I love watching people discover this masterpiece. They don't make movies like this anymore. A true classic. The Sting is one of my favorite movies. Amazing scripts, great cast & the score fits perfectly with the 1930's setting.
You're right about the music being the backbone. The movie created a renaissance of ragtime; for five or ten years after it came out, Scott Joplin ragtime was about the first thing that any piano student wanted to learn.
Music is from Scott Joplin, known as rag time (ragged time), which really dates from c. 1900-1910, not the Depression. Yet it really somehow fits perfectly. This movie created a whole new appreciation of Joplin's music, which I don't think has ever diminished since.
I remember when this film first came out, and, for about a year afterward, *everyone* was making that finger-beside-the-nose gesture that indicated that you were part of Henry Gondorf's gang.
"I can't believe I've never watched this before, and I'd barely heard of it." -- Right, and you know what? There are SO MANY great movies that 21st century viewers have barely heard of and never seen. You are sort of an exception, Shan, because you seem so open to new experiences. But this just tells you how much more you still have to discover!
This movie stands multiple watchings: the first time, you're one of the "marks" - we've been conned along with some of the other characters. From now on, when we watch, we're on the inside, and we get to marvel at how tightly-knit things are, and we are in on the jokes. Also, there's a lot going on with the importance of created family; loyalties; friendships. All of Henry's gang are close friends, trusted, each with a particular talent; and for people of my generation, who saw the movie when it first came out, the gang members were familiar supporting and tv actors, so the feeling of familiarity and thrill in seeing them was multiplied. I hope you get to know each of them better. And of course, the icy, brilliant Robert Shaw will impress you more with each watching: the things and absence of things going on behind his eyes alone will hold you. Charlies Durning, who was Snyder, was another brilliant character actor, with a huge range. Watch him in "Tootsie" and compare him with Snyder, and you'll get just a hint of how talented he was.
well summarized, I saw this after H school and the audience of course were all taken in until we all cheered at the final scene. It deserved all the 7 oscars it won. EVEN the designer of clothes EDITH HEAD who jokingly said "I get to clothe the 2 best looking men in films" STILL a great watch over 40 yrs later
Great point that The Sting was heavily populated with a great bunch of familiar character actors. It really made for a great ensemble, with Redford, Shaw and Newman at the top. It is ironic that so many younger UA-cam movie buffs seem to have only a basic knowledge of film and film history. They mainly know Star Wars and a handful of action, adventure, and Western films and the Godfather saga as their classic movies. They know Robert Shaw from Jaws and maybe From Russia, With Love, but not from a wider body of work. Fortunately there are tons of great films waiting to be discovered.
My favorite performance of Charles Durning’s was from an Emmy-nominated episode of NCIS, where he was a WWII vet and Medal of Honor recipient who is suffering from delayed PTSD. He absolutely breaks your heart in the role-my father, who never watches scripted television and definitely never weeps at it, was wiping his eyes after I showed him that episode.
I cosign this statement. Durning crushes every roll and this movie has a high rewatchable quality. As far as other Newman movies, Cool Hand Luke is my jam.
"The Great Waldo Pepper" (1975) Directed by George Roy Hill with Redford, Margot Kidder, Susan Sarandon, Bo Svensen and others. Another period piece set a few years earlier than "The Sting."
A real cool Robert Shaw Movie: Robin and Marian (1976). With Sean Connery (Middle aged Robin returned from the Crusades) Audrey Hepburn , Shaw as the Sheriff.
Robert Redford movies worth checking out: Three Days of the Condor 1975, All the Presidents Men 1976. Check out the original Taking of Pelham 123 from 1974 with Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau.
👉 _Sneakers_ (1992) - Robert Redford returned to the Comedy/Heist genre with this '90s classic. If you liked _The Sting,_ you'll love _Sneakers._ 👉 _Slap Shot_ (1977) starring Paul Newman, directed by George Roy Hill. A classic Comedy & one of the best sports movies ever made. More essential Redford: _Jeremiah Johnson_ (1972 - you'd love this) _The Natural_ (1984) _All Is Lost_ (2013) More essential Paul Newman: _The Color Of Money_ (1986 - Scorsese) _The Verdict_ (1981) _Cool Hand Luke_ (1967)
The Hot Rock is another funny heist movie. In fact he references it in the movie Sneakers. If you look at the building Redford's character and Ben Kingsley's character are in when they are hacking into everyone's computers in Sneakers, when Redford's character goes out for pizza he looks at the building and knows his friend is being arrested. If you really look at the building you will recognize it from 3 other movies.
@@rustincohle2135 This is true. However both stories are self contained. You don't necessarily have to watch The Hustler to understand what's going on in The Color of Money.
@@nellgwenn Not the point about the stories being self-contained. The Hustler is the iconic film that introduces one of Newman's most iconic characters. You always watch the original first (especially if it's hugely famous), just like the rest of the world did. The Color of Money isn't an iconic film.
@@rustincohle2135 I agree with you on all counts. But you know the deal. Put yourself in the reactor's place for a minute. He or she as the case may be is reading all these comments. They all say watch this before that. If you've never known about either movie, you have no history with either movie, you might be left to believe that it's impossible to understand the story of The Color of Money without first watching The Hustler. And it's simply not the case. It's kind of like saying you have to listen to Dark Side of the Moon album before you listen to Wish You We're Here. There is a common thread in both albums, but they are self contained. The common thread in both albums is Pink Floyd and it's bent, or sensibilities. There are no plot points in Dark Side of the Moon that makes Wish You We're Here impossible to understand without first listening to Dark Side of the Moon. Actually the only thing that The Hustler gives the viewer of both movies is the charisma and appeal of Fast Eddie Felson. His character is so strong and indelible to the viewer that he demands to have his story continue. However Paul Newman tells you all you need to know about Fast Eddie Felson's history the very first second you see his face on the screen in The Color of Money.
Keep in mind, when a movie is made in the 60's or 70's depicting the 1930's or 40's, its only 30 or 40 years later, so many of the people who are working on the film were alive to know what it looked like in the first place. Just like when you see older war films of WW2, most of the actors in them (and people behind the camera), served in the war and know exactly how it was even if the film wasn't made until 30 years later or so.
