio	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)
John Slosser	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Walter Hamlin	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Walter Hamlin	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Henry Larrecq	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Buzz Newhouse	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
William A. Petrotta	....	props (uncredited)
Blackie Rosenkrantz	....	property master (uncredited)
Thomas L. Roysden	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert R. Bertrand	....	sound (as Robert Bertrand)
Ronald Pierce	....	sound
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	transfer room operator (uncredited)
Edwin J. Somers Jr.	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Warner	....	special effects manager (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Scott Gourlay	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Moio	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Barth	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Joe Cucci	....	company grip (uncredited)
Howard Evans	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Ben O. Graham	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Tom Kessenich	....	second key grip (uncredited)
Don Lambert	....	key grip (uncredited)
Everett Lehman	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Fred Maupin	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Chuck Raffington	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Ted Schwimer	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Charles W. Short	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Frank Shugrue	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Edward Thompson	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Timothy E. Wade	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bernie Pollack	....	costumer: men (uncredited)
Peter V. Saldutti	....	costumer: men (uncredited)
Andrea E. Weaver	....	costumer: women (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Frederic L. Knudtson	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Marvin Hamlisch	....	music adaptor
Scott Joplin	....	composer: piano rags
Billy Byers	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jack Lloyd	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Charlsie Bryant	....	script supervisor
Jaroslav Gebr	....	title artwork
John Scarne	....	technical consultant
David S. Ward	....	by: (additional writing credits unaccepted by WGA )
David S. Ward	....	by: additional writing credits unaccepted by WGA
Billy Joe Andrus	....	craft service (uncredited)
Robert Crawford Jr.	....	assistant: George Roy Hill (uncredited)
John Longenecker	....	intern: AFI (uncredited)
Donald Paonessa	....	intern: AFI (uncredited)
Eileen Peterson	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
John Scarne	....	card dealer double: Paul Newman's hands close-ups (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Zanuck/Brown Productions (as A Richard D. Zanuck David Brown Presentation) (A Bill Phillips Production) (A George Roy Hill Film)
• Universal Pictures (as A Universal Picture)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (from Universal) (An MCA Company)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)

Other Companies

• Cinematique  cosmetics by
• Kaleidoscope Films  title & graphic design (as Kaleidoscope Films, Ltd)
• Marion Dougherty Associates  casting by
• Murray Weissman and Associates  marketing and promotion (uncredited)
• Universal Title  title and optical effects

Also Known As:

"Sting" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1974) | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:PG (PCA #23757) | West Germany:12 | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) (2000) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG | South Korea:15 | Brazil:Livre | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Japan:G (2009) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Winston St. & Werdin Pl., Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Zanuck/Brown Productions

Trivia:

Just prior to Elizabeth Taylor's presentation of the Best Picture Oscar for this film, the streaker Robert Opel darted across the stage as David Niven was introducing her. It was this incident (among others) that inspired singer Ray Stevens to write the song "The Streak" that went to the top of the US charts the month after the awards. Incidentally, Opel was found murdered in his San Francisco gallery in 1979.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Snyder is brought to the FBI headquarters, it is raining. But when they walk inside, their raincoats are dry.

Quotes:

Joe Erie:Hello Snyder. Whattya doin' up here?
Lieutenant William Snyder:I'm on vacation. You see that friend of yours lately?
Joe Erie:No, no. He packed it in. Enrolled in detective school.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Wings: B.S. I Love You (#7.12)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Easy Winners

Classy bit of story telling

Small time conmen Johnny Hooker and Luther Coleman unwittingly scam a runner for Chicago main man Doyle Lonnegan. When Luther is murdered, Hooker goes on the run and seeks out Luther's old friend Henry Gondorff to help him put together a major sting to take revenge on Lonnegan. However with so much heat on Hooker and the stakes so high can they pull it off and get away clean?

Almost a follow up to Butch and Sundance, this film partners the stars of the day Newman and Redford to good effect. The story is a little less fun but still very enjoyable to watch as it builds to a great finale. The use of chapters ran the risk of fragmenting the film into bits but instead it really helps set it out and makes it more manageable. Although it is not as light hearted and jovial as the theme music suggests it still manages to flow nicely with the slightly darker drama not spoiling anything but only serving to make it feel more grown up.

The cast are all very good and make the film easy to watch. Redford comes off the best in terms of characters and his role really suits both his carefree attitude (the start of the film) but also his more serious side (the rest of the film). Newman has a lesser role that perhaps doesn't suit him quite as well, but he does have several really good scenes (the hustles) where he does very good work. Shaw's accent is a little heavy at first but I got used to it and it worked for me and he was a really good foil for Redford/Newman. The support cast including Durning, Walston, Gould, Jones and others all do good work.

The direction and use of music is really good and the sense of period is well crafted and doesn't just feel like it was painted on. I'm not sure if it deserved Best Picture or not because I don't know what the rest of the field was for that year but it is a really enjoyable film that is quite fun to watch several times even 30 years later – and isn't that the main thing?