# The Sting comments about the movie and a few questions (Spoilers of course, film is over 50 years old) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 28, 2025, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449 "2025-09-28T06:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/61 "2025-10-01T17:01:02Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Being white, popcorn? It looked flatter and smoother than popcorn. Maybe something chocolate covered? White chocolate, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/62 "2025-10-01T17:03:09Z")
That’s a possibility, but I got the impression while watching that the other players knew each other and were likely regular players in the game, and Gondorf was the only interloper. In fact, doesn’t he slip the conductor some money to get into the game? If the game had different players every trip, the conductor would have been actively looking for participants. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/63 "2025-10-01T17:16:10Z")
I always figured he had grabbed some mints. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/64 "2025-10-01T17:24:20Z")
I’d go for mints to reinforce his drinking persona. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/65 "2025-10-02T03:03:28Z")
I always considered them to be mints. There may have been a well-stocked bar, but unless the cigarette girl had some packs of salted peanuts in her tray, there didn’t seem to be anything else to eat. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That’s a possibility, but I got the impression while watching that the other players knew each other and were likely regular players in the game, and Gondorf was the only interloper. In fact, doesn’t he slip the conductor some money to get into the game? If the game had different players every trip, the conductor would have been actively looking for participants. Yes, it seemed like all the other players knew each other. It was the _20th Century Limited_, after all, and undoubtedly, these New York and Chicago businessmen were regular passengers. As I recall, Gondorff’s conversation with the conductor (Fun Fact: the conductor was played by Larry D. Mann, the same actor who voiced Yukon Cornelius in the _Rudolph_ TV Christmas special) went like this: Gondorff: I hear there’s a high stakes poker game on this train. Any chance I can get in on that? Conductor: Well, there’s usually a waiting list. (Gondorff peels off a bill from a wad he produces and hands it to the conductor.) Conductor: That’ll get you first alternate, sir. (Gondorff peels off another bill and hands it to the conductor.) Conductor: I’ll see what I can do. (The conductor then talks to Lonnegan about getting Gondorff/Shaw into the game.) Conductor: Private sleeper, expensive suit, wad of cash, I’ll vouch for him. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/66 "2025-10-02T03:49:04Z")
OTOH, when they’re working up their plan in Billy’s place, JJ makes that comment that a lot of high rollers ride that train just to play him, they can’t all be regulars. [Old School Guy Strategies (Paul Newman) | The Sting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx8IQV9ABOE) And speaking of Billy, can we just take a moment to represent the awesomeness that is Eileen Brennan, in this and her other roles? ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/67 "2025-10-02T05:50:47Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > For what it’s worth, the phrase is ambiguous enough that they could say he misinterpreted it whichever way he bet (i.e., claim that it meant “bet on Lucky Dan to win” or claim that it meant “bet on Lucky Dan to place”). Yes but ‘misinterpreting’ it as an each way / place bet would be useless to Gondorff, Hooker and co, as they’d still have to pay out. I just take it as stated in the script and give the writers some slack here; Lonnegan made a simple mistake. And anyway, I dare say a mob boss like Lonnegan would have had his lackeys make his bets for him usually, so perhaps he wasn’t used to actually putting the money on personally, it’s just that he wanted revenge on ‘Shaw’, and to really rub his nose in it by doing it himself. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/68 "2025-10-02T06:08:06Z")
Mints or Jordan Almonds ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/69 "2025-10-02T10:59:56Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Yes but ‘misinterpreting’ it as an each way / place bet would be useless to Gondorff, Hooker and co, as they’d still have to pay out. No, I mean if Shaw bets on the horse to win they can claim he was supposed to bet for it to place, and if Shaw bets on the horse to place they can claim he was supposed to bet for it to win. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/70 "2025-10-02T12:42:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Mints or Jordan Almonds Jordan Almonds, I’m sure. The shape matches the flattened version. Thanks - low stakes mystery solved! ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/71 "2025-10-02T13:05:34Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Jordan Almonds, I’m sure Blech! I haven’t eaten a Jordan almond in years. Gondorff can keep them. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/72 "2025-10-02T13:55:30Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > And speaking of Billy, can we just take a moment to represent the awesomeness that is Eileen Brennan, in this and her other roles? YES! I think this is the only drama role I’ve seen her in, so it really resonates with me. Brings me back to Murder by Death. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/73 "2025-10-02T21:58:29Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > For me it’s the card game on the train. I absolutely love this movie, but it requires some suspension of disbelief. For instance: Ray Walston’s intelligence gathering borders on psychic powers. Not only does he find that Lonnegan cheats, but he cheats by forcing 4 of a kind on his mark. And boy howdy, was that risky. Gondorf pulls 4 jacks out of his sleeve….what if one of the discarded cards from that hand had also been a jack? Or what if Lonnegan dealt himself 4 aces? Still, love it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/74 "2025-10-02T22:02:30Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Or what if Lonnegan dealt himself 4 aces? He likes to cold-deck low, eights or nines. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/75 "2025-10-03T05:49:51Z")
Oh is a place bet not the same as an each way? My mistake, sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/76 "2025-10-03T21:32:30Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > No, I mean if Shaw bets on the horse to win they can claim he was supposed to bet for it to place, and if Shaw bets on the horse to place they can claim he was supposed to bet for it to win. A place bet pays off if the horse finishes first or second. If Lonnegan made a place bet, and Harold Gould comes in and says it was supposed to be a bet to win, Lonnegan would still win his bet. It’s not like he’d be totally shut out if he’d interpreted the call that way. He’d just win less money than if he’d bet to win. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/77 "2025-10-05T12:56:36Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > It’s not like he’d be totally shut out if he’d interpreted the call that way. He’d just win less money than if he’d bet to win Probably but not always. I was at a race where a heavy favorite won but 2 longshots came in the money. The Place and Show payouts were much more than the Win payout. Completely messed up my Trifecta Box. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/79 "2025-10-05T14:41:44Z")
I think it was to show that how lonely Hooker was. He may have also felt sorry for her. In the MAD magazine satire, the guy who saves Hooker by shooting her explains that she was sent “by the Mafia, to seduce you with her good looks”. When Hooker asks, “Which Mafia?”, he’s told, “The Polish Mafia”. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/81 "2025-10-23T00:48:02Z")
“James. I am your father.” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449/82 "2025-10-23T04:13:40Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > ….what if one of the discarded cards from that hand had also been a jack? Well, this right here. Anybody coulda chimed in _“Hey! I discarded that after the Open!”_ Its a ridiculous entertaining movie. We gotta learn to move on… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sting-comments-about-the-movie-and-a-few-questions-spoilers-of-course-film-is-over-50-years-old/1023449.md?page=5)