And hell, in the 60s and 70s, you could still pick up suits from the 30s and 40s at the Goodwill, or in your grandpa's closet. Today those suits are nearly 100 years old. Ditto for war materiel and uniforms for those war movies; that stuff was still around. The planes and Jeeps still ran.
So true, I remember 1992 like it was yesterday, but 30 years have passed. Guns n Roses released Use Your Illusion 1 and 2, Nirvana released Nevermind, I met my first girlfriend and mobiles and the Internet didn't exist, 30 years is nothing. Lol
I don't know if anybody mentioned this but Robert Shaw broke his foot before filming! He told the director and the decision was to keep it in the film based on the idea that a gangster should have a limp as it adds more menace to the character!
This is my all time favorite movie. In my opinion, it's perfect. The acting, dialog, music, costumes, casting, sets, all of it. I wouldn't change a single thing.
I'm so glad this film is making the rounds. It was MASSIVELY popular when it came out. My mom, my siblings and I went to see it so many times the summer it came out that I actually memorized it. Still consider it one of the best scripts ever written. Also, the only film I can remember in which the soundtrack actually _laughs._ (When Mottola unwraps the wad at the climax of the first con, just listen how the music bursts out in a peal of laughter!) The music is all wrong for the period, by the way, as ragtime was big at the turn of the century but was long gone by the 30's. But Marvin Hamlisch, who did the soundtrack, realized that ragtime carried the right confidence, even jauntiness, that brought the tone of the film up into a more enjoyable feel, more fun. P.S. The stage names of the conmen were real handles used by con men of the era. Kid Twist, Limehouse Chappy, The Big Alabama - all the names were real guys working the con in that era. P.P.S. The races JJ recites over the loudspeaker aren't fake; they're real races. He's reading them off the wire as they come in as if he were a radio sports reporter. Because he has such a typical voice, Lonnegan has no reason to believe he isn't listening to a guy at the track narrating the race in real time. P.P.P.S. The film does provide one big clue. It's in the cue cards. Yes, really. :)
Great Redford Films: "All The President's Men," "Three Days Of The Condor" "The Natural"... Great Newman Films: "The Hustler," "The Verdict," "Cool Hand Luke," "Slap Shot," "Absence Of Malice"
Or one of his last: WHERE THE MONEY IS with Linda Fiorentino who suspects old man Paul's senility is faked... which it is... and he's using his 'diagnosis' to cover up a heist.
Cool Hand Luke definitely, and the Hustler with Color of Money are great. As for Redford, Spy Game and The Castle are exceptional movies later in his career.
If you like paul newman you have to watch cool hand luke. Its a fantastic film with great quips such as im shaking it boss. Great video and comments as always, fella i love your show.
You should react to Long Hot Summer (my favourite Newman's movie, also perfect for.the season). Amazing cast: Newman, Joanne Woodward (Newman's wife irl), Orson Welles, Angela Lansbury, Lee Remick....based on a Tennesse Williams's play.
Great use of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer”as a throughline for the score by Marvin Hamlisch. So memorable and sets the scene, even though ragtime music is not really contemporary music for the 30s. Nice to see Robert Shaw as a villain again. He was great as Donovan Grant (also with an Irish background) in the Connery Bond film From Russia with Love, full of menace.
@@docbearmb Scott Joplin, one of the few Texans as well as African-Americans to be considered part of the "classical music" catalog. As well as being the "King of Ragtime" he also wrote waltzes, serenades, operas and a ballet. My favorite of his is "Solace: A Mexican Serenade" which was used so beautifully in this film.
This movie sparked a revival of Scott Joplin’s music when it came out, which is great as I think he is often overlooked. His pieces are so much fun to play on the piano.
1). Anything with George Roy Hill at the helm is worth watching. His pictures don't all come up to this level, but I don't think you'd regret the time spent with any of them. Other highlights among his films are THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER (with Redford) and SLAUGHTER-HOUSE FIVE, from Kurt Vonnegut's "unfilmable" novel. 2). One of my favorite Paul Newman movies was directed by John Huston: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN. It's not considered a classic, sad to say. It has a great supporting cast. Do check it out! Thanks for this, your reviews are always on point!
I visited Universal Orlando during its opening year; I don't know if it's still there, but they used to have a replica of the alley where the fake bookie joint was. It was complete, down to the fading signage and the rusting metalwork.
The Sting was a very popular film back in the day. It became only the second film to reach $100 mil with the Godfather being the first film to reach that milestone. The Sting earned $156 mil at the box office, keep in mind that was in 1973 when tickets were a lot cheaper. The Sting played 2 years in theaters. Needless to say everyone went to see the film. The Sting won 7 Academy Awards including best picture, best director and best screenplay. Robert Redford received his only best actor Oscar nomination for The Sting. The Sting is a modern classic that not too many people talk about anymore. If you are looking for another great Paul Newman film I would recommend "The Hustler".
COOL HAND LUKE if you haven't seen it. Newman's most memorable movie. My favorite though is THE ROAD TO PERDITION, which also features, in my opinion. Tom Hanks' best performance. For Reobert Redford, I recommend JEREMIAH JOHNSON (one of the first movies that portrayed Native Americans not as Angels or Devils but like anybody else). But Redford also shines in ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR
For a taste of Paul Newman's great body of work, there is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, Hudson, Hombre, Cool Hand Luke. Later in his career, Newman is magnificent in The Verdict, directed by Sidney Lumet, whose first film was 12 Angry Men. Also, Scott Joplin's ragtime music had been rediscovered when The Sting was made. Unlike a more conventional score for a movie about Depression era gangsters and con artists, it was soft and suggested a more gentle world. Also note that even though the film is set in the 1930s, the music is from the early 1900s, perhaps a little earlier. This adds to the sense that the movie will be lighthearted, almost like a fairy tale. Also, ragtime music was not typically used to accompany silent films, but is sometimes added to re-releases.
Great reaction and break down after the film there is so much to take in and yes watching it a second time does help with a better understanding and finding missed clues. Sting is definitely in my top 5 films for me . Just a fun fact Luther played by Rob Earl Jones is James Earl Jone's father.
