Where Was The Sting Filmed? An Oscar-Winning Crime Drama!

Do you want to take a break from your busy schedule? If yes, then watching good crime dramas can be the best choice. If you are unsure what to watch, I suggest you watch one of the best and oldest crime drama movies, The Sting (1973). To know more about this film and where was The Sting filmed, read this article till the end.

The American Caper film The Sting is based on the book The Big Con: The Story Of The Confidence Man written by David Maurer. The screenwriter, David S. Ward, developed the script, and George Roy Hill directed the movie.

The basic premise of the movie revolves around two grifters, a young man Johnny Hooker and the old con man Henry Gondoroff who pair up to defraud the crime boss, Doyle Lonnegan. The story’s screenplay is captivating, making you think you’re part of their game.

The Sting movie was released in theaters on December 25, 1973. The film was a commercial success and grossed over $159.6 million over the minimum production budget of $5.5 million. It is a critically acclaimed movie and earned many nominations, including the prestigious Oscar awards, and won seven out of them.

Now, if you are curious to learn more about where was The Sting filmed, keep reading the article. 

Where Was The Sting Filmed? Check Out The Location Details Here!

The film is set in the 1930s, so the director took inspiration from the movies made during that period to create an ideal viewing experience for the audience. After seeing a few films, he decided not to use any additional backdrops. 

Hill worked with art directors and cinematographers to select the color themes and lighting designs. He was also conscious about the dresses but the costume designers designed the perfect period costumes, thereby putting Hill’s worries to rest. The production team also helped with the period cars, so everything was set to shoot the movie. 

Well, the team decided to shoot in different regions, including Chicago and California, and some portions were filmed in the studios. The movie’s principal photography began in January 1973 and the filming wrapped in April of the same year. So, read below to know the exact filming locations where was The Sting filmed. 

California | USA

The Sting was filmed in and around the California region. The production team used different studios in California for filming. Many portions of the movie were filmed in the Universal Studios located in Universal City. The filming crew used Brownstone Street and New York Street in the studios’ backlot to shoot a few sequences. 

Next, the team used Stages 27, 28, and 32 to take movie scenes. Later, the group visited Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to record a few movie segments. After completing the shooting schedule in studios, the team moved to different regions in California to shoot the remaining sequences. 

The team used Pasadena city as the primary location to lens many movie sequences. Some scenes’ filming took place in Hugus Alley and Miller Alley. Next, a few scenes were filmed in Castle Green Apartments located at 99 S. Raymond street. 

Later, the cast and crew moved to Los Angeles. Here, the team used Downtown region for filming. A few segments were filmed in the Biltmore Hotel located at 506. S. Grand Avenue. Some scenes were also filmed in the Santa Monica Pier region.

Chicago, Illinois | USA

The team then moved to Chicago to shoot some significant movie scenes. The production crew filmed some scenes in different stations in Chicago, including Union Station, LaSalle Street Station, and 43rd Street EI Station. A few sequences of The Sting were filmed in Penn Central Freight Yards.

Well, these are all the details that you need to know about where was The Sting filmed. Now, let me give you an overview of The Sting movie. 

Plot Of The Sting | What Is The Story About?

After a mutual friend’s murder, aspiring con artist Johnny Hooker teams up with veteran con artist Henry Gondorff to avenge the killer, Doyle Lonnegan. So, Hooker and Gondorff decide to cheat Doyle with massive money and begin to develop a complex plan.

Will Hooker and Godorff achieve their plan? To find out, watch this intriguing classic crime drama on Amazon Prime. 

Final Words

Well, I hope now you know where was The Sting filmed. This movie tells you that the grifters are superstars in their own stories. If you enjoyed reading this article and have any experience visiting any of the locations mentioned above, share it with us in the comments section below.