The Sting

(1973)

129 minutes

Classics / Comedy / Crime / Drama

Directed by George Roy Hill 

Cast:

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

The Sting trailer

The film is set in the 1930's. Robert Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a 'grifter' from Illinois.  Hooker and his collaborators Luther Coleman and Joe Erie end up taking $11,000 of cash from someone. As successful as this plan was, Luther informs Johnny that he is leaving his criminal ways and heading to Kansas City to work with his brother-in-law in a legit business. He encourages Hooker to find his old companion, Henry Gondorff in Chicago, who knows all about being a “grifter” and could teach him things he never knew. 

The three guys later find out that they had robbed from mob boss Doyle Lonnegan. Unscrupulous Joliet police Lieutenant William Snyder demands Hooker to give him $2,000 out of the $11,000 and makes known Lonnegan’s association. Hooker decides to pay Snyder with fake money, for he has already spent the money and knows he and his team is at risk. Hooker goes to Kansas City to notice Coleman, but finds that Lonnegan’s hench men got there first. Hooker travels to Chicago to visit Gondorff and has revenge on his mind. 

Paul Newman plays Gondorff, a weary man constantly dodging the FBI. At first he is hesitant to help Hooker, for he thinks "revenge is for suckers," and he is clearly aware how the New York gangsters are for viciously murdering people. Gondorff eventually decides to help Hooker because he likes when Hooker says that he'll take Lonnegan on anyway "because I don't know enough about killin' to kill him." Since Lonnegan is a practical man with few bad habits, Henry arranges a plan where Hooker will be the inside man . Will his plan bring down the ruthless Lonnegan?