The Sting Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Recapture "the STING Experience". REMEMBER HOW GOOD THE FEEL WAS THE FIRST TIME (re-release)
...all it takes is a little Confidence.
Johnny Hooker is a young con-man who is being taught by Luther. One day they pull one of their con jobs and net themselves a huge roll. What they don't know is that the man they conned is the courier for a numbers runner. And it turns out that the boss, Doyle Lonigan, considers it an attack on him and orders all the people involved terminated. Hooker is shaken down by a crooked cop, Snyder, who threatens to turn him over to Lonigan unless he pays him off. Hooker pays him, he then tries to warn Luther but is too late. He then goes to see Henry Gondorf, a friend of Luther's and a one time great con-man, who has had a bit of bad luck. After hearing what happened to Luther and seeing how hungry Hooker is for payback, he assembles a gang and decides to con Lonigan. While everything seems to be going ok, there is just the problem of the hit on Hooker and Snyder, whom Hooker paid off with counterfeit money.
| 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 |
| James Sloyan | Mottola |
| Charles Dierkop | Floyd |
| Lee Paul | Bodyguard |
| George Roy Hill |
8.30 out of 10 (50470 votes)
Visitor Reviews
One of the great movie classics!
posted on 31 Aug 2009I thought this film would be boring, but I was so wrong! the acting is stunning, obviously, and the plot is fantastic. The quality of the film is shown in the first scene of an elaborate theft and this is the basis for the rest of the film, with a clever and complicated web of conning and bluffing. The 20's setting is superb and a feel-good film with a twist - and the soundtracks damn good too! p.s. Robert Redford looks really sexy - well, come on, it was a long time ago!
Hilarious
posted on 31 Aug 2009Robert Redford is superb. And teamed up with Paul Newman makes this quite a film. Joplin's music added in is a great touch. I thought I knew what was going on the whole time, just to be blown away by the ending. I can watch it over and over again. The supporting cast also deserves a hand. Although there aren't many memorbale lines, the entire plot is what's important, and it's one of the best I've seen.
The comlpete movie!
posted on 31 Aug 2009THE STING is a movie that you can't get tired of! There are so many little plots and schemes in this movie about a huge scheme in organized crime that you'll always want to watch it again and again. This action packed, fun-filled movie starring such actors as Paul Newman is fun to watch for anyone.
Great movie, lousy transfer to DVD.
posted on 31 Aug 2009The movie is wonderful, but the transfer to DVD is not good. There are streaks and spots, as if they used a late-generation, very used print. And in the last 20 minutes, the sound goes haywire. There is a rustling going on, sort of like tape hiss. Also, the production notes on the disc are much worse than usual. They contain the average amount of information, but they are very poorly written. Universal should give this film the "collectors series" treatment it has so many others - with a restored print and updated sound. This movie deserves it.
can't help but love redford and newman
posted on 31 Aug 2009This has long been a favorite movie of mine, so I was excited about its dvd release. Unfortunately, the disc contains no special materials and is presented in a pan-and-scan format. The film has been decently restored,it always had a grainly look to it, and it still does. Wonderful performances all around, particularly by Newman and Shaw, who have a brilliant face-off while playing poker on the train. Scott Joplin score keeps it moving. This film is as fun as the other great con-man movie of the '70's, Paper Moon, and probably a better film overall.
nothing tops it
posted on 31 Aug 2009Paul Newman and Robert Redford play the Robin Hoods of the 1930s. They rob from the rich and give to the poor--themselves! This movie keeps your attention the whole way through with animated and believable characters as well as a complex, suspense filled in most parts and humorous in all parts screen play. If you haven't seen it, you don't know what you're missing!
NEWMAN and REDFORD Combine on a Masterpiece
posted on 31 Aug 2009One of the top films of the 1970s, this winner of seven academy awards includes some of the wittiest dialogue, trickiest plot turns, and one of the greatest cast of character actors including Ray Walston, Harry Gould, Charles Durning, Eileen Brennan, Robert Shaw, and Robert Earl Jones. Add in a great score of Scott Joplin's Ragtime music (performed by Marvin Hamlisch) and the magic of Newman and Redford, and this is a MUST SEE film. One of the Top 20 films of all-time. If you love movies, you must own this one. ONE WORD OF CAUTION--by all means, avoid its "sequel", THE STING 2.
