In 1930s Illinois, young hustler Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) vows revenge after his older partner (Robert Earl Jones) is murdered at the behest of kingpin Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) in retribution for a con pulled on one of his runners. Travelling to Chicago, Hooker teams up with old hand Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), and together they plan the ultimate 'sting' against Donnegan. This re-teaming of Robert Redford and Paul Newman, following the success of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', won seven Oscars and helped repopularize the music of Scott Joplin, which features heavily on Marvin Hamlisch's soundtrack.