This was my first time seeing a “grown-up movie” in the theaters, when I was seven. My entire family went to the aging movie palace in our hometown of Joliet, Illinois-when the place card appeared on screen, well, I had never heard a movie audience react like that!! The crowd just erupted in cheers over seeing our city featured. The Sting left me with a lifelong love of grifter films, ragtime, and Robert Redford (I had a life-sized poster of him on my bedroom door when I was 12).
I saw this when I was in 6tg grade. This was my first grown-up movie too. I loved it so much that I saw it 3-4 times. It's a special film in my life. Thanks for the memories, Shan!
Paul Newman is the greatest. You can’t miss with any movie he was in. The Hustler stands out as the best. Cool Hand Luke is a close second. The co stars of George C Scott and George Kennedy are off the page also.
This was during the Great Depression. Also, this movie started the vogue for Scott Joplin’s ragtime piano music. He was virtually forgotten before this. Suddenly, everyone was listening to it. Or playing it.
For Paul Newman, I highly recommend "The Verdict", imho, the greatest courtroom drama ever made. And also, I recommend Absence of Malice. But don't ignore Robert Redford, another one of our all-time great actors. Everyone should watch "All the President's Men". And "Sneakers", while not exactly being a great film, is definitely a whole lot of fun.
BTW, there are a few other great movies that deal with con artists. I strongly recommend "The Grifters". Also, a fun one is "Paper Moon", which is about a small-time con artist.
Not cue cards, which have the dialogue on them to help the actors remember their lines. These are title cards, or intercards, used here to mark the chapters.
I love that they basically pull a Kansas City Shuffle, arguably on Lonnegan, but definitely on US. At least twice, once with Salino, once with the actual con. This is a great script.
I love the fact that the main people being conned was us! Most of the con men were played a bit comical, but the FBI guys played it absolutely straight and we got suckered!
One of my all time favorites, and with a local connection for me. The carousel where Gondorf's lair was filmed at the Santa Monica Pier in California. Glad you enjoyed it, great review!
Do watch both "The Hustler" and The Color of Money", in that order. Both starring Paul Newman. Both are connected and were produced being 25 years apart.
For more George Roy Hill and Paul Newman, check out the hockey film Slapshot. For an interesting drama with some humor notes, see The World According to Garp with Robin Williams, in a more serious role than his usual fare.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, based on a Tennessee Williams play, may not make for a great reaction video, but it shows a very different side to Newman's abilities. It earned him an Oscar nomination and also features one of Elizabeth Taylor's best performances.
Sometimes I get the feeling that a reactor is "playing" me, but I never get that feeling with your reactions. I appreciate that and enjoy watching you watching movies. This one was particularly enjoyable because this is such a great movie and you had so much fun watching it. 👍👍👍👍👍
Some bit players went on to be in other tv shows or movies. The race announcer was "Mr. Hand" in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The FBI head went on to be the "boss" in the original MacGyver TV show. I'm sure there are others that I missed
Paul Newman's greatest performance is probably The Verdict (1982), but I'm also a fan of The Long, Hot Summer (1958) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). Other George Roy Hill films I like include Slaughter-House Five (1972) and The World of Henry Orient (1964). He also directed the film adaptation of The World According to Garp (1982), which featured excellent performances by Robin Williams, Glenn Close, and John Lithgow, but the novel was so much better than the film that I was disappointed.
A Little Romance with a young Diane Lane, is also a George Roy Hill movie which was one of my favorites growing up. Reference to The Sting in that movie which only now I put together!
You brought up at the end of Ocean's 11, but the film with George Clooney is actually a remake of the film from the 60's of the same name with the Rat Pack.
You are mistaken when you speculate that Ocean's 11 got it's inspiration from this film. Ocean's 11(2001) is actually a remake of the original Ocean's 11 which was made in 1960 and starred Frank Sinatra and "the rat pack".(Dean Martin, Sammy Davis jr., Peter Lawford, etc.
Propably the best movie about conman (I hope I wrote it correctly), mixing comedy, drama and thriller. Screenplay is absolutly fantastic with witty dialogue, suspense, twists and turns. You can predict who tricks who and how big con is created. In award season "The Sting" won 7 Oscars: Best Picture (winning with movies like American Graffitti and The Excorcist), Director, Original Screenplay, Adapted Score, Production Design, Costume Design and Editing. Nominated also for Best Cinematography, Sound and Leading Actor (Robert Redford).
One of my all time favorite movies. I saw it in the theater when it came out at least 5 times. Then on VHS, then on DVD. The Sting beat out The Exorcist for best picture at the Oscars. It also received Oscars for best director, best costume design (Edith Head), best production design, best screenplay, best film editing, best original score (Marvin Hamlisch). The tunes were all Scott Joplin Rags, most notably The Entertainer, and Maple Leaf Rag. So 7 Oscars, and 10 nominations including best actor for Robert Redford. It's weird I first saw this when I was a teenager maybe 14 or 15. And I was never confused by all the players, I was surprised by the reveals but having all those characters didn't bother me. But a lot of adults seem to have troubles with it. Maybe I was used to watching a lot of ensamble cast movies at a young age. I just love this movie. I'm so glad you enjoyed it too. Other great movies from Paul Newman, you have to see Slap Shot, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Color of Money, Exodus. To name just a few. He was also in a real stupid disaster film called The Towering Inferno. The only reason to watch it is to see Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the same movie. Newman was McQueen's kryptonite if you will. It's stupid but just watch the scenes that have Newman and/or McQueen in them.
"I can see where films like Oceans' 11 took it's inspiration from." The original Oceans' 11 (not the 2007 remake) was made in 1960, so if anything, this film took it's inspiration from Oceans.
This is my film recommendation for people who say they don't like "old" movies. First time you watch we are tricked by the FBI and hit(man) reveals then repeat viewings you are fully able to enjoy the sting. Anyone who loves movies will come across this in the end, glad you found this Shan.
You mentioned that you thought that this is were Ocean 11 got it's inspiration from. The Ocean 11 with George Clooney was a remake of the original Ocean 11 with Frank Sinatra that was done way before the Sting. The music is known as Ragtime.
