On this day, February 18, 1983, The Sting II premiered in theaters in Los Angeles and New York City. A sequel to the 1973 Oscar-winning classic The Sting, the film attempted to recapture the charm and con artistry of the original, this time with an entirely new cast led by Jackie Gleason, Mac Davis, and Teri Garr.
Set in the world of high-stakes swindling, The Sting II followed a new con game with similar twists and turns, but it struggled to match the magic of its predecessor. Without Paul Newman and Robert Redford reprising their iconic roles, the film received mixed reviews and failed to achieve the same level of critical or commercial success.
Despite its lukewarm reception, The Sting II remains an interesting attempt to expand on the classic film’s legacy, offering a fresh take on old-school con artistry in a 1940s setting.
80s insight: Even though The Sting II featured different actors, the story was still written by David S. Ward, the screenwriter of the original The Sting.
Set in the world of high-stakes swindling, The Sting II followed a new con game with similar twists and turns, but it struggled to match the magic of its predecessor. Without Paul Newman and Robert Redford reprising their iconic roles, the film received mixed reviews and failed to achieve the same level of critical or commercial success.
Despite its lukewarm reception, The Sting II remains an interesting attempt to expand on the classic film’s legacy, offering a fresh take on old-school con artistry in a 1940s setting.
80s insight: Even though The Sting II featured different actors, the story was still written by David S. Ward, the screenwriter of the original The Sting.
