Robert Redford

 August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025

The Sundance kid, goes off into the sunset

Actor, University of Colorado alumni, Frat Brother, Father, 

The Sting!

 I missed this when it was broadcast in the 1990s on channel 4, the whole dorm but myself seemed to be watching it. With the passing of Robert Redford today- I made the decision to see it. I wanted to watch it, it had been penciled in, but no time like the present

Well this film paired the two, swapped the Old West, for the Depression Midwest

Like the Western, the Sting looks great, the clothes are a spectacle You have men wearing cyan coloured hats. Redford wears a striped burgundy suit The streets are full of vintage automobiles, everything is varnished. 

So this is a story of two grifters in the Depression - who meet up and go after a big mark. Though I notice it is a very bright and beautiful depression. I looked at the signs offering bumper cars and fairground rides. Indeed the working girls actually ride on a Merry Go Round in a scene. The black family live in a large apartment-with a telephone booth on the bottom floor. The streets are as I have said  full of cars. Yet there are no beggars, no binfires Oh and lots of telephones. Now maybe America was just that richer, but it seems this is the 60s 

Redford or at least his stunt double does a hell of a lot of running in this film

Redford learned his trade from a black man. We see Redford interact with his family- They are leaving to  play church Bingo Refdord is told by his old mentor, that the old man knows his time is up

For Newman this is a redemption story. His character tried to grift a Florida politician and came under the scrutiny of Hoover. Newman faces off against the mark in a poker game played on a train. Newman is completely obnoxious in that scene. 

Newman is getting back his mojo, his zest. His manhood, for both Newman and Redford it isn't really about the money. Redford is scolded for spending like a pimp. 

I wondered about how the con, that this motion picture depicts- holding the results of a horse race allowing one to bet for or against the house in complete certainty, will evolve now there will be A.I 

I noticed that the radio or bookie's annoucer also was silent, during a bit of dialogue while the mark was being preped

It is a largely male cast, and not to be ungallant but the two female supporting actresses are not as pretty as Catherine jones

There is one twist I did not see coming. One I did. I enjoyed this, I don't think it is up there with Butch and Sundance- Lightning not quite striking twice Though  this did end with them both being shot

Robert Shaw does not do a great Irish accent