This is a great film. I have seen it a few times and enjoyed it each time. It's not in my favorites list, but it is an amazing film. I love Newman's line, "Glad to meet you, kid. You're a real horse's ass!" The score won the Oscar for Best Original Score. The same year that Marvin Hamlisch won the Oscar for this score, he won two more Oscars for music. He took home Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Song from the film 'The Way We Were' which starred Barbra Streisand and (wait for it) Robert Redford...which is another great film from the 1970s. I don't remember which Oscar was the last one he won that night...but when they announced his name for the third time, the first thing he said was, "I think we can talk as friends..." He was the second person to win three Oscars in the same evening...the first was Billy Wilder in 1961 (Picture, Director, & Original Screenplay for 'The Apartment'). Only 10 others have done the same in total. Hamlisch would be nominated for 9 other Oscars, 11 Grammys (winning 4), 7 Prime Time Emmy Awards (winning 4), 2 Tony Awards (winning 1 for 'A Chorus Line'), 10 Golden Globes (winning 2), and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (for 'A Chorus Line'), sharing it with his collaborators Ed Kleban (lyrics), James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante (script or Book), and Michael Bennett (who conceived, directed and choreographed the show). Going back to the series of Bond reactions...he composed the score for 'The Spy Who Loved Me' as well as the theme song "Nobody Does It Better" sung by Carly Simon. This was also the first film in that a woman won the Oscar for Best Picture. Julia Phillips would later go on to produce Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. Can I suggest the next Robert Shaw film you see, and it's only for one scene, is 'A Man For All Seasons'. Shaw was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as a young and virile King Henry VIII. It was based on a play by Robert Bolt ('Lawrence of Arabia') and he adapted the screenplay. So..it's a pretty amazing film.
Finally!!! I've been wanting to hear your take on this movie for a long time. Thank you! This film was made for someone as perceptive as you. This movie requires one to pay attention. It makes you think. And even when one believes they've figured it out, it still manages to surprise. The music was from composer Scott Joplin. One of the most celebrated American composers.
The music became very popular as this movie hit the scene. My mother played the piano and loved playing 3 main pieces from the film over and again in the years that followed. Whenever I watch the movie, I think back fondly of those days.
BTW… When Kid Twist (the great Harold Gould) calls Snyder “a dick”, he’s identifying him as a cop/detective. (Not what you obviously thought.) It’s an old term. (BTW… It was even used in the opening sequence of “Tombstone”. (Curly Bill says, “Somebody get this dick on his knees!”.)
Also… That “old timey music” is (mostly) orchestrated versions of ragtime classics, composed by the wonderful Scott Joplin! (Arranged by Marvin Hamlisch.)
This is an fantastic movie. It's one of my favourites ... nothing about it is bad. The whole story just works so well. Robert Shaw is doing a great accent .. his normal one is a very proper English one but most of his roles he does an accent for the part.
Thank you. Finally someone reacts to this. :) This was a huge blockbuster and swept the Oscars, yet doesn't get much attention from the reactor community. :( Great reaction. :)
I watched this movie on TV as a kid just because I played piano and was a big fan of Scott Joplin, and because my grandparents were so excited about Paul Newman and Robert Redford. What a great time I had watching it with the music and all the twists and turns - probably the best movie I've ever seen on TV.
The Sting is one of the greatest movies ever made. It is a flawless film.
I wouldn't say flawless but very unique for its time.
The only reason people say otherwise is because they wanted excorcist to win best picture.
Gotta love the end, when you realize that you're the one that got conned. The whole movie was just one big setup. Beautiful.
The actor who is playing Luther is Robert Earl Jones. the father of James Earl Jones.
"Cool Hand Luke" is the must see Newman film.
I love watching people discover this masterpiece. They don't make movies like this anymore. A true classic.
The Sting is one of my favorite movies. Amazing scripts, great cast & the score fits perfectly with the 1930's setting.
The Hustler - Early Newman, with Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott. Real Classic
You're right about the music being the backbone. The movie created a renaissance of ragtime; for five or ten years after it came out, Scott Joplin ragtime was about the first thing that any piano student wanted to learn.
Music is from Scott Joplin, known as rag time (ragged time), which really dates from c. 1900-1910, not the Depression. Yet it really somehow fits perfectly.
This movie created a whole new appreciation of Joplin's music, which I don't think has ever diminished since.
The music style is called Ragtime. Scott Joplin, 1890s
I remember when this film first came out, and, for about a year afterward, *everyone* was making that finger-beside-the-nose gesture that indicated that you were part of Henry Gondorf's gang.
"I can't believe I've never watched this before, and I'd barely heard of it." -- Right, and you know what? There are SO MANY great movies that 21st century viewers have barely heard of and never seen. You are sort of an exception, Shan, because you seem so open to new experiences. But this just tells you how much more you still have to discover!
This movie stands multiple watchings: the first time, you're one of the "marks" - we've been conned along with some of the other characters. From now on, when we watch, we're on the inside, and we get to marvel at how tightly-knit things are, and we are in on the jokes. Also, there's a lot going on with the importance of created family; loyalties; friendships. All of Henry's gang are close friends, trusted, each with a particular talent; and for people of my generation, who saw the movie when it first came out, the gang members were familiar supporting and tv actors, so the feeling of familiarity and thrill in seeing them was multiplied. I hope you get to know each of them better. And of course, the icy, brilliant Robert Shaw will impress you more with each watching: the things and absence of things going on behind his eyes alone will hold you. Charlies Durning, who was Snyder, was another brilliant character actor, with a huge range. Watch him in "Tootsie" and compare him with Snyder, and you'll get just a hint of how talented he was.
well summarized, I saw this after H school and the audience of course were all taken in until we all cheered at the final scene. It deserved all the 7 oscars it won. EVEN the designer of clothes EDITH HEAD who jokingly said "I get to clothe the 2 best looking men in films" STILL a great watch over 40 yrs later
Great point that The Sting was heavily populated with a great bunch of familiar character actors. It really made for a great ensemble, with Redford, Shaw and Newman at the top. It is ironic that so many younger UA-cam movie buffs seem to have only a basic knowledge of film and film history. They mainly know Star Wars and a handful of action, adventure, and Western films and the Godfather saga as their classic movies. They know Robert Shaw from Jaws and maybe From Russia, With Love, but not from a wider body of work. Fortunately there are tons of great films waiting to be discovered.
