THE STING 2
US, 1983, 102 minutes, Colour.
Jackie Gleason, Mac Davis, Teri Garr, Karl Malden, Oliver Reed, Burt Remsen, Larry Bishop, Ron Rifkin.
Directed by Jeremy Kagan.
The Sting 2 would be an enjoyable enough film if audiences had no awareness of the Oscar-winning original. David S. Ward’s screenplay won an Oscar, the film won best film and best director and starred the partnership of Robert Redford and Paul Newman along with Robert Shaw as a villain. Jackie Gleason and Mac Davis play the characters in this sequel – a very different proposition from Redford and Newman. Oliver Reed, however, is a strong villain.
This screenplay was written by David S. Ward, nine years after the original. However, the enjoyment of the original film was the final discovery of the sting itself. In this version, there are many stings – which puts the audience in a very wary frame of mind as they watch what is going on.
Because The Sting itself was a classic, and this film is merely ordinary, it is disappointing. It was directed by Jeremy Kagan who directed a number of television movies as well as the fine Jewish film, The Chosen.
1. The reputation and enjoyment value of the original? Its awards? The necessity for a sequel? Quality? Audience expectations? The work of David S. Ward as author? Changes in director from George Roy Hill to Jeremy Paul Kagan?
2. A comedy for the '80s? The emphasis on confidence tricks? The effects of the tricks? A laugh comedy?
3. The particular styles of the stars and their combination for this comedy? The shifting of time to the early '40s? The New York backgrounds - with the touch of Florida? The atmosphere of the '40s, of the films of the time? Nightclubs, gymnasiums, the streets etc.?
4. The continued use of Scott Joplin's music and its attractiveness, mood setting?
5. The contrivances of the plot: cleverness, tricks, suspense etc.? The use of the various confidence tricks: the restaurant and Veronica and her robbing Jake? Jake and O'Malley at the railway station - and the repetition of encounters with O’Malley? The encounter with Micalasky and the dance, luring him to bet against Jake? Veronica's emphasis on culture? The billiards game? Jake and his boxing? The con trick with the posing as Life Magazine photographer, the gas leak? The betting and the counter-betting? Veronica and her being in two camps? The build-up to the final fight and the changes in planning? The end and the revelations of who was helping whom? The pleasure of the confidence tricks and the anticipation of their success?
6. Jake as attractive conman, drifter, relationship with Fargo? The initial encounter with Veronica? The set-up with O'Malley, the visit to Fargo in jail and the preparations for the sting? The boxing exhibition? The attempt to escape from O'Malley - and the rides on the roller coaster? The use of Coney Island? Falling in love with Veronica? The encounters with Micalasky and leading him on? The bout and the various signals? His decision to stand on his own feet at the end and win?
7. The contrast with Jackie Gleason's style as Fargo? Reputation, prison and people dancing attendance on him? His plan for the set-up? His shrewdness, posing as the gentleman against Micalasky? The bout and proving Jake a fighter? The fight and his control? The revelations at the end - especially about Veronica?
8. The various con types: the entourage, the jobs, Tuxedo and his bets and his suave style, the experts at the gymnasium, arranging the bouts, posing as the Life Magazine photographer, Tuxedo posing as Chancellor? The Damon Runyon gallery?
9. Veronica and her style, her tricks, her meeting Jake, the dance, luring Micalasky, falling in love with Jake, her being in the camp of Lonnegan, helping with the changing of the bets? The final revelation of her being Fargo's daughter?
10. Lonnegan and the background of the original film? Oliver Reed and his style, vengeance? His henchmen? The initial murder? The set-up? Lonnegan's quoting Shakespeare? Having O'Malley in his pay? Hostility towards Micalasky? His giving him the information - and his having to escape at the end?
11. Karl Malden's liveliness as Micalasky? Reputation, women? Repulsive style, roughness? Proposing to Veronica and Fargo's acting the gentleman? His being taken in at the billiards? Falling for Jake's pretence? The bout set-up and the coach? His arrangement for the second bout and the group thwarting him? The huge bet? Wanting to change? Losing and pursuing Lonnegan?
12. An entertaining fantasy? Confidence tricks American style?
