Following the massive success of Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, audiences (and Hollywood accountants) were eager to see Newman and Redford reprise their buddy act. Coming off the back of a series of poorly performing films, Newman was also in need of a hit. The Sting, again directed by George Roy Hill, was an even bigger success than its predecessor, propelling Newman back to major star status. He plays Henry Gondorff, a legendary Depression-era con-man in hiding who is enlisted by fellow grifter Johnny Hooker (Redford) to take on revenge-seeking gangster Doyle Lonnegan, who Hooker had unknowingly ripped off. The convoluted way in which their plan unfolds, filled with sleight of hand and double-crosses, is an absolute treat to behold.

Screening as part of the Paul Newman: American Icon season.