My favorite performance of Charles Durning’s was from an Emmy-nominated episode of NCIS, where he was a WWII vet and Medal of Honor recipient who is suffering from delayed PTSD. He absolutely breaks your heart in the role-my father, who never watches scripted television and definitely never weeps at it, was wiping his eyes after I showed him that episode.
I cosign this statement. Durning crushes every roll and this movie has a high rewatchable quality. As far as other Newman movies, Cool Hand Luke is my jam.
Well put. Have loved this movie since I saw it in the theatre when I was 12
"The Great Waldo Pepper" (1975) Directed by George Roy Hill with Redford, Margot Kidder, Susan Sarandon, Bo Svensen and others. Another period piece set a few years earlier than "The Sting."
Winner of 7 Oscars including Best Picture. It was nominated for 10 Oscars.
Also, Best Score (Adapted) by Marvin Hamlisch, who also won, that same year, for Best Score (Original) and Best Song, both from "The Way We Were".
The hustler is another great film with Paul Newman that can set up The Color of Money with Tom Cruze directed by Martin Scorsese.
A real cool Robert Shaw Movie: Robin and Marian (1976). With Sean Connery (Middle aged Robin returned from the Crusades) Audrey Hepburn , Shaw as the Sheriff.
Newmans "Cool Hand Luke"...masterpiece.
Robert Redford movies worth checking out: Three Days of the Condor 1975, All the Presidents Men 1976. Check out the original Taking of Pelham 123 from 1974 with Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau.
👉 _Sneakers_ (1992) - Robert Redford returned to the Comedy/Heist genre with this '90s classic. If you liked _The Sting,_ you'll love _Sneakers._
👉 _Slap Shot_ (1977) starring Paul Newman, directed by George Roy Hill. A classic Comedy & one of the best sports movies ever made.
More essential Redford:
_Jeremiah Johnson_ (1972 - you'd love this)
_The Natural_ (1984)
_All Is Lost_ (2013)
More essential Paul Newman:
_The Color Of Money_ (1986 - Scorsese)
_The Verdict_ (1981)
_Cool Hand Luke_ (1967)
The Hot Rock is another funny heist movie. In fact he references it in the movie Sneakers.
If you look at the building Redford's character and Ben Kingsley's character are in when they are hacking into everyone's computers in Sneakers, when Redford's character goes out for pizza he looks at the building and knows his friend is being arrested. If you really look at the building you will recognize it from 3 other movies.
You shouldn't recommend "The Color of Money" without first recommending "The Hustler" since "The Color of Money" is a sequel to "The Hustler".
@@rustincohle2135 This is true. However both stories are self contained. You don't necessarily have to watch The Hustler to understand what's going on in The Color of Money.
@@nellgwenn Not the point about the stories being self-contained. The Hustler is the iconic film that introduces one of Newman's most iconic characters. You always watch the original first (especially if it's hugely famous), just like the rest of the world did. The Color of Money isn't an iconic film.
@@rustincohle2135 I agree with you on all counts. But you know the deal. Put yourself in the reactor's place for a minute. He or she as the case may be is reading all these comments. They all say watch this before that. If you've never known about either movie, you have no history with either movie, you might be left to believe that it's impossible to understand the story of The Color of Money without first watching The Hustler. And it's simply not the case.
It's kind of like saying you have to listen to Dark Side of the Moon album before you listen to Wish You We're Here.
There is a common thread in both albums, but they are self contained. The common thread in both albums is Pink Floyd and it's bent, or sensibilities.
There are no plot points in Dark Side of the Moon that makes Wish You We're Here impossible to understand without first listening to Dark Side of the Moon.
Actually the only thing that The Hustler gives the viewer of both movies is the charisma and appeal of Fast Eddie Felson.
His character is so strong and indelible to the viewer that he demands to have his story continue.
However Paul Newman tells you all you need to know about Fast Eddie Felson's history the very first second you see his face on the screen in The Color of Money.
A great Paul Newman movie is "Cool Hand Luke", possibly his best, although opinions vary. A stellar cast.
I prefer SLAP SHOT but considering that Luke and Dunlop are diametrically different characters, it might not be a fair comparison.
More people should react to Cool hand Luke for sure.
Hud may be Newman's best portrayal of a very not likeable character who somehow you kinda end up rooting for.
This is one of my all time favorites!! A Masterpiece!! 👊
I love Harold Gould in this movie.
So smooth, charming and classy.
Wish I had that kind of charisma.
The supporting cast is great! Many familiar faces, including Charles Durning, Dana Elcar, Ray Walston and Jack Kehoe.
@@creech54 Yep. An era of great supporting character actors.
Keep in mind, when a movie is made in the 60's or 70's depicting the 1930's or 40's, its only 30 or 40 years later, so many of the people who are working on the film were alive to know what it looked like in the first place. Just like when you see older war films of WW2, most of the actors in them (and people behind the camera), served in the war and know exactly how it was even if the film wasn't made until 30 years later or so.
And hell, in the 60s and 70s, you could still pick up suits from the 30s and 40s at the Goodwill, or in your grandpa's closet. Today those suits are nearly 100 years old. Ditto for war materiel and uniforms for those war movies; that stuff was still around. The planes and Jeeps still ran.
@@Fishmorph All costumes were designed by Edith Head which won an 8th Oscar for her.
So true, I remember 1992 like it was yesterday, but 30 years have passed. Guns n Roses released Use Your Illusion 1 and 2, Nirvana released Nevermind, I met my first girlfriend and mobiles and the Internet didn't exist, 30 years is nothing. Lol
One of my all-time favourites. Had a major crush on Paul Newman!
Watching The Sting is like spending time with a good friend.
One of Paul Newman's best: The Verdict. Outstanding courtroom drama.
I don't know if anybody mentioned this but Robert Shaw broke his foot before filming! He told the director and the decision was to keep it in the film based on the idea that a gangster should have a limp as it adds more menace to the character!
