The Sting
Movie, 1973, The Classics, Set in 1936
The Sting is #5 of 26 in release order and #1 of 26 in chronological order in the Heist Movies.
The story
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
The Sting recap
In 1936 Joliet, Illinois, the grifter Johnny Hooker and his partner Luther Coleman con a numbers runner out of a large sum, without knowing it belongs to the New York mob boss Doyle Lonnegan. Lonnegan has Luther killed. Hooker flees to Chicago to find Luther's old friend Henry Gondorff, a famous con man in hiding, and they plan revenge as a con instead of a killing. They build a fake off-track betting parlour, the wire, staffed by grifters, and Hooker poses as a disgruntled employee of Gondorff who can give Lonnegan race results before they reach the bookies. Hooker is chased by Lonnegan's hitmen and by a crooked cop, Lieutenant Snyder, who forces him to help the FBI catch Gondorff.
The Sting ending explained
Lonnegan bets half a million dollars on a horse. Too late, he is told it will place, not win, and loses everything. The FBI raids the parlour, Hooker seems to betray Gondorff, Gondorff shoots Hooker, and the FBI agent shoots Gondorff. Lonnegan is hustled away, and both men stand up: the shootings and the FBI agent were part of the con. Hooker turns down his share and walks off.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Sting
The Sting is streaming on Prime Video and YouTube TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Italian Job, before Dog Day Afternoon.
- Chronological order: first, before The Killing.
Cast
- Paul Newman as Henry Gondorff
- Robert Redford as Johnny Hooker
- Robert Shaw as Doyle Lonnegan
- Charles Durning as Lt. Wm. 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 Erie Kid
- Dimitra Arliss as Loretta
- Robert Earl Jones as Luther Coleman
Directed by George Roy Hill.