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The Sting

year 1973decade 70sdirector George Roy Hillgenre Caper film

129 minutes

IMDb
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Paul Newman Henry Gondorff
Robert Redford Johnny Hooker
Robert Shaw Doyle Lonnegan
Charles Durning Lt. William Snyder
Ray Walston J. J. Singleton
Harold Gould Kid Twist
John Heffernan Eddie Niles
Dana Elcar FBI Agent Polk
Jack Kehoe Erie Kid
Dimitra Arliss Loretta
Robert Earl Jones Luther Coleman
James J. Sloyan Mottola
Lee Paul Lonnegan's second bodyguard
Sally Kirkland Crystal
Avon Long Benny Garfield
Arch Johnson Combs
Ed Bakey Granger
John Quade Riley
Larry D. Mann Clemens
Leonard Barr Leonard
Paulene Myers Alva Coleman
Joe Tornatore Black Gloved Gunman
Jack Collins Duke Boudreau
Tom Spratley Curly Jackson
Ken Sansom Western Union Executive
Ta-Tanisha Louise

The Sting | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeckproducer Chia Hao Tatproducer Ronak Nairproducer Eduardo Ocampo
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Half-Assed Internet Research

Robert Shaw’s post-production pub crawl, rivalry with Sean Connery, the source book dispute, awards record, and profitability are reported.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:36:13Read transcript
  • George Roy Hill and Robert Shaw reportedly celebrated filming with a week-long Irish pub crawl ending with Shaw playing ping-pong in his underwear.
  • Shaw reportedly regarded Sean Connery as a professional rival.
  • The screenplay was associated with The Big Con; its author sued and the production settled while denying plagiarism.
  • The film won seven of ten Oscar nominations.
  • The film’s budget and enormous box-office return are reported.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The train poker game is selected twice; the first Gondorff-Hooker meeting is another explicit favorite. The opening con, roulette loss, counterfeit handoff, train setup, fake race, revenge exchange, Salino reveal, and final con are additional nominees.

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:11Read transcript
  • The opening switch with Luther is nominated as a strong opening con.
  • The train stretch combining Lonnegan’s pickpocketing, card tricks, gin trick, and poker game is nominated as one long sequence.
  • Hooker immediately losing his winnings at roulette is included despite an objection that the bet is implausible.
  • Hooker paying Snyder with counterfeit money is nominated.
  • The poker game is selected for Newman’s comic drunk performance and the four-jack cheat.
  • Hooker apparently offering to double-cross Gondorff is nominated for making the audience question the con.
  • The fake Blue Note race is nominated.
  • Gondorff and Hooker’s exchange about revenge being for suckers is nominated.
  • Salino’s reveal as the assassin and death are nominated.
  • The final con, fake shootings, and Hooker declining his share are nominated.
  • The poker game is explicitly selected by two participants.
  • Gondorff and Hooker’s first meeting, with hungover Gondorff and their verbal sparring, is selected as another favorite.

What’s Aged the Best?

Pickpocketing, train travel, period drinking, the practical con, and the loose 1974 Oscars presentation are praised.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:40Read transcript
  • Pickpocketing is praised as an underused movie device.
  • A star-filled train trip with the possibility of danger is praised.
  • Schlitz bottles and beer at breakfast are praised as period texture.
  • The practical construction and staffing of the con are praised.
  • Elizabeth Taylor presenting Best Picture after the streaker interrupted the ceremony is recommended as loose, memorable awards footage.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The extra hitmen, absence of a substantial woman, sequel, racial slurs, and slow late stretch are criticized.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:41Read transcript
  • Cole and Sullivan continuing to pursue Hooker after Salino takes over are criticized as a confusing and unnecessary extra hitman subplot.
  • The absence of a substantial woman in the con is identified as a missed opportunity.
  • The Sting II is selected as the worst extension of the film.
  • Several racial slurs are identified as dated.
  • The stretch after the Blue Note scene is criticized as slow and overextended.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Redford’s performance is ranked outside one speaker’s top ten, while 1970s prank culture is defended.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:33Read transcript
  • One participant says the Oscar-nominated performance would not make his top ten Redford performances.
  • Another argues that pranks were cooler in the 1970s and that modern anti-prank sentiment is excessive.