This is my all time favorite movie. In my opinion, it's perfect. The acting, dialog, music, costumes, casting, sets, all of it. I wouldn't change a single thing.
I'm so glad this film is making the rounds. It was MASSIVELY popular when it came out. My mom, my siblings and I went to see it so many times the summer it came out that I actually memorized it. Still consider it one of the best scripts ever written. Also, the only film I can remember in which the soundtrack actually _laughs._ (When Mottola unwraps the wad at the climax of the first con, just listen how the music bursts out in a peal of laughter!) The music is all wrong for the period, by the way, as ragtime was big at the turn of the century but was long gone by the 30's. But Marvin Hamlisch, who did the soundtrack, realized that ragtime carried the right confidence, even jauntiness, that brought the tone of the film up into a more enjoyable feel, more fun.
P.S. The stage names of the conmen were real handles used by con men of the era. Kid Twist, Limehouse Chappy, The Big Alabama - all the names were real guys working the con in that era.
P.P.S. The races JJ recites over the loudspeaker aren't fake; they're real races. He's reading them off the wire as they come in as if he were a radio sports reporter. Because he has such a typical voice, Lonnegan has no reason to believe he isn't listening to a guy at the track narrating the race in real time.
P.P.P.S. The film does provide one big clue. It's in the cue cards. Yes, really. :)
Great Redford Films: "All The President's Men," "Three Days Of The Condor" "The Natural"...
Great Newman Films: "The Hustler," "The Verdict," "Cool Hand Luke," "Slap Shot," "Absence Of Malice"
The Sting and The Exorcist faced off at the 46th Academy Awards, each received 10 nominations. The Sting beat out The Exorcist for best picture.
I love your enthusiasm Shan! I'm sure someone else is recommended this but there is Hud with Paul Newman And cool hand Luke !
Paul Newman has made a ton of great films. You might try - The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, The Verdict, Nobody's Fool, Road to Perdition
nice list, Nobody's Fool great movie
There's also Hombre, Hud, Harper, and The Drowning Pool.
Cool Hand Luke is a classic Would add HUD to that list
Or one of his last: WHERE THE MONEY IS with Linda Fiorentino who suspects old man Paul's senility is faked... which it is... and he's using his 'diagnosis' to cover up a heist.
Cool Hand Luke definitely, and the Hustler with Color of Money are great. As for Redford, Spy Game and The Castle are exceptional movies later in his career.
If you like paul newman you have to watch cool hand luke. Its a fantastic film with great quips such as im shaking it boss.
Great video and comments as always, fella i love your show.
You should react to Long Hot Summer (my favourite Newman's movie, also perfect for.the season). Amazing cast: Newman, Joanne Woodward (Newman's wife irl), Orson Welles, Angela Lansbury, Lee Remick....based on a Tennesse Williams's play.
One of my all time favorite films. I never get tired of the story, the characters, or the music. It's something special.
I mean... I can't mention Paul Newman without thinking of Cool Hand Luke... incidentally one of my favorite movies of all time.
Great use of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer”as a throughline for the score by Marvin Hamlisch. So memorable and sets the scene, even though ragtime music is not really contemporary music for the 30s.
Nice to see Robert Shaw as a villain again. He was great as Donovan Grant (also with an Irish background) in the Connery Bond film From Russia with Love, full of menace.
The Entertainer was the top of the iceberg. About 70% of the music was Joplin’s. I could never see how Hamlisch got so much credit.
@@docbearmb Scott Joplin, one of the few Texans as well as African-Americans to be considered part of the "classical music" catalog. As well as being the "King of Ragtime" he also wrote waltzes, serenades, operas and a ballet.
My favorite of his is "Solace: A Mexican Serenade" which was used so beautifully in this film.
@@HermanVonPetri Solace is one of my favorites too.
This movie sparked a revival of Scott Joplin’s music when it came out, which is great as I think he is often overlooked. His pieces are so much fun to play on the piano.
The scene in the train took forever to shoot because Robert Shaw kept cracking up laughing at Newman.
Cool hand luke. With Paul Newman my favorite movie of all time
1). Anything with George Roy Hill at the helm is worth watching. His pictures don't all come up to this level, but I don't think you'd regret the time spent with any of them. Other highlights among his films are THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER (with Redford) and SLAUGHTER-HOUSE FIVE, from Kurt Vonnegut's "unfilmable" novel. 2). One of my favorite Paul Newman movies was directed by John Huston: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN. It's not considered a classic, sad to say. It has a great supporting cast. Do check it out! Thanks for this, your reviews are always on point!
I visited Universal Orlando during its opening year; I don't know if it's still there, but they used to have a replica of the alley where the fake bookie joint was. It was complete, down to the fading signage and the rusting metalwork.
Ocean's 11 came out in 1960. (the Sinatra version). The Sting came 13 years later.
The Sting was a very popular film back in the day. It became only the second film to reach $100 mil with the Godfather being the first film to reach that milestone. The Sting earned $156 mil at the box office, keep in mind that was in 1973 when tickets were a lot cheaper. The Sting played 2 years in theaters. Needless to say everyone went to see the film. The Sting won 7 Academy Awards including best picture, best director and best screenplay. Robert Redford received his only best actor Oscar nomination for The Sting. The Sting is a modern classic that not too many people talk about anymore. If you are looking for another great Paul Newman film I would recommend "The Hustler".
COOL HAND LUKE if you haven't seen it. Newman's most memorable movie. My favorite though is THE ROAD TO PERDITION, which also features, in my opinion. Tom Hanks' best performance.
For Reobert Redford, I recommend JEREMIAH JOHNSON (one of the first movies that portrayed Native Americans not as Angels or Devils but like anybody else). But Redford also shines in ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR
For a taste of Paul Newman's great body of work, there is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, Hudson, Hombre, Cool Hand Luke. Later in his career, Newman is magnificent in The Verdict, directed by Sidney Lumet, whose first film was 12 Angry Men.
Also, Scott Joplin's ragtime music had been rediscovered when The Sting was made. Unlike a more conventional score for a movie about Depression era gangsters and con artists, it was soft and suggested a more gentle world. Also note that even though the film is set in the 1930s, the music is from the early 1900s, perhaps a little earlier. This adds to the sense that the movie will be lighthearted, almost like a fairy tale. Also, ragtime music was not typically used to accompany silent films, but is sometimes added to re-releases.