Let the caper go on!
posted on 31 Aug 2009The Sting is one of my favourite films, and I have watched it god knows how many times. This 1973 crime caper flick from director George Roy Hill pairs Robert Redford and Paul Newman as a pair of con artists who pull a con on nasty Irish gangster Doyle Lonnegan(Robert Shaw). The set up is fascinating, as Redford and Newman set up the con, and it finishes with a bang. Along with the super music of Scott Joplin, and a fine supporting cast which includes Ray Walston, Harold Gould and the marvellous Charles Durning(Hudsucker Proxy) and you have a winning formula on your hands. Redford and Newman are good, and Robert Shaw is a great villain. The only criticism of this film that I can think of is that it is perhaps a little overlong. But overall, film making at its best!
The Quintessential Caper Flick
posted on 31 Aug 2009"The Sting" is an extremely well written story by David Ward ("Major League", "Sleepless in Seattle") and David Maurer about some smalltime grifters who attempt to swindle a mob boss. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 1974 and won seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. It reunited director George Roy Hill, Robert Redford and Paul Newman four years after their blockbuster, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Strangely, although Butch and Sundance made it to number 50 on AFI's top 100 of the century, this film did not make that list. This is even more surprising since "Butch" did not win the Oscar for Best Picture in 1970 ("Midnight Cowboy" won it that year).
While I think "Butch" is funnier and more exciting, this film is more intriguing with interesting character studies and some unpredictable plot twists. Hill does a superb job of weaving the elements of the caper together and giving it a depression era feeling. The humor is more ironic than hilarious, but it fits the story well. The period props, locations, and sets are excellent, and the costumes are perfect. The costumes were done by the legendary Edith Head, who designed costumes for over 400 films in her 50-year career. She won an Oscar for best Costume Design for this film, which was one of eight she won in that category in a career marked by an astounding 34 Oscar nominations. The music by Scott Joplin and Marvin Hamlisch is also fabulous, bestowing an early twentieth century flavor on the film, and giving Hamlisch one of three Oscars he won that year (the other two were for "The Way We Were" also starring Redford).
Where "Butch" was probably a little more Newman's film, this film clearly belonged to Redford. Redford, who was nominated for best actor for the role, is marvelous in the lead, giving his character a charming, lighthearted personality to go along with his scheming intellect. Newman plays almost a supporting role as the veteran conman Henry Gondorff, who assembles the team for the caper and oversees its execution. Despite the smaller part, Newman gives an electrifying performance with his conniving tough guy portrayal. Robert Shaw ("From Russia With Love", "A Man For All Seasons", "Jaws") is also terrific as mob boss Doyle Lonnegan. Charles Durning ("The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"), Ray Walston (TV's "My Favorite Martian") and Eileen Brennan ("Private Benjamin") round out a splendid supporting cast with fantastic character portrayals.
This film is entertaining and fun with a tight plot and wonderful period renderings. I rated it a 10/10. If you have never seen it, you are in for a treat.
A Timeless Classic!!!
posted on 31 Aug 2009This movie is simply flawless. I came home one late Saturday after a very long night and what did i find on television? The Sting. I do not believe I have ever been as content. I do not believe I will ever forget the poker scene it is truely a masterpiece. This movie is truely a classic and will go down in the anals of history as one of Hollywoods greatest movies! Long live Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
great,great movie
posted on 31 Aug 2009This is simply a great movie. This is one you show to a friend who always predicts what happens in the end and is always right. I guarantee they will be wrong obout this movie.This movie is so unpredictable scene after scene. If you're in the mood for a smart movie definitely watch this one! It has one of the greatest endings ever.
As a film 5 stars, as a DVD 0 stars
posted on 31 Aug 2009I recently purchased and watched what is undoubtedly a film classic, The Sting. I purchased my DVD player and DVDs to engage in the "Cinema Experience" in my home.
When I purchased "The Sting" I noted the 1:33:1 format, but hey, maybe the original wasn't in Widescreen.
My first disappointment came with the "this screen has been modified from its original format......" message. Then as soon as the film started rolling I was extremely disappointed by the quality of the picture and sound. By this alone I could tell that that the DVD was not produced using a "clean" original print.
Then to top it all off I soon discovered that the soundtrack had been dubbed! All of the more flowery exchanges had very cumbersome voiceovers dubbed over them.
I can only assume that Universal, deciding to cut corners, took a made for TV version off the shelf and produced a DVD from it. This goes against the whole notion of DVD, quality cinema in your home.
The Execs. at Universal obviously are not on the same page as people like me who have been waiting for a consumer medium like DVD ever since we discovered the joys of film. I recommend that to anyone, who has a feel for what I am talking about , not by this DVD! If you still want to see the film, save your money and buy the VHS version instead. You'll get what you pay for.