The Sting

"The Sting" famously stars Paul Newman as the seasoned con man Henry Gondorff and Robert Redford as his young protégé, Johnny Hooker. The film is widely celebrated for the incredible on-screen chemistry and comedic timing between the two Hollywood legends.

Yes, "The Sting" was a massive critical and commercial success, taking home seven Oscars at the 1974 Academy Awards. Most notably, it won Best Picture, Best Director for George Roy Hill, and Best Original Screenplay for David S. Ward.

The iconic, upbeat piano score for "The Sting" was adapted from the ragtime compositions of Scott Joplin, an early 20th-century African-American composer. Marvin Hamlisch adapted the music, and the track "The Entertainer" reached number 3 on the Billboard pop chart because of the film.

Without giving away the final twist, the central con in "The Sting" is an elaborate off-track betting scam designed to defraud a ruthless mob boss named Doyle Lonnegan, played by Robert Shaw. The main characters set up a fake betting parlor to convince Lonnegan to place a massive wager on a horse race.