MovieChat Forums > The Sting (1973) Discussion > A Twist of a Twist No One Seems to Notic...

A Twist of a Twist No One Seems to Notice...

posted 12 years ago by jga-505-721860
36 replies | jump to latest

I am hoping more people out there agree with me about how this movie REALLY ended. It seems the IMDB FAQ misses this:

Any ending leaves SOME interpretation, but it has always been my opinion that Gondorff and Hooker provide one ADDITIONAL twist at the end of the movie...

They split with ALL the cash!

A question on the IMDB FAQs asks why would the two create a con with so much overhead - with dozens and dozens of cons in on it. The answer provided is that half a mill is a lot of money and would leave enough left over for the two masterminds. This, to me, falls short of what actually happens in that final moment of the last scene. No money is split. That misses the true intention of the final moments and the beauty of this movie.

In my opinion, the true answer is that they have no intention in paying any of their friends.

In the last moment, Gondorff turns to Hooker and asks if he isn't going to wait for his share? Hooker says "No, I'd just end up spending it" - and the two walk out together.

This question by Gondorff is a joke and to a lesser extent, a setup for anyone in earshot. While he is allaying any concerns that the two WON'T pay off everyone at the time announced, he is really being playful. He is alluding to the fact that the people waiting will not get their money and he is giving Hooker a choice to stay and not take a share the half a million they are holding. It is a joke between the cons.

Notice the two are holding TWO big suitcases, one each, and are leaving. First, where are they going with a suitcase? Surely they need to stay in town and receive their shares? Certainly no one believes Hooker isn't going to cash in on his share? The two men walk out and as they do, the screen slowly closes in on them holding the suitcases. This is a wink and a nod to what truly happens. They are GONE.

What makes that end scene so beautiful is the elation of all the cons. They are all cheering and smiling, handshaking and hugging one another for the success of this plan. It makes it even more genius and funny that the ENTIRE thing was a con. This was truly always about Gondorff and Hooker, and it was their BIG con. Not only was the mark had, but EVERYONE was a mark besides them.

[–] jwalsh67 12 years ago

Your ending is interesting but a bit hard for me to swallow. The cash that Lonigan turned in was nowhere near Gondorff and Hooker after they got "shot" and eventually left. My guess is they both left town (as you suggested) and took NONE of the $500K with them. Of course, there is no way to fully prove either of our proposed endings. Isn't conjecture wonderful?

He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

[–] jga-505-721860 12 years ago

Conjecture is in fact wonderful. And one of the reasons I love movies that offer a bit of mystery to how they leave off.

There is just something about the final moments of the film as that wipe circles around them and those bags that makes me think "wait a minute!"

But both endings are plausible and I could be wrong. You are right about the money, and who knows. Maybe Gondorff's lady packed it

[–] jrs-8 12 years ago

Gondorf and Hooker had suitcases to leave town quickly. Most of those people were people Gondorf had worked with for years doing grifts. The very thought that he would cheat them seems ludicrous. I am not saying the OP is wrong but I just don't see it that way. Hooker said he would only blow his share if he waited around (as proven in an earlier scene when he loses all his money at the rigged roulette table) which makes him scurrying out with Gondorf make more sense. Plus Gondorf had such a reputation that Hooker first heard about him from Luther. No I don't think there is a chance in hell Gondorf would cheat his loyal people that helped pull off the con.

[–] elena-28 9 years ago

Also, Gondorf mentions that after this day, he's going to be hot again, and it won't be safe to stay in town:

GONDORFF
I better do some packin'. I'm
gonna be a hot number again after
tomorrow.

HOOKER
Then why you doin' it?

GONDORFF
Seems worthwhile, doesn't it?
Maybe it's just for the cave-in on
Lonnegan's face when we put in the
sting.

He's packing right before the sting scene, and as he and Billie leave the carousel, they both take a moment to for one more look around at their home and place of business. So that suitcase is not for the money. I also agree that it would be unlikely, and unintelligent, for Gondorf to cheat people he has been working very closely with. This band is like a very close family - they are getting back at Lonnegan mainly because of Luther's murder. Everyone in Gondorf's gang who mentions Luther and his family does so with affection, respect and with contempt at what was done to him. To me, it doesn't jive for any of these people to cheat within their circle.

[–] araksue 12 years ago

Good twist!
If this movie had been made today, there's no doubt that this more cynical ending would've been used.

However, this movie went heavily into the underground culture of Grifters, where "there's honor among thieves", so the worst thing a Grifter could've done was to double-cross another Grifter, let alone most of Chicago's Grifters all at once.

A 1973 "The Sting" would've honored the code among thieves. A 2012 "The Sting" could possibly get away with having Gondorff and Hooker (Clooney and Pitt) take off with the prize.

[–] acwoodcraft-1 12 years ago

Possible, but I don't think so. Gondorf had known most of the others for years and I don't think he'd cheat them. Mainly for Gondorf it was to find out after being out of circulation for a while, whether or not he "still had the touch" to pull off a big con. Besides, once word got around that he'd stiffed his cohorts, he'd never be able to get a card game together again, let alone a con.

A heart can be broken, but it still keeps a-beatin' just the same.

[–] rochelle-rochelle 12 years ago

What was the point of the actual Sting if the ones pulling the sting don't take any money? I need to watch it again because when Hooker says "No, I'd just end up spending it." I'm like, what?!! What was all this for then?

I knew that everyone in "the wire" would be stiffed, and by the time they realized it, Hooker and Gondorff would be long gone. Everyone in on the sting should have demanded money before the two key guys took off into the sunset with a smile and huge briefcases. I'm like, "hello?!!"