Great reaction and break down after the film there is so much to take in and yes watching it a second time does help with a better understanding and finding missed clues. Sting is definitely in my top 5 films for me . Just a fun fact Luther played by Rob Earl Jones is James Earl Jone's father.
I never knew. For a moment I was actually convinced it was James. They really look and sound alike.
For more Paul Newman, my vote would be Cool Hand Luke. Legendary.
This was my first time seeing a “grown-up movie” in the theaters, when I was seven. My entire family went to the aging movie palace in our hometown of Joliet, Illinois-when the place card appeared on screen, well, I had never heard a movie audience react like that!! The crowd just erupted in cheers over seeing our city featured. The Sting left me with a lifelong love of grifter films, ragtime, and Robert Redford (I had a life-sized poster of him on my bedroom door when I was 12).
I saw this when I was in 6tg grade. This was my first grown-up movie too. I loved it so much that I saw it 3-4 times. It's a special film in my life. Thanks for the memories, Shan!
Paul Newman is the greatest. You can’t miss with any movie he was in. The Hustler stands out as the best. Cool Hand Luke is a close second. The co stars of George C Scott and George Kennedy are off the page also.
This was during the Great Depression. Also, this movie started the vogue for Scott Joplin’s ragtime piano music. He was virtually forgotten before this. Suddenly, everyone was listening to it. Or playing it.
For Paul Newman, I highly recommend "The Verdict", imho, the greatest courtroom drama ever made. And also, I recommend Absence of Malice. But don't ignore Robert Redford, another one of our all-time great actors. Everyone should watch "All the President's Men". And "Sneakers", while not exactly being a great film, is definitely a whole lot of fun.
BTW, there are a few other great movies that deal with con artists. I strongly recommend "The Grifters". Also, a fun one is "Paper Moon", which is about a small-time con artist.
My parents had this soundtrack on vinyl. We wore that record out. So good. Scott Joplin of course.
Fantastic film. And so many legendary actors.
Not cue cards, which have the dialogue on them to help the actors remember their lines. These are title cards, or intercards, used here to mark the chapters.
I love that they basically pull a Kansas City Shuffle, arguably on Lonnegan, but definitely on US. At least twice, once with Salino, once with the actual con. This is a great script.
I love the fact that the main people being conned was us! Most of the con men were played a bit comical, but the FBI guys played it absolutely straight and we got suckered!
'The hustler,' 'Cool Hand Luke', and 'Hud,' established Newman's bonafides as an actor. And made him the "heart-throb' of his day.
Yay! Someone else remembered Hud!
One of my all time favorites, and with a local connection for me. The carousel where Gondorf's lair was filmed at the Santa Monica Pier in California. Glad you enjoyed it, great review!
Awesome choice, your reactions and commentaries are always a cut above the rest!
Do watch both "The Hustler" and The Color of Money", in that order. Both starring Paul Newman. Both are connected and were produced being 25 years apart.
For more George Roy Hill and Paul Newman, check out the hockey film Slapshot. For an interesting drama with some humor notes, see The World According to Garp with Robin Williams, in a more serious role than his usual fare.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, based on a Tennessee Williams play, may not make for a great reaction video, but it shows a very different side to Newman's abilities. It earned him an Oscar nomination and also features one of Elizabeth Taylor's best performances.
Hud is my favorite Paul Newman movie. One of the greatest movies ever imo.
Sometimes I get the feeling that a reactor is "playing" me, but I never get that feeling with your reactions. I appreciate that and enjoy watching you watching movies. This one was particularly enjoyable because this is such a great movie and you had so much fun watching it. 👍👍👍👍👍
Paul Newman in the 1982 drama "The Verdict" garnered much critical acclaim.
What an absolute delight to watch you experience all the twists and surprises on 1st viewing, pure joy
Another movie set during the Depression you may enjoy... Paper Moon. Stars father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O'Neal.
The play a con man and his daughter, who is learning the trade.
The Verdict, Sneakers,three days of the condor.
Some bit players went on to be in other tv shows or movies. The race announcer was "Mr. Hand" in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The FBI head went on to be the "boss" in the original MacGyver TV show. I'm sure there are others that I missed
Ray Walton (race announcer) was the lead character in _My Favorite Martian_ which aired in the early 1960s.
Paul Newman's greatest performance is probably The Verdict (1982), but I'm also a fan of The Long, Hot Summer (1958) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).
Other George Roy Hill films I like include Slaughter-House Five (1972) and The World of Henry Orient (1964). He also directed the film adaptation of The World According to Garp (1982), which featured excellent performances by Robin Williams, Glenn Close, and John Lithgow, but the novel was so much better than the film that I was disappointed.
A Little Romance with a young Diane Lane, is also a George Roy Hill movie which was one of my favorites growing up. Reference to The Sting in that movie which only now I put together!
You brought up at the end of Ocean's 11, but the film with George Clooney is actually a remake of the film from the 60's of the same name with the Rat Pack.
You are mistaken when you speculate that Ocean's 11 got it's inspiration from this film. Ocean's 11(2001) is actually a remake of the original Ocean's 11 which was made in 1960 and starred Frank Sinatra and "the rat pack".(Dean Martin, Sammy Davis jr., Peter Lawford, etc.
The World According to Garp (1982), directed by Hill has been under-reacted-to on UA-cam, but should be right up your alley. Best. Leo.
Starring Robin Williams and John Lithgow, you missed that.
Paper Moon would be another great film to watch. A period piece about a hustler trying to survive during the Depression.
George Roy Hill was such an underrated director.
One of my favorites!
Propably the best movie about conman (I hope I wrote it correctly), mixing comedy, drama and thriller. Screenplay is absolutly fantastic with witty dialogue, suspense, twists and turns. You can predict who tricks who and how big con is created.
In award season "The Sting" won 7 Oscars: Best Picture (winning with movies like American Graffitti and The Excorcist), Director, Original Screenplay, Adapted Score, Production Design, Costume Design and Editing. Nominated also for Best Cinematography, Sound and Leading Actor (Robert Redford).
