The Sting

thumb The Sting is a 1973 film about two confidence tricksters working in 1930s Chicago who team up to pull the ultimate con on a millionaire mob boss. Directed by George Roy Hill. Written by David S. Ward. ...all it takes is a little Confidence. Henry Gondorff No sense being a grifter if it's the same as bein' a citizen. [enters the poker game pretending to be drunk] Sorry I'm late, guys, I was takin' a crap. Doyle Lonnegan You see that fella in the red sweater over there? His name's Donnie McCoy. Works a few of the protection rackets for Cunnaro when he's waiting for something better to happen. Donnie and I have known each other since we were six. Take a good look at that face, Floyd. Because if he ever finds out I can be beat by one lousy grifter, I'll have to kill him and every other hood who wants to muscle in on my Chicago operation. FBI Agent Polk [to Snyder] Sit down and shut up, will ya? Try not to live up to all my expectations. Dialogue Luther: You're late. Where have you been? Hooker: I had a couple of appointments. Luther: How much did you lose? Hooker: [winces] All of it. Luther: In one damn night? What are you spraying money around like that for? You could've been nailed. Hooker: I checked the place first. There were no dicks in there. Luther: But you're a con man! And you blew it like a pimp! I didn't teach you to be no pimp. Henry: [drunk] Turn it off. Hooker: Are you sober? Henry: [drunk] Turn it off. Henry: [drunk] Glad to meet you, kid - you're a real horse's ass. Hooker: Luther said I could learn from you. I already know how to drink. Hooker: Listen, Gondorff! Am I gonna learn the big con or not? Henry: What's your hurry? Hooker: I want to play for Lonnegan. Henry: You know anything about the guy? Hooker: Yeah! He croaked Luther! Anything else I gotta know? [after he calms down] All right. He runs a numbers racket on the south side. He owns a packing house. A few banks. Henry: Yeah, and half the politicians in New York and Chicago. Not a fix in this world is gonna cool him out if he blows on you. Hooker: I'll get him anyway. Henry: Why? Hooker: 'Cause I don't know enough about killin' to kill him. Henry: You can't do it alone, you know. It takes a mob of guys like you and enough money to make them look good. Hooker: I know plenty of guys. Henry: It's not like playing winos in the street. You can't outrun Lonnegan. Hooker: I never played for no winos. Henry: You gotta keep his con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him. Hooker: You're scared of him. Henry: Right down to my socks, buster! You're talkin' about a guy who'd kill a grifter over a chunk of money that wouldn't support him for two days! Hooker: What're you doin'?! Henry: Always drink gin with the mark, son. He can't tell if y' cut it! Henry: Tough luck, Lonnehan. But that's what you get for playing with your head up your ass! Doyle: The name's Lonnegan, DOYLE Lonnegan! You're gonna remember that, Mr. Shaw, or you're gonna get yourself a new game. You follow? Floyd: Doyle, I KNOW I gave him four THREES. He had to make a SWITCH. We can't let him get away with that. Doyle: What was I supposed to do - call him for cheating better than me, in front of the others? Hooker: Hey, where's June? Loretta: She quit. I'm filling in for a couple of days, till I can get a train outta here. Hooker: Yeah? Where ya going? Loretta: I don't know. Depends on which train I get on. Hooker: Can you get a mob together? Henry: After what happened to Luther, I don't think I can get more than two, three hundred guys. Kid Twist: Now how do you want to work this? Flat rate or percentage? Benny Garfield: Who's the mark? Kid: Doyle Lonnegan. Benny: [short pause] Flat rate. Hooker: I gave him the breakdown, just like you said. Henry: And? Hooker: It's good. He threatened to kill me. Henry: Hell, kid, they don't do that, you know you're not getting to 'em. Billie: Who told you this guy was in here? Lt. Snyder: Nobody, I just know what kind of woman he likes. Going to check all the joy houses till I find him. Billie: Oh, well maybe I could help you, if you tell me his name. Lt. Snyder: I doubt it. Which way are the rooms? Billie: Right through there. But I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Lt. Snyder: What you are going to do, call the cops? Billie: I don't have to. You'd be busting in on the Chief of Police just up the hall. Henry: I'd think you'd get tired of losing, Harrigan. Doyle: [going to the betting window] Blue Note, $2,000 to win, fourth race, Narragansett. Henry: Make sure you see the cash, Eddie. He's got a name for betting money he doesn't have. Hooker: [watching Lonnegan] He's not as tough as he thinks. Henry: Neither are we. Henry: Is Lonnegan after you too? Hooker: I don't know. I ain't seen anybody. Henry: You never do, kid. Hooker: I, ah...thought you might wanna come out for a while. Maybe have a drink or somethin'. Loretta: You move right along, don't ya. Hooker: I don't mean nothin' by it. I just don't know many regular girls, that's all. Loretta: And you expect me to come out, just like that. Hooker: If I expected somethin', I wouldn't be still standin' out here in the hall. Loretta: I don't even know you. Hooker: You know me. I'm just like you. It's two in the morning and I don't know nobody. Henry: What's your problem? Doyle: I'm putting half a million dollars on Lucky Dan to win, third race at Riverside Park. Henry: Can't lay that off in time. A bet like that could break us.[Hooker stares at him incredulously]Doyle: Not only are you a cheat, you're a gutless cheat as well. Henry: What are the odds? Eddie: Four to one. Henry: Take all of it! Doyle: I put it all on Lucky Dan- half a million dollars to win. Kid: To win? I said place! "Place it on Lucky D-" That horse is gonna run second! Doyle: [runs horrified to the betting booth]'' There's been a mistake! Gimme my money back! Henry: You beat him, kid. Hooker: You were right, Henry. It's not enough... But it's close. Henry: You're not gonna stick around for your share? Hooker: Nah, I'd only blow it. Cast Robert Redford — Johnny "Kelly" Hooker Paul Newman — Henry "Shaw" Gondorff Robert Shaw — Doyle Lonnegan Charles Durning — Lieutenant William Snyder Ray Walston — J.J. Singleton Eileen Brennan — Billie Harold Gould — Kid Twist John Heffernan — Eddie Niles Dana Elcar — FBI Agent Polk Jack Kehoe — Erie Kid Dimitra Arliss — Loretta Salino Robert Earl Jones — Luther Coleman Charles Dierkop — Floyd James J. Sloyan — Mottola External links 0070735 The Sting 46920 1020130-sting Category:1973 American films Category:American comedy-drama films Category:Heist films Category:Best Picture Academy Award winners Category:American films about gambling Category:Films set in Chicago Category:Films about revenge Category:Films directed by George Roy Hill Category:Films about fraud Category:Films about con artists Category:Films set in the 1930s Category:Films about sports betting Category:Films whose writers won Best Original Screenplay Academy Award