[–] snelling 12 years ago

Hooker meant, "Nah, I'd only blow it," meaning he would lose it all quickly on games of chance or women. Gondorff and Hooker did not have the money at the end. Billie, Twist and Mr Hand were to meet up with them and the others later and bring the money for their splits. The only things in Hooker's and Gordorff's suitcases were their clothes and possessions.

Enter my contest! I need help for a new signature! Maybe I'll choose yours and you'll win a cash prize!

[–] scrabbler1 12 years ago

Gondorf barked out two orders before he left the parlor with the suitcase full of money: "Take this place apart....FAST!" and "You can pick up your shares at DuBoudreau's [where Snyder had broken Kid Erie's nose] tonight."

Henry needed to dismantle the fake betting parlor quickly in case Lonnegan (or Snyder, for that matter) decided to return later to further investigate or extract some revenge or, in Lonnegan's case, try to recover his money. Henry also needed to make sure his people would not run away if they failed to help with this task - had he given out the money at the time, they would have no incentive to help dismantle the parlor to begin with. Also, by verbally designating a reasonably rendezvous place to split the money, the risk of being discovered later would be minimized.

[–] Son-of-WRA 11 years ago

While yours is a plausible theory, the fact remains that as a personal interpretation, you can't be wrong. It doesn't work for me though, because the character interactions suggested that they (Gondorf, JJ, Kid Twist, etc.) trusted one another. The way it was all presented left me with the impression that most of Gondorf's people had long-term working relationships which didn't present Gondorf and Hooker with any reason to get one over on them. There was no suggestion that the main characters were going to try and do such a thing to people who could turn and drop dime on them. They'd be dead in their world of grifting (figuratively and literally). Besides, Hooker was the new kid on the block as far as Gondorf's circle goes. After all, the con played on Lonnegan was retribution for killing Luther, which Hooker alludes to when he states that just the act of making Lonnegan lose his money was enough for killing Luther. It just strikes me as cynical that the two would do such a thing, which contrasts with the comraderie shared by the players.

[–] SidekickinWhiteFury 11 years ago

He had worked with most of the people on this crew before.
He was not going to cheat them.

In the Big Con, it takes a very large crew in order to relay the sense of legitimacy. People that you have worked with before, and have to trust in order to pull the scam off. The mark is the mark. The sucker, he deserves to be cheated. But the crew members are on the inside and are going to split the money.
Clearly he would be killed if he tried to cheat the whole crew and take all the money for himself.

I never got the impression he was taking off with all the money for himself.
It is as it was stated, Redford was in it for revenge, he would only waste the money gambling anyway. Newman told everyone they can pick up their splits from Eddie at Boudreau's.

[–] Rheli 11 years ago

Yeah, it's called The Sting. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was a different movie.

Where's your crew?
On the 3rd planet.
There IS no 3rd planet!
Don't you think I know that?

[–] crood 11 years ago

Remember, Gondorff's mere presence and finger to the nose was enough to get these guys to walk off jobs with no notice in the middle of the day. This indicates a large amount of trust. Add in that for Hooker and Gondorff, it wasn't ever really about the money. It was about Luther. Luther was Hooker's mentor and an old friend of Gondorff, who was essentially out of the game due to federal warrants. He was taking enormous risk just pulling the con because it would tip people off. It would be stupid to then piss off a bunch of old friends, who could probably figure our where he'd go.

[–] The_Mahatma_Fonzie 11 years ago

I agree that they stole it in the end. His line "Aren't you gonna stick around for your share" (or whatever) seemed really random and seemed to be a hint to Redford to follow him because he had the money.

I'm sure all those cons were happy with free drinks, something to do for a month, and a share of the spending money that was left over.

My smile is stuck, I cannot go back to your frownland.

[–] dyingearth 10 years ago

As Hooker have demonstrated with his cut of the money at the beginning of the film, he may be a good grifter, but he sucked at spending it. He blows through his entire cut (enough for Luther to retired on) in one bet in a mob betting joint. He knew his own nature and getting the money from this job isn't the point. It's revenge.

[–] dmayo-911-597432 11 years ago

If the idea here is to think of alternative endings that appeal to us, of course anything goes. But if it's to understand what the filmmakers had in mind and wanted us to get, the idea that Gondorff and Hooker take all the money for themselves is a non-starter.

As others have pointed out, the con was planned as massive revenge against Lonnegan for killing Luther, not as a money-making project. I don't remember whether there was any talk about giving part of the proceeds to Luther's widow, but I can imagine that being done with Hooker's share and probably Gondorff's much more easily than their keeping everything.

But the surest way to judge a thing like this is to stay attuned to the spirit of the movie as a whole and to the images of its stars. As surely as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid coolly go forth to bite the dust at the end of their adventures, Gondorff and Hooker coolly saunter away with empty pockets. They don't leave a bad taste in the mouths of their loyal pals or those of Newman's and Redford's loyal fans.

[–] PillowRock 11 years ago

So, your theory is that Hooker and Gondorf gave that many grifters a good reason to want to get revenge on them and just trusted that not a single one of those guys would ever consider leaking to anybody in Lonnegan's gang that it was all a con and who was behind it? (Remember Twist's comment about "If this goes sour, the feds will be the least of our problems.")

I'm sorry, but I'm not buying that one.

And that's even before you get into the clearly long term relationships between Gondorf and the rest of the inner circle.

[–] kausix777 11 years ago

Absolutely. :-)