TITLE: The Sting
YEAR OF MOVIE RELEASE: 1973
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION COMPANY: Universal Pictures; a Bill/Phillips Production
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Cinema International Corporation (CIC)
TAGLINE: “…all it takes is a little Confidence.”
DIRECTOR: George Roy Hill
CAST: Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw
PRODUCERS: Tony Bill, Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Robert Surtees
SCREENPLAY: David S. Ward
MUSIC ADAPTED BY: Marvin Hamlisch
ARTWORK: Richard Amsel
POSTER PRINTER: Robert Burton Printers Pty. Ltd., Sydney
FORMAT: Australian One Sheet
POSTER VERSION: Seven Academy Awards campaign
GENRE: Crime / Comedy / Drama
COLLECTOR’S NOTE
The Sting reunited Paul Newman, Robert Redford and director George Roy Hill after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Its success brought seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Directing and Original Screenplay—achievements prominently advertised across this poster’s upper section.
Richard Amsel’s illustration pays homage to the work of J. C. Leyendecker, whose magazine and advertising art helped define an earlier American visual style. That influence suits the film’s period setting, giving the poster appeal both as cinema memorabilia and as an example of Amsel’s distinctive illustrative work. His printed “AMSEL” signature appears on the desk at the lower right of the illustration.
POSTER DESIGN FEATURES
A warm-toned illustration of Robert Redford and Paul Newman forms the centrepiece. Redford leans beside Newman, who sits on an ornate desk holding a playing card, with another card tucked into his braces. A telephone, bottles, glasses and stacks of coins reinforce the con-game setting.
The stars’ names arch above the image in yellow lettering with dark outlines. Fine red circles frame the portraits, while horizontal black rules give the composition a structured, period-inspired appearance.
A large black numeral 7, Academy Awards heading and Oscar statuette illustration dominate the top. A yellow rectangular border encloses the pale background, with the confidence tagline and production credits below. The restrained yellow, red, brown and black palette complements the nostalgic illustration.