The Sting
Johnny Hooker, a small time grifter, unknowingly steals from Doyle Lonnegan, a big time crime boss, when he pulls a standard street con. Lonnegan demands satisfaction for the insult. After his partner, Luther, is killed, Hooker flees, and seeks the help of Henry Gondorff, one of Luther's contacts, who is a master of the long con. Hooker wants to use Gondorff's expertise to take Lonnegan for an enormous sum of money to even the score, since he admits he "doesn't know enough about killing to kill him." They devise a complicated scheme and amass a talented group of other con artists who want their share of the reparations. The stakes are high in this game, and our heroes must not only deal with Lonnegan's murderous tendencies, but also other side players who want a piece of the action. To win, Hooker and Gondorff will need all their skills...and a fair amount of confidence.
Despite its small-scale budget of $5.5M, The Sting became a runaway success, earning $159.6M worldwide—a remarkable 2802% return. The film's unique voice found its audience, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
7 Oscars. 18 wins & 6 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Sting (1973) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of George Roy Hill's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 9 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 3.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Johnny Hooker
Henry Gondorff
Doyle Lonnegan
Lt. William Snyder
J.J. Singleton
Luther Coleman
Loretta Salino
Kid Twist
FBI Agent Polk
Billie
Main Cast & Characters
Johnny Hooker
Played by Robert Redford
A young, talented grifter seeking revenge for his mentor's murder who partners with a legendary con man to pull off the ultimate sting.
Henry Gondorff
Played by Paul Newman
A veteran con artist and master of the big con who comes out of hiding to help Hooker execute an elaborate scheme against a powerful crime boss.
Doyle Lonnegan
Played by Robert Shaw
A ruthless and paranoid Irish-American crime boss and banker who becomes the target of an elaborate confidence game after killing Luther Coleman.
Lt. William Snyder
Played by Charles Durning
A corrupt police detective who extorts money from small-time grifters and becomes entangled in the con against Lonnegan.
J.J. Singleton
Played by Ray Walston
A skilled con man and longtime associate of Gondorff who helps orchestrate the fake betting parlor operation.
Luther Coleman
Played by Robert Earl Jones
Hooker's mentor and friend, an experienced grifter whose murder by Lonnegan's men sets the revenge plot in motion.
Loretta Salino
Played by Dimitra Arliss
A mysterious and attractive woman who takes an interest in Hooker, hiding a deadly secret about her true intentions.
Kid Twist
Played by Harold Gould
A key member of Gondorff's crew who plays an essential role in the wire store con as a telegraph operator.
FBI Agent Polk
Played by Dana Elcar
An FBI agent who pressures Hooker to cooperate in bringing down Gondorff, adding another layer of tension to the con.
Billie
Played by Eileen Brennan
A madam and Gondorff's girlfriend who provides a safe house and support for the con artists.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes September 1936, Joliet, Illinois. Small-time grifter Johnny Hooker and his partner Luther Coleman successfully con a numbers runner out of $11,000, establishing their world of street-level cons and scrappy survival.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Luther is murdered by Doyle Lonnegan's enforcer, Mottola. Hooker discovers they unknowingly stole from the most dangerous mob banker in the country. The stakes escalate from petty theft to life-or-death revenge.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Gondorff agrees to help Hooker take down Lonnegan. They commit to "the wire"—an elaborate fake betting parlor con. Hooker chooses revenge over safety, entering a world of high-stakes deception requiring total commitment., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Lonnegan takes the bait completely, agreeing to place a massive $500,000 bet based on the wire con. The hook is set. But the stakes raise—FBI Agent Polk pressures Hooker to betray Gondorff, and professional hitman Salino is on Hooker's trail., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (65% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Hooker returns to his room to find Loretta dead in his bed—killed by Salino (disguised as her). The whiff of death: an innocent killed because of Hooker's con. Hooker is shaken, the human cost suddenly real., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. Synthesis and clarity: Hooker commits fully to completing the con for Luther, despite the danger. The team executes the final phase. All elements learned—trust, patience, craft, ensemble work—come together for the ultimate deception., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Sting's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Sting against these established plot points, we can identify how George Roy Hill utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Sting within the comedy genre.
George Roy Hill's Structural Approach
Among the 5 George Roy Hill films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.1, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Sting takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Roy Hill filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more George Roy Hill analyses, see The World According to Garp, Slap Shot and Funny Farm.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
September 1936, Joliet, Illinois. Small-time grifter Johnny Hooker and his partner Luther Coleman successfully con a numbers runner out of $11,000, establishing their world of street-level cons and scrappy survival.
Theme
Luther tells Hooker: "You gotta keep this con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him." The theme of elaborate deception and the importance of the long con versus short-term thinking.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Depression-era grifter underworld. Hooker's reckless lifestyle, gambling problems, and relationship with waitress Loretta. Luther's desire to retire. The world of con artists, bookies, and organized crime.
Disruption
Luther is murdered by Doyle Lonnegan's enforcer, Mottola. Hooker discovers they unknowingly stole from the most dangerous mob banker in the country. The stakes escalate from petty theft to life-or-death revenge.
Resistance
Hooker flees to Chicago seeking Luther's contact, Henry Gondorff. Debate and resistance: Can they pull off a big con against Lonnegan? Gondorff is reluctant, drunk, and washed up. Hooker is hunted by both Lonnegan's men and corrupt cop Lt. Snyder.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Gondorff agrees to help Hooker take down Lonnegan. They commit to "the wire"—an elaborate fake betting parlor con. Hooker chooses revenge over safety, entering a world of high-stakes deception requiring total commitment.
Mirror World
The ensemble of con artists assembles—Kid Twist, J.J. Singleton, Eddie Niles, and dozens more. This community represents an alternative world built on loyalty, craft, and artistry in deception, contrasting with Lonnegan's world of violence and intimidation.
Premise
The fun and games of executing the con. Gondorff cheats Lonnegan at poker on the train. The elaborate fake wire room is constructed. Hooker plays Kelly, the inside man. Watching the intricate mechanisms of the big con unfold with style, period detail, and ragtime music.
Midpoint
False victory: Lonnegan takes the bait completely, agreeing to place a massive $500,000 bet based on the wire con. The hook is set. But the stakes raise—FBI Agent Polk pressures Hooker to betray Gondorff, and professional hitman Salino is on Hooker's trail.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies from all sides. Lt. Snyder kidnaps Hooker for FBI. The supposed FBI agent Polk threatens Hooker. Salino stalks Hooker. Lonnegan grows suspicious and investigates. Each element of the con becomes more precarious as multiple forces close in.
Collapse
Hooker returns to his room to find Loretta dead in his bed—killed by Salino (disguised as her). The whiff of death: an innocent killed because of Hooker's con. Hooker is shaken, the human cost suddenly real.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul. Hooker processes the death and danger. Doubt creeps in—is revenge worth it? The con must proceed despite mounting risks. Emotional reckoning before the final push.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis and clarity: Hooker commits fully to completing the con for Luther, despite the danger. The team executes the final phase. All elements learned—trust, patience, craft, ensemble work—come together for the ultimate deception.
Synthesis
The finale: Lonnegan arrives with $500,000. The bet is placed. FBI "raids" the wire room. Gondorff and Hooker are "shot" by Agent Polk. Lonnegan flees, believing he escaped. The con is revealed—Polk is fake, the deaths staged, the wire room a complete fabrication.
Transformation
Gondorff and Hooker walk away from the emptying fake wire room, now partners and friends. Hooker has transformed from reckless small-timer to master con artist, honoring Luther through craft rather than violence. Justice served through artistry.