Tonight on TV: This 7th Oscar heist movie is carried forward by one of the greatest duos in history

Tonight on TV: This 7th Oscar heist movie is carried forward by one of the greatest duos in history



One of the best heist movies

If George Roy Hill’s film hadn’t won the Oscar for best film that year, perhaps it would have The exorcist by William Friedkin, oa American graffiti by George Lucas. But at the 1974 Oscars, while the young people of New Hollywood were at the center of attention in the previous two years (with the triumphs of The French Connection AND The Godfather), All right The scam by George Roy Hill who is celebrated. Out of ten nominations, he won seven statuettes : Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing and Best Music.

The action of The scam is set in the mid-1930s and centers on two charming con artists from the Chicago area, two professional con artists looking to make their “big break.” And the casting put together to bring these two characters to the screen is simply one of the most successful and iconic in the history of cinema: Roberto Redford AND Paul Newmann.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid return

George Roy Hill knows he has an exceptional duo with these two actors, since he already directed them in 1969 in one of the greatest westerns in the history of cinema: Butch Cassidy and the boy. Their reunion for The scam It then marks a turning point for the two actors: Paul Newman, already a Hollywood icon, relaunches himself after several failures in theaters and Robert Redford confirms himself as one of the most successful actors of his generation. Will then continue with The Great Gatsby, The three days of the Condor AND The president’s men.

The scam
The Scam ©Universal Pictures

Everything is therefore a story of appearances, falsehoods and tricks as clever as they are funny The scam. Determined to take revenge on a crime boss (Robert Shaw) by robbing and humiliating him, Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) and Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) will brilliantly develop their “con”. Ideal in the role of a young swindler still novice alongside his charismatic mentor, Robert Redford is nominated for an Oscar as best actor for his performance.

When it was released in theaters in 1973 and 1974, The scam is a huge commercial success, with a worldwide box office of $257 million. Sublimated by the performance of its main cast and its musical theme, the famous “ragtime“, The scam it is therefore considered one of the best screenplays ever written. It was also inducted into the National Film Registry of the United States Library of Congress in 2005 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.

Source: Cine Serie

You may also like