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Hooker could have given his cut to Luther's widow

posted 8 years ago by joannabaroncelli
10 replies | jump to latest

I notice that at the end Henry asks Hooker if he's going to wait around for his share and Hooker says no that he would only blow it. Why not give it to Luther's widow as the main reason Hooker got involved in this scam was to avenge the murder of his friend Luther. I know money isn't going to bring Luther back but Luther's wife would be entitled as anyone would. Perhaps Hooker was afraid that if Lonegain found out he had been taken that she would be endangered if she had the money.

[–] Eric266 8 years ago

I've often wondered about that, too. However, I thought there was some dialogue somewhere about Luther's widow getting a cut of the con. I watched it again this past weekend and I don't see that dialogue so maybe I am not remembering it correctly.

I like to think that there is honor among thieves and they had a code that all understood to be: Luther's widow would get a cut.

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[–] wordsatplaytoday 8 years ago

I thought there was some dialogue somewhere about Luther's widow getting a cut of the con. I watched it again this past weekend and I don't see that dialogue so maybe I am not remembering it correctly.

Maybe you're thinking of the exchange between Kid Twist and Dookie or Doogie or whatever that guy's weird name is when Twist is in that con-man hang out speak easy asking for "The list," and Droopy says they are passing the hat for Luther's widow.

I like to think that there is honor among thieves and they had a code that all understood to be: Luther's widow would get a cut.

Sure. You can create for movies whatever you want to think happened and it did.

OK so Luther's widow does get a nice cut after the con after all.

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[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

Good point.

ftr - I do remember somebody in the movie (Kid Twist maybe?) mentioning that a collection was made for Luther's widow. I'm not saying that justifies not giving any more to her. I'm just pointing that out.

[–] strntz 8 years ago

And I'm not totally convinced Hooker didn't eventually get take his cut. I think the point of that exchange was to punctuate the fact that Hooker wanted to beat Shaw because of Luther's murder.

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[–] lynnrnsd 8 years ago

He blew it, remember? On the suit and at the roulette wheel.

[–] lynnrnsd 8 years ago

Oops. Wrong part of movie! Disregard.

[–] caladon 8 years ago

My view is that although he didn't say it specifically, it would've been in his nature to see that his share would go to Luther's widow Alva.

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[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

That's the only fault I can give to The Sting. To me Hooker not taking the money, especially after telling Gondorf that the sting didn't make up for Luther's death but that it "comes close!", is not believable, even as a moral showing Hooker a reformed man who used to be totally self-centered.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1575) 2 years ago

This is the one thing that bothers me about this film more than anything else that bothers me about this film. I watched it numerous times trying to like it because it was so popular but I just couldn't do it.

[–] strntz (10927) 2 years ago

As I replied many years ago earlier in this thread, there's nothing on screen that says conclusively that Hooker wouldn't change his mind at some point after the excitement of the sting settled. In fact, I'm inclined to think he would decide to take his cut later. He might have also blown that money but that's a different discussion.

The reason for that conversation with Henry was to drive home the point that Hooker was far more interested in beating Lonnegan than the actual money - makes him more of a hero that way.

That said, no film is for everyone. Don't feel bad if you don't get into it. For me, The Sting is one of those comfort food movies that I *must* put on whenever it shows up on TV. I literally love everything about this film. My wife? Eh.. she'll watch it, but if I wasn't home, she'd put on something else for sure. To each his own.