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Features: DVD, English, Spanish, Subtitled, Full Picture Aspect Ratio, Aspect Ratio 1.33:1
Set in the 1930s, small-time crook robert redford and veterancon man paul newman seek revenge on the vicious crime lordrobert shaw who murdered one of their brotherhood.
"Sparkling...inventive...excellent acting" VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
Editor's Note
Hoping that box-office lighting might strike twice, George Roy Hill again joined forces with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, who star as con men Henry Gondorff and Johnny Hooker in THE STING. In the Chicago of the 1930s, Johnny's partner, Luther (Robert Earl Jones), is fatally wounded by a victim of one of their scams who turns out to be powerful syndicate boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). Eager for revenge, Johnny takes a tip from his dying partner and seeks out mutual friend Gondorff, a consummate master of the long con. Gondorff rouses himself from his alcoholic inertia and agrees to help Johnny take down the despicable Lonnegan, conscripting an army of grifters ready to avenge their friend's death. The labyrinthine plot, which is stuffed with false leads, red herrings, and a double-cross-a-minute, involves a fake bookie joint, a very persistent FBI agent, a bunch of corrupt cops, and one shifty dame. An extremely entertaining film, the Oscar-winning film transcends the genre through the superb acting of the three leads, the keen attention to the re-creation of period detail, and a fiendishly intricate script that cons audiences completely. The wonderful score, which became immensely popular, featured Marvin Hamlisch's orchestral transcriptions of Scott Joplin's piano rags; the film led to a revival of interest in the composer. The film is one of the most entertaining films of the 1970s and lives up to its hype on repeat viewings.
Plot Summary
This lighthearted caper tells the story of two con men who attempt to swindle a powerful racketeer in 1930s Chicago. Johnny Hooker is a young confidence man whose mentor is murdered when they run afoul of syndicate head Doyle Lonnegan. Seeking revenge as well as a career boost, Hooker joins forces with old pro Henry Gondorff. Together the two scam artists cook up a complicated gambling sting that could net them the big score they are looking for.
| Features | Film Highlights | | Scene Access | | Cast & Crew Bios | | Production Notes | | Spanish Subtitles | | English Subtitles | | Interactive Menus | | English Track | | Spanish Track | | French Track |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Universal |
| Release Date: 9/9/2008 |
| Running Time: 129 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1973 | | Catalog ID: 20165 | | UPC: 00025192016523 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.33:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1974) |  | Henry Bumstead, James Payne, Winner, Best Set Decoration | | Edith Head, Winner, Best Costume Design | | George Roy Hill, Winner, Best Director | | William Reynolds, Winner, Best Film Editing | | Marvin Hamlisch, Winner, Best Music Score Or Adaptation | | David S. Ward, Winner, Best Original Screenplay | | | Robert Redford, Nominee, Best Actor | | | Robert Surtees, Nominee, Best Cinematography | | | Robert R. Bertrand, Ronald Price, Nominee, Best Sound | |
Golden Globe (1974) | | | David S. Ward, Nominee, Best Motion Picture Screenplay |
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| | Professional Reviews | 10 of 10
...successful entertainment, masterfully told and played... the aged look of Surtees photography...evokes a feeling of antiquity as if the film is being watched through nostalgic eyes/// - The Motion Micture Guide
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