...all it takes is a little Confidence.

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, John Heffernan, Dana Elcar, Jack Kehoe, Dimitra Arliss, Robert Earl Jones, James Sloyan, Charles Dierkop

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What was I supposed to do, call him for cheating better than me in front of the others?." - Doyle Lonnegan

Why watch this? This is the quintessential post-Depression con man film.

Plot Summary: A young grifter, Johnny Hooker, seeks the help of an established, older con man, Henry Gondorff, to avenge the murder of their mutual friend by a powerful mob boss, Doyle Lonnegan. They devise an elaborate, complicated con designed to catch the crime lord off guard and ensure a clean, massive payoff. The pair and their crew must execute every detail flawlessly while evading both the target's thugs and the local police who are watching their every move.

Dad's Preview: This caper film, which reunited director George R. Hill, Paul Newman and Robert Redford of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) fame, was the darling of 1973. It is easy to see why. The film has a style of it own, harkening back to the 1930's using perfect sets, period costumes and old ragtime music. The elaborate con job our anti-heroes perform kind of makes me think of Robin Hood - stealing from the rich to line the pockets of the poor. Instead of going for realism, it is a crime comedy where "good guys" and "bad guys" are clearly delineated. This makes the entire movie a ton of fun. There's a lightness, as Redford and Newman are constantly three steps ahead of everyone, even if the film's director hides it. It practically swept the Oscars, winning seven of its ten nominations including: Best Picture and Best Director. This is a classic, with great stars, atmosphere and music. You need to check out The Sting.  

The Zanuck/Brown Company; Universal Pictures