The Sting

"The Sting" is a classic American crime film set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, telling he story of two con men who plan an elaborate and intricate scheme to exact revenge on a powerful mob boss.

The film begins with Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford), a small-time grifter, unwittingly conning a courier working for mob boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). When Lonnegan discovers the deception, he orders his hitman to kill Hooker's partner. Fueled by anger and a thirst for revenge, Hooker seeks out the help of experienced con artist Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman).

Together, Hooker and Gondorff devise an intricate plan known as "the big con." They assemble a team of skilled con men, each with their unique talents, to execute the elaborate ruse. Their ultimate goal is to trick Lonnegan into betting a large sum of money on a fixed horse race, where they plan to manipulate the outcome in their favor.

Clocking in at 127 minutes, "The Sting" builds towards a series of thrilling climaxes that pile up with excitement. In the final moments, the audience realizes they have been taken on a ride, but the pleasure of the journey makes it worthwhile.

While the producing partnership of Tony Bill and the Phillips ended after this second collaboration (their first being "Steelyard Blues"), their success rate of one out of two is commendable. As for the Zanuck/Brown Co., "The Sting" bodes well for their future endeavors. Universal Pictures, having already had a record year at the time, continued to demonstrate its winning streak.

Release: 1973

Stars: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%