CINÉ-REAL #02 – THE STING
The 2nd CINÉ-REAL evening showed the 1973 Oscar winning The Sting. The film is set in 1936America and involves a complicated plot by two professional grifters (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) to con a mob boss (Robert Shaw). The film was directed by George Roy Hill, who previously directed Newman and Redford in the western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Created by screenwriter David S. Ward, the story was inspired by real-life con games perpetrated by the brothers Fred and Charley Gondorff and documented by David Marurer in his book The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man. The Sting was hugely successful at the 46th Academy Awards, being nominated for 10 Oscars and winning seven, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Creation from limitation:
The limp, by the character played by Shaw, was completely authentic as Shaw had slipped on a wet handball court at the Beverly Hills Hotel just a week before filming began and had torn all the ligaments in his knee. He had to wear a leg brace during production which was kept hidden under the wide 1930s style trousers he wore. Rather than being a problem, the altered gait added to Shaw’s performance.
Projection: 
Umit, the projectionist and all around film connoisseur, from Umit and son Hackney, was on hand to help with the all around smooth running of the evening. The Film was shown on a Bell and Howell 1695 TQIII on 3 reels.
Mulled wine and mince pies were available in the intermission.
The Sting 16mm Screen shots:
