If I had a list of wishes regarding the last 30-40 years of film, one of them would be that the pairing of Robert Redford and Paul Newman would have occurred in more than two movies. Both of these actors have screen presence to spare, and together they were an unbeatable team. “Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid” and “The Sting” place extremely high on my list of favorite films from the seventies. The second one is also one of my favorite films of all-time. It’s elaborately crafted screenplay, excellent score and outstanding performances garnered it seven well deserved Academy Awards. “The Sting” offered up a good old-fashioned con game, put together by a couple of masters (Redford & Newman) as revenge for the murder of a mutual friend. The mark is a big-time mobster (Robert Shaw), who has been known to pull a few cheats himself and has a somewhat murderous temper. The setting is the 1930’s and the plot is full of twists and turns which culminate in one the most elegantly stylish con games ever committed to film.

Each and every performance is a gem, and the music is huge a treat for any fan of Scott Joplin’s ragtime jazz.

Being that it is a period piece, I’m sure a lot of newer audiences might not expect to find the movie to be that entertaining, but they would be wrong. Director George Roy Hill crafted he piece in such a way as to not only keep the ‘marks’ guessing, but the audience as well. I still remember the first time I saw the “The Sting.” I was about 10 years old and got completely caught up in it.

Of late, Universal Studios has been releasing a bunch of older classic films, and “The Sting” is one of the more recent. Terrifically packaged in a case designed to look like a small hardcover book, this 2-disc set is part of Universal’s “Legacy Series.” They are releasing more and more classic films this way, which I heartily applaud. The film has been meticulously transferred and the colors and sound are awesome. Watching it again after all these years, I was not amazed to find that my memory served me well in remembering what a great film it was.

The DVD doesn’t offer a whole lot in terms of extra features, but what it might not have in quantity, it more than makes up for with quality. There is a lengthy documentary on the making of the film, which above all else, features tons of interviews from not only those in the cast who are still alive, but a few from those who are no longer with us. Through their memories we are offered a wonderfully retrospective for a film they all obviously thoroughly enjoyed making.

If you don’t have a copy of “The Sting” in your collection, you don’t have any taste when it comes to movies. You should really upgrade yourself and grab this one at any cost.

Directed by: George Roy Hill
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw
Extras: The Art of The Sting - A Retrospective on the making of The Sting, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 2.0
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 9/6/2005
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG
Website

We'll give The Sting an A.