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

[deleted]

"No, I'd just end up spending it" means that niether needed nor wanted the money. In fact, the gang got ALL of it. Gondorff and Hooker got none.

You're over-thinking it. Gondorf asked Hooker if he was going to stick around for his share only after he said to the gang, “You can pick up your splits at Budro’s tonight.” So, that explains when and where the haul was to be doled out. They couldn't just start handing out cash on the spot without first figuring out what percentage went to each person involved. There was a bit of accounting to be done to determine how much of the haul was going to be parceled out to each one. Half a million dollars was a lot of money back in the thirties, over 5 million in today’s dollars, so there was enough to go around even though it took a large number of con artists to run the scam on Lonnegan. The suitcase Hooker left with was the same suitcase he was seen carrying with him into the joint. Neither Gondorf nor any of the other grifters was seen placing cash into this or any other suitcase. The folks who helped run the big con were their fellow con artists. Gondorf and Hooker wouldn't have dared rip them off. They’d have been hunted down like rabid dogs if they had turned on their fellow thieves. The only twist at the end was Hooker's reply that "I'll only blow it." You'd think he'd want to collect his share after all that work and the risks he took. Ya follow?

I think that's an interesting take however I view it differently. I re-watched the movie this morning. I believe this job was personal for Gondorff and Hooker. They were doing it to avenge their friend Luther's death. At the beginning of the film, Hooker & Luther are partners and they pull a con on Lonnegan. When the con is discovered, Lonnegan demands satisfaction for this insult and Luther is killed. Hooker seeks out Gondorff, because he is aware that Gondorff had a relationship with Luther many years ago and he was told by Luther that Gondorff has past experience pulling some big cons. Hooker wants to take Lonnegan for a large sum of money thus accomplishing two things: avenging his friend's death and evening the score.

In a scene between Gondorff (Newman) and Hooker (Redford) that takes place in Gondorff's room- they discuss why they're doing the con-Gondorff mentions the hundreds of people he conned over the years and admits that the venue they are using "is for suckers, but I've been grifting for 30 years and I never got any anyway". He tells Hooker that he's been doing this for a long time and has nothing to show for it but this job is different - it's personal, it's for Luther-nothing will bring him back but this con will mean something. As Hooker is leaving the room he asks Gandorff again why's he's working the con if he's not going to make much money? Gandorff replies that, "it seems worthwhile, doesn't it" and gives Hooker a sly smile. (That awesome Paul Newman smile with a twinkle in those blue eyes...)

At the end of the film their suitcases are packed because they have to get out of town quickly-eventually Lonnegan will figure out that he was conned and they need to get out of town quickly. I think Gondorff most likely split the money with the other men as he had long standing relationship with many of them. I didn't get the sense he was planning to screw any one over- I think he's more clever than that. However, for Hooker, it is enough that they stung Lonnegan, the man responsible for his best friend and partner's death. He didn't care about the money-as he said, he knew himself well enough to realize it would be gone in days. The satisfaction was in the con.. That is one of the best parts of the movie-and ultimately says a lot about Hooker.

That was long-second time I've done that this week. Please disregard poor spelling and grammar-I'm laid up with an injury and typing in bed is challenging! Cheers.
"Gentlemen you can't fight in here!" "This is the war room!" Dr. Strangelove

Good post, but I don't agree. I think Redford's last line was more about showing the con was revenge for him. He wasn't in it for the money.

http://tinyurl.com/nqdpspm

Interesting interpretation. But I don't think so.

All of the cons are VALUABLE to Gondorff. They are good at what they do and they are trustworthy. Those are the exact reasons why Gondorff would never double cross them. What if he needed them again?

The Alternate Ending I’d Imagined

Just before Hooker and Gondorff go their separate ways, Hooker asks Gondorff, “So, what’s next for you?” Gondorff replies, “I’ve heard that Argentina is nice this time of year. You interested?”*

* There are claims that, after a career of robbing banks and trains, Robert Leroy Parker (a.k.a Butch Cassidy) and Harry Longabaugh (a.k.a. The Sundance Kid) fled the United States with Longabaugh’s girlfriend, Etta Place, and settled in Argentina.

If it is what it is, what is it?

I'm probably a little late in responding to this question.. Actually really late. But I'll answer anyway. After Lonnegan is hustled out by Snyder and we find out the shooting was fake, Gondorrf says "Okay guys, lets take this place apart fast. You can pick up your splits from Eddie at Budros tonight." Thats it. There was no running off with the money. Eddie, the bank teller/betting clerk got the suitcase full of cash from Lonnegan before the race and still had it when Lonnegan left.
Since he is the money man, he'll know who gets how much.