Casting What-Ifs

Jack Nicholson, Sterling Hayden, and Richard Boone are reported casting alternatives.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:50Read transcript
  • Jack Nicholson reportedly declined Hooker while predicting the movie would be a hit.
  • The panel believes Nicholson would have had the charm to succeed in the role.
  • Sterling Hayden reportedly declined Lonnegan because he would not shave his beard.
  • Richard Boone is named as another Lonnegan possibility who dropped out.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Lonnegan’s silent henchman wins over Luther, Salino, Billie, and the fake FBI agent.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:09Read transcript
  • Luther, Salino, Billie, Lonnegan’s silent henchman, and the fake FBI agent are nominated.
  • Lonnegan’s silent henchman is selected for standing out without dialogue.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Period streets and cars; an accidental drink spill; the diner set; Redford’s broken thumb and lateness; the adapted score; Julia Phillips’s producing milestone.

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:25Read transcript
  • George Roy Hill reportedly copied the sparse extras of 1930s gangster films, creating empty-looking streets.
  • Many cars were authentic period vehicles sourced by producer Tony Bill.
  • Snyder pouring the rejected drink onto Billie’s hand was an accident retained in the film.
  • The diner set later appeared in Back to the Future.
  • Redford worked around a broken thumb from a skiing accident.
  • Robert Shaw recalled people recognizing Newman more than Redford; the hosts question whether he was teasing Redford.
  • The adapted-score Oscar recognized Marvin Hamlisch’s arrangement of Scott Joplin music, a category whose rules later changed.
  • The discussion contrasts a proposed 1930s Chicago blues soundtrack with Hill’s preference for older ragtime music.
  • Julia Phillips became the first woman to win Best Picture as a producer.
  • Julia Phillips recalled that the producers had not negotiated their credit lettering, leaving their names looking less prominent.
  • Phillips reported that Newman confronted Redford about arriving late, after which Redford reduced his lateness.

Apex Mountain

Redford and George Roy Hill are selected; Newman is rejected, while Schlitz, ragtime, and con movies are debated.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:25Read transcript
  • Paul Newman is rejected for Apex Mountain, which is placed earlier in his career.
  • Redford is selected for reaching first-call status through The Way We Were and The Sting.
  • George Roy Hill is selected after winning Best Director and following Butch Cassidy with The Sting.
  • Scott Joplin’s ragtime revival is proposed.
  • Schlitz is proposed for its 1930s dominance and possible 1970s revival.
  • The Sting is debated as Apex Mountain for con movies because of its success and influence.

Picking Nits

Poker procedure, the train conductor, shooting evidence, race verification, Billie’s availability, and the large con crew are questioned.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:01Read transcript
  • The poker game is criticized for splashing the pot and acting out of order.
  • The conductor’s participation in the full poker game is questioned.
  • The group argues Lonnegan should notice the absence of entry and exit wounds on Hooker.
  • Lonnegan’s ability to verify the horse races in newspapers is questioned.
  • Eileen Brennan’s ability to run the brothel while remaining available for elaborate cons is questioned.
  • The payout and loyalty of roughly thirty betting-parlor participants are questioned.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A prestige continuation following Gondorff and Hooker running new cons is preferred.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:14Read transcript
  • A continuation with Gondorff and Hooker on the run from Lonnegan is proposed.
  • A weekly Burn Notice-style series with a new con each episode is proposed.

Just One Oscar

David S. Ward’s screenplay is selected after George Roy Hill and Marvin Hamlisch are considered.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:44:16Read transcript
  • George Roy Hill is proposed before the group notes he already won.
  • Marvin Hamlisch is proposed for the score.
  • David S. Ward is selected for a script said to have changed very little during filming.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Doyle Lonnegan’s golf handicap is estimated but remains unresolved.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:45:08Read transcript
  • The group asks Doyle Lonnegan’s golf handicap and speculates that he cheats.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Revenge is for suckers; never reveal that the con succeeded.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:21Read transcript
  • Revenge is for suckers is selected as a lesson.
  • Keeping the victim unaware even after taking the money is selected as another lesson.

Who Won the Movie?

Paul Newman receives one vote and Robert Redford receives two; George Roy Hill is raised as an alternative.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:47:38Read transcript
  • Paul Newman receives the first winner vote.
  • Robert Redford receives two winner votes because he walks out of the movie “smelling like gold.”
  • George Roy Hill is proposed as an alternative for directing both this film and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Paul Newman
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Robert Redford
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Robert Redford
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Paul Newman
Speaker not identified
Robert Redford
Speaker not identified
Robert Redford

More from the conversation

Newman, Redford, George Roy Hill, the period setting, and the film’s production are discussed.
Approx. transcript time · 00:00:00Read transcript