The Sting
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| The Sting | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | The Sting |
| Director | George Roy Hill |
| Producer | Tony Bill, Michael Phillips, Julia Phillips |
| Writer | David S. Ward |
| Starring | Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould |
| Music | Marvin Hamlisch |
| Cinematography | Robert Surtees |
| Editing | William Reynolds |
| Studio | Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Redford/Schulberg |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Released | December 25, 1973 |
| Runtime | 129 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Gross | $159 million |
The Sting
The Sting is a 1973 American caper film directed by George Roy Hill and written by David S. Ward. Set in 1936 Chicago, it follows two con men who plan an elaborate confidence trick against a crime boss, blending period detail, caper conventions, and pastiche of Max Fleischer-era style and Dashiell Hammett-inspired plotting. The picture stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford and catalyzed renewed public interest in con artist narratives, influencing subsequent films, television series, and stage adaptations.
Plot
The narrative centers on two professional swindlers in 1930s Chicago who engineer an intricate long cons to avenge the murder of a friend and to defraud a powerful criminal. After a fatal encounter involving a small-time grifter and an enforcer tied to a Midwestern crime syndicate, the protagonists recruit a team of specialists—runners, bookmakers, and a corrupt bookmaker’s underlings—to construct a bogus betting parlor and a staged big con involving fake bets and planted informants. Through escalating setups that reference vaudeville-era techniques and Depression-era rationing, the plan culminates in a climactic sting that uses misdirection, counterfeit banking papers, and theatrical misapprehensions to outwit a mob boss. Themes of revenge, loyalty, and illusion interplay with period artifacts like wire transfers, telegraphic codes, and racetrack bookkeeping inherited from harness racing culture.
Cast
The principal cast includes Paul Newman as the elder grifter, Robert Redford as his protégé, Robert Shaw as the crime boss, and Charles Durning as an allied con man; supporting roles feature Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, Ray Walston, Dana Elcar, and Sally Kirkland. The ensemble also incorporates character actors with backgrounds in Broadway and Hollywood character comedy, many of whom had credits in productions by studios such as MGM and 20th Century Fox. Several performers had prior collaborations with director George Roy Hill and with producers affiliated with Robert Redford's production ventures.
Production
The film was directed by George Roy Hill, produced by Tony Bill, Michael Phillips, and Julia Phillips, and written by David S. Ward based on period research into Depression-era swindles and historical incidents in Chicago and the Midwest. Cinematography was by Robert Surtees and editing by William Reynolds, with production design evoking 1930s urban streetscapes and interior sets reminiscent of vaudeville and burlesque houses. Location shooting and studio sets were coordinated with crews experienced on projects for Universal Pictures and independent production companies. Costuming referenced period tailors and archival photographs from municipal libraries and collections associated with The New York Public Library and regional historical societies. The screenplay underwent revisions during pre-production, influenced by consultations with historians of organized crime and experts on confidence games.
Music
The soundtrack features a pastiche of ragtime and period tunes, prominently including Marvin Hamlisch's arrangement of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," which became a charting instrumental and renewed interest in ragtime composers. Hamlisch adapted selections from Scott Joplin's catalog and worked with orchestral contractors who had credits on recordings for Columbia Records and film studios. Sound design incorporated period radio broadcasts and ambient audio referencing 1930s urban life, with music supervising aligned with practices from major studios like United Artists and Warner Bros. for historical pastiche scores.
Release and reception
Released on December 25, 1973 by Universal Pictures, the film achieved both commercial success and widespread critical acclaim, performing strongly at the box office against releases from Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures. Contemporary reviews appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, Variety, and Time, praising the chemistry of the leads, the screenplay's clever plotting, and the period production values. The movie influenced later works in the caper genre and was referenced in television series produced by networks including NBC and CBS, as well as in novels and stage revivals. Retrospective commentary by film historians in journals associated with American Film Institute and academic departments at UCLA and NYU film schools analyzed its narrative structure and cultural impact.
Awards and honors
The film received multiple accolades, including Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Picture and for music, garnering nominations for Best Director for George Roy Hill and for acting and technical categories. It also won awards from the Golden Globe Awards and recognition from the BAFTA and National Board of Review. The success contributed to honors for principal creatives at industry events hosted by organizations such as the Producers Guild of America and invitations to preserve the film in institutional archives including the Library of Congress and film preservation programs at the Museum of Modern Art.
Category:1973 films Category:American films Category:Heist films