Such a good reaction to this movie. It's one of my all-time favorites. I'm glad you liked it so much!!
The Verdict is the best Newman film. Sidney Lumet directs. Great reaction btw
One of my all time favorite movies. I saw it in the theater when it came out at least 5 times. Then on VHS, then on DVD.
The Sting beat out The Exorcist for best picture at the Oscars. It also received Oscars for best director, best costume design (Edith Head), best production design, best screenplay, best film editing, best original score (Marvin Hamlisch). The tunes were all Scott Joplin Rags, most notably The Entertainer, and Maple Leaf Rag. So 7 Oscars, and 10 nominations including best actor for Robert Redford.
It's weird I first saw this when I was a teenager maybe 14 or 15. And I was never confused by all the players, I was surprised by the reveals but having all those characters didn't bother me. But a lot of adults seem to have troubles with it. Maybe I was used to watching a lot of ensamble cast movies at a young age.
I just love this movie. I'm so glad you enjoyed it too.
Other great movies from Paul Newman, you have to see Slap Shot, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Color of Money, Exodus. To name just a few. He was also in a real stupid disaster film called The Towering Inferno. The only reason to watch it is to see Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the same movie.
Newman was McQueen's kryptonite if you will. It's stupid but just watch the scenes that have Newman and/or McQueen in them.
Great movie, and great reaction! You are always reliable bro! Love you.
"I can see where films like Oceans' 11 took it's inspiration from." The original Oceans' 11 (not the 2007 remake) was made in 1960, so if anything, this film took it's inspiration from Oceans.
My Old man, rest his soul, adored this movie. I remember watching it with him back in the 80s on a sunday afternoon.
utterly incandescent movie.
Suggestions for Paul Newman, there’s always Slapshot or The Color of Money.
This is my film recommendation for people who say they don't like "old" movies. First time you watch we are tricked by the FBI and hit(man) reveals then repeat viewings you are fully able to enjoy the sting. Anyone who loves movies will come across this in the end, glad you found this Shan.
two of the greatest American actors of all time ❤
You mentioned that you thought that this is were Ocean 11 got it's inspiration from. The Ocean 11 with George Clooney was a remake of the original Ocean 11 with Frank Sinatra that was done way before the Sting. The music is known as Ragtime.
When we went to see The Sting at a S Calif drive-in theatre in early 1984, my younger son was excited that it was his first PG movie.
This is a great film. I have seen it a few times and enjoyed it each time. It's not in my favorites list, but it is an amazing film. I love Newman's line, "Glad to meet you, kid. You're a real horse's ass!"
The score won the Oscar for Best Original Score. The same year that Marvin Hamlisch won the Oscar for this score, he won two more Oscars for music. He took home Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Song from the film 'The Way We Were' which starred Barbra Streisand and (wait for it) Robert Redford...which is another great film from the 1970s. I don't remember which Oscar was the last one he won that night...but when they announced his name for the third time, the first thing he said was, "I think we can talk as friends..." He was the second person to win three Oscars in the same evening...the first was Billy Wilder in 1961 (Picture, Director, & Original Screenplay for 'The Apartment'). Only 10 others have done the same in total. Hamlisch would be nominated for 9 other Oscars, 11 Grammys (winning 4), 7 Prime Time Emmy Awards (winning 4), 2 Tony Awards (winning 1 for 'A Chorus Line'), 10 Golden Globes (winning 2), and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (for 'A Chorus Line'), sharing it with his collaborators Ed Kleban (lyrics), James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante (script or Book), and Michael Bennett (who conceived, directed and choreographed the show). Going back to the series of Bond reactions...he composed the score for 'The Spy Who Loved Me' as well as the theme song "Nobody Does It Better" sung by Carly Simon.
This was also the first film in that a woman won the Oscar for Best Picture. Julia Phillips would later go on to produce Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.
Can I suggest the next Robert Shaw film you see, and it's only for one scene, is 'A Man For All Seasons'. Shaw was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as a young and virile King Henry VIII. It was based on a play by Robert Bolt ('Lawrence of Arabia') and he adapted the screenplay. So..it's a pretty amazing film.
Scott Joplin's music is fantastic.
As soon as I saw the thumbnail I said out loud, "Oh, he is gonna love this."
Finally!!! I've been wanting to hear your take on this movie for a long time. Thank you!
This film was made for someone as perceptive as you. This movie requires one to pay attention. It makes you think. And even when one believes they've figured it out, it still manages to surprise. The music was from composer Scott Joplin. One of the most celebrated American composers.
The music became very popular as this movie hit the scene. My mother played the piano and loved playing 3 main pieces from the film over and again in the years that followed. Whenever I watch the movie, I think back fondly of those days.
The use of the cue cards also harkened back to the silent film era with scene changes and dialog cards.
BTW… When Kid Twist (the great Harold Gould) calls Snyder “a dick”, he’s identifying him as a cop/detective. (Not what you obviously thought.) It’s an old term. (BTW… It was even used in the opening sequence of “Tombstone”. (Curly Bill says, “Somebody get this dick on his knees!”.)
Also… That “old timey music” is (mostly) orchestrated versions of ragtime classics, composed by the wonderful Scott Joplin! (Arranged by Marvin Hamlisch.)
This is an fantastic movie. It's one of my favourites ... nothing about it is bad. The whole story just works so well.
Robert Shaw is doing a great accent .. his normal one is a very proper English one but most of his roles he does an accent for the part.
You're on a roll my friend ‼️👍
Thanks for the uploads. These reactions are great 😃
Thanks for the great Reaction! Please react to the Redford roles in the movies "Jerimiah Johnson" and " The Natural" Thanks
Thank you. Finally someone reacts to this. :)
This was a huge blockbuster and swept the Oscars, yet doesn't get much attention from the reactor community. :(
Great reaction. :)
I watched this movie on TV as a kid just because I played piano and was a big fan of Scott Joplin, and because my grandparents were so excited about Paul Newman and Robert Redford. What a great time I had watching it with the music and all the twists and turns - probably the best movie I've ever seen on TV.
Such a great collection of character actors. Maybe the best ever