So in the last 2 weeks we have been able to see three of the Best Picture winners from the mid-70s. A week and a half ago it was “Godfather Part 2”, two nights ago it was “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, and last night was our chance to see “The Sting” the film that won the award between the other two. I’ve seen “The Sting” on the big screen several times, and it is always a pleasure. But seeing it with a full audience adds an extra dimension. Let me explain why.

When the auditorium is packed you can hear the reaction of other audience members around you. I could tell from the gasps and laughter of people sitting behind me and down a few rows, that they were seeing “The Sting” for the very first time. Those who are familiar with the movie are aware that there are several surprise twists in various spots in the film, but most especially in the last Act. It is a complete delight to listen to people who are surprised and amused at the twist that shows up next. Another one of the reasons that seeing a film with an audience on the big screen is so important to me.

The event had some special extras to go with it, in addition to our usual popcorn, a drink coupon was provided for us. We also had a selection of Halloween sized candy that we could pick up before we went into the theater. That stop also gave us a chance to wave at and say hi to Danielle who we had met the week before. Erin, the community outreach member that we met last year, greeted us as we were getting our popcorn. She also shared that our picture was used in the latest email to all of the film fans who signed up for Paramount notifications. That was cool.

Before the film started, a series of screen slides provided some trivia information about the making of the film. Included was a detail that Jack Nicholson had been offered the role of Hooker, ultimately played by Robert Redford. Yeah, I think this was a good outcome, having Jack in the part would have been a completely different kind of movie. The biggest draw for me has always been the outsized villain played by Robert Shaw.  is Doyle Lonnegan is a joyless mobster who simply cares only for money and being the top dog. Any action that undermines his pride becomes a motivation for him to seek revenge. That’s why the poker game on the train is so important. It provides all the incentive that Lonnegan needs in order to accept a chance at getting back at Newman’s character. It allows the subterfuge to go undetected because of his desire for revenge. Shaw plays the part with barely a single smile in any of his scenes. Once in awhile a small smirk appears to indicate to Hooker or to Loneaggan’s lackeys that he has the upper hand. It’s a joy to see that smirk it wiped off of his face two or three times in the course of the movie.

Director George Roy Hill won the Academy Award for this particular film, and although he is a respected technician, you don’t hear many people speak of him with the same degree of awe as Scorsese, Coppola, or Spielberg. He did some amazing films in the ’70s and later on this summer we get a chance to revisit the movie that he made with Paul Newman and Robert Redford prior to this, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. I recently saw the film “A Little Romance”, which he made with Lawrence Olivier and a very young Diane Lane, and it’s absolutely terrific. Combine that with the fact that he made the greatest sports movie ever, “Slap Shot”, and turned my favorite book into a fairly reasonable film version, “The World According to Garp”, and I feel he deserves a little more cache with film fans.

It’s not even the middle of June yet, and I feel like I’ve had a summers worth of great movies already. I’m looking forward to several things in the next few weeks, and you can expect continued updates on the Paramount classic film series 50th anniversary.