- Awards And Honors:
- Academy Award (1974)
- On the Web:
- AFI Catalog - The Sting (1973) (Nov. 07, 2026)
The Sting
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What is the movie 'The Sting' about?
The Sting, a popular 1973 American caper movie starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, is set in 1936 Illinois. Two grifters, Johnny Hooker and Luther, unwittingly steal money belonging to mob boss Doyle Lonnegan. After Lonnegan has Luther killed, Hooker seeks out con artist Henry Gondorff. Together, they plot an elaborate scheme involving a fake off-track betting parlor to swindle Lonnegan.
Complicating matters, a crooked cop and the FBI are also after Hooker and Gondorff. In a dramatic double-cross, the FBI appears to kill Hooker and Gondorff, but it is revealed to be part of the con, with the FBI agent also in on the scheme.
The Sting won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and its score, adapted from Scott Joplin's ragtime compositions, sparked a revival of the genre.
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Who are the main characters in 'The Sting'?
The Sting, released in 1973, tells the story of a con job set in 1930s Illinois.
The main characters are:
* Johnny Hooker: Played by Robert Redford, Hooker is a young grifter who seeks to avenge the death of his partner.
* Henry Gondorff: Played by Paul Newman, Gondorff is an experienced con artist who helps Hooker in his scheme.
* Doyle Lonnegan: Played by Robert Shaw, Lonnegan is the wealthy mob boss who becomes the target of Hooker and Gondorff's elaborate con.
* Lieutenant Snyder: Played by Charles Durning, Snyder is a corrupt police officer who is after Hooker.
* Billie: Played by Eileen Brennan, Billie is Gondorff's girlfriend.
* Kid Twist: Played by Harold Gould, Twist is one of the criminals who helps Hooker and Gondorff.
* J.J. Singleton: Played by Ray Walston, Singleton is another criminal who assists with the con.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Who directed 'The Sting' and when was it released?
The Sting, a popular American caper movie, was directed by George Roy Hill and released in 1973. This film, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, was a major success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Hill.
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What is a 'con' or 'sting' in the context of the movie?
In the context of the 1973 film The Sting, a "con" or "sting" refers to an elaborate confidence trick designed to deceive and swindle a target. It's a scheme where criminals manipulate a situation to financially exploit someone, often involving intricate planning and a cast of characters playing specific roles.
In the movie, Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) execute a complex con against mob boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), creating a fake betting parlor to swindle him out of a large sum of money. This "sting" involves numerous accomplices and a meticulously crafted plot to deceive Lonnegan. The term reflects the film's focus on deception and trickery as central elements of the storyline.
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How does the setting and time period affect the story in 'The Sting'?
The Sting, released in 1973, is set in Joliet, Illinois, and Chicago in September 1936. The film's setting during the Great Depression provides a backdrop of economic hardship, influencing the characters' motivations and actions. The prevalence of scams and cons reflects the desperation of the era, as people sought ways to survive in a challenging economic climate. The time period's distinct fashion, music, and cultural norms contribute to the film's atmosphere and charm, immersing viewers in the 1930s.
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Why is 'The Sting' considered an important or influential film?
The Sting, directed by George Roy Hill and released in 1973, stands as an important and influential film due to several factors. As one of the most popular movies of the 1970s, it captivated audiences with its intricate plot and memorable performances from the on-screen pairing of Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
The film garnered widespread critical acclaim, securing seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Moreover, The Sting ignited a renewed interest in ragtime music, popularizing the compositions of Scott Joplin. Its box-office success further solidified its place in cinematic history, remaining one of the highest-grossing films ever when adjusted for inflation. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
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The Sting, American caper movie, released in 1973, that was one of the most popular films of the 1970s and the second on-screen pairing of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It won seven Academy Awards, including that for best picture.
(Read Martin Scorseseās Britannica essay on film preservation.)
The movie begins in Joliet, Illinois, in September 1936. Two men, Johnny Hooker (played by Redford) and his partner, Luther (Robert Earl Jones), trick a courier out of $11,000, unaware that the money was to have been given to powerful mobster Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). Luther intends to retire with his share of the money, and he recommends that Hooker partner with con artist Henry Gondorff (Newman) in Chicago. That evening, a crooked cop, Lieut. William Snyder (Charles Durning), accosts Hooker, telling him that he knows that he stole money from one of Lonneganās men, and demands a cut. Hooker gives him $2,000 in counterfeit bills and then goes to warn Luther, only to find that his partner has been killed.
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Hooker escapes to Chicago, where he finds Gondorff living with his girlfriend, Billie (Eileen Brennan). Gondorff agrees to help Hooker run an elaborate confidence game to financially ruin Lonnegan. They devise a scheme to create a fake offtrack betting parlour, where Lonnegan will make a large bet that they will then steal. In addition to Billie, the men enlist the aid of various criminals, including Kid Twist (Harold Gould) and J.J. Singleton (Ray Walston). While their plan is being put into action, Lieutenant Snyder, seeking revenge for the counterfeit money, follows Hooker to Chicago, where he is picked up and taken to FBI Agent Polk (Dana Elcar). Polk tells Snyder that the FBI is after Gondorff and that he wants Snyder to bring Hooker in so that Polk can use Hooker to get to Gondorff.
After surprising Hooker in his apartment, Snyder takes him to Agent Polk, who threatens to imprison Lutherās widow if Hooker refuses to cooperate. Hooker agrees to give up Gondorff as long as the FBI waits until the sting against Lonnegan has been completed. Hooker spends that night with a waitress (Dimitra Arliss), and when he awakens the next morning, she is gone. He later sees the woman approaching him in an alley, but someone behind Hooker shoots her dead. The gunman explains that the waitress was actually Lonneganās hired assassin, Salino, and that she had been ordered to kill Hooker for the Joliet heist. Furthermore, the gunman had been asked by Gondorff to keep an eye on Hooker.
The action then shifts to the fake parlour, where Lonnegan, acting on a tip from Kid Twist, makes a $500,000 bet. As he waits for the horse race to be called, Lonnegan is joined by Kid Twist, who informs him that he was supposed to have bet on Lucky Dan to place (come in second), not to win. As Lonnegan attempts to change his bet, the FBI agents, led by Polk and Snyder, arrive. Polk tells Hooker that he can leave, but Gondorff shoots Hooker in the back. Polk then shoots Gondorff. As Lonnegan looks aghast at the carnage, Snyder hustles him out of the building. After they leave, Hooker and Gondorff, both unharmed, stand up. It is then revealed that Polk was also part of the con.
The Sting reunited actors Newman and Redford with director George Roy Hill four years after that team struck box-office gold with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). The score, adapted by Marvin Hamlisch from songs composed by Scott Joplin, ignited a vogue for ragtime music, though the musical formās heyday predated World War I. Legendary costume designer Edith Head earned her eighth and final Oscar for her work on the film. The Academy Award ceremony was enlivened when a naked man raced across the stage shortly before The Sting was announced as the best picture. The movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2005.
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Production notes and credits
- Studios: Zanuck/Brown Productions and Universal Pictures
- Director: George Roy Hill
- Writer: David S. Ward
- Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Cast
- Robert Redford (Johnny Hooker)
- Paul Newman (Henry Gondorff)
- Robert Shaw (Doyle Lonnegan)
- Charles Durning (Lieutenant Snyder)
- Eileen Brennan (Billie)
- Harold Gould (Kid Twist)
- Ray Walston (J.J. Singleton)
Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)
- Picture*
- Lead actor (Robert Redford)
- Art direction*
- Cinematography
- Costume design*
- Direction*
- Editing*
- Music*
- Sound
- Writing*