THE STING

"THE STING" (1976)

This comical crime movie is a personal favorite of mine and I never tire of watching it. It stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman, who are excellent as a duo and shine individually. They are well-supported by Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, Ray Walston and a number of amazing character actors. It is one of the best movies ever made (in my humble opinion). The score for the movie, is so very good and ever-present, that it seems like another character in its own right. The movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 7 of them. One of the seven was for "Best Costume Design," which is why it was included in this schedule. In 2005, it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry at The Library of Congress. It was also nominated, but did not win, a Golden Globe Award, a Golden Screen Award, and a Writer's Guild of America Award. However, it did win an American Cinema Editors Award for "Best Edited Feature Film," A David di Donatella Award for "Best Foreign Actor" (Robert Redford, who was tied with Al Pacino for his role in "Serpico"), A Directors Guild of America Award, a Golden Screen Award, two National Board of Reviews Awards, a People's Choice Award, a PGA Award and a Kinema Junpo Award. In 2018, it was entered into the OFTA Film Hall of Fame. In 2005, it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.

SYNOPSIS: "Following the murder of a mutual friend, aspiring con man Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) teams up with old pro Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to take revenge on the ruthless crime boss responsible, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). Hooker and Gondorff set about implementing an elaborate scheme, one so crafty that Lonnegan won't even know he's been swindled. As their big con unfolds, however, things don't go according to plan, requiring some last-minute improvisation by the undaunted duo."