Director: George Roy Hill
Screenplay: David S. Ward
Starring: Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Robert Shaw
Running Time: 129 minutes
Genre: Crime, thriller,
Chicago, 1936: Johnny Hooker (Redford) is a small time crook who joins forces with veteran con man Henry Gondorff (Newman) to scam a wealthy and powerful Mob boss (Shaw) with an elaborate con, as revenge for his ordering the death of their friend. However, as the plan progresses it becomes apparent that the police, FBI and a hired killer are closing in on the pair.
This is probably the best film made about con men and, as with all movies in this genre, the scammers are charismatic, loveable rogues (instead of the sleazy slimeballs they really are) conning a wealthy villain who is worse than they are and deserves what he gets (instead of ordinary innocent people) and the pleasure comes in seeing how the plan is laid and put into operation like an elaborate house of cards where one wrong move could send it crashing down (here the various stages of the con are set out in chapters headed by title cards written and illustrated in the style of Norman Rockwell and The Saturday Evening Post) . Reuniting stars Redford and Newman with their Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid director Hill, this is one of those classic Hollywood films, reveling in rich period detail. Photographed in rich, vibrant colour where Newman's eyes have never looked so piercingly blue, and Redford's hair never so golden. Redford and Newman have genuine chemistry together and the film coasts along on their considerable charisma. Robert Shaw is good as the urbane but mercurial gangster, who is the target of the con. The soundtrack consists of variations of ragtime music arranged by Marvin Hamlisch, most notably "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin, which became a top ten hit on the back of this movie. The script is witty, clever and packed with twists and turns. This film is pure classy entertainment from beginning to end.
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