The Sting

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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[edit]

  • No sense being a grifter if its the same as bein' a citizen.
  • Sorry I'm late, guys, I was takin' a crap.

Doyle Lonnegan[edit]

  • [to Gondorff] Not only are you a cheat, you're a gutless cheat as well.
  • 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.
  • [Repeated line] You follow?

FBI Agent Polk[edit]

  • [to Snyder] Sit down and shut up, will ya? Try not to live up to all my expectations.

Dialogue[edit]

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!

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!

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 another game.

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.

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.

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! I want 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[edit]

External links[edit]

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