Henry Gondorff Quotes in The Sting (1973)

Johnny Hooker: Can you get a mob together?

Henry Gondorff: After what happened to Luther, I don't think I can get more than two, three hundred guys.

[Figuring out which con to pull on Lonnegan]

J.J. Singleton: I dunno know what to do with this guy, Henry. He's an Irishman who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and doesn't chase dames. He's a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus, and he only goes out to play faro. Sometimes plays 15 or 20 hours at a time, just him against the house.

Henry Gondorff: Roulette? Craps?

J.J. Singleton: He won't touch 'em. The croupier at Gilman's says he never plays anything he can't win.

Henry Gondorff: Sports?

J.J. Singleton: Likes to be seen with fighters sometimes, but he doesn't go to the fights or bet on 'em.

Henry Gondorff: Jesus. Does he do anything where he's not alone?

J.J. Singleton: Just poker. And he cheats. Pretty good at it, too.

[last lines]

Henry Gondorff: You not gonna stick around for your share?

Johnny Hooker: Nah. I'd only blow it.

Henry Gondorff: What's your problem?

Doyle Lonnegan: I'm putting half a million dollars on Lucky Dan to win, third race at Riverside Park.

Henry Gondorff: Can't lay that off in time. A bet like that could break us.

[Hooker stares at him incredulously]

Doyle Lonnegan: Not only are you a cheat, you're a gutless cheat as well.

Henry Gondorff: What are the odds?

Eddie Niles: Four to one.

Henry Gondorff: Take all of it!

Johnny Hooker: Listen, Gondorff! Am I gonna learn the big con or not?

Henry Gondorff: What's your hurry?

Johnny Hooker: I want to play for Lonnegan.

Henry Gondorff: You know anything about the guy?

Johnny Hooker: Yeah! He croaked Luther! Anything else I gotta know?

Johnny Hooker: [after he calms down] All right. He runs a numbers racket on the south side. He owns a packing house. A few banks.

Henry Gondorff: Yeah, and half the politicians in New York and Chicago. Not a fix in this world is gonna cool him out if he blows on you.

Johnny Hooker: I'll get him anyway.

Henry Gondorff: Why?

Johnny Hooker: 'Cause I don't know enough about killin' to kill him.

Henry Gondorff: You can't do it alone, you know. It takes a mob of guys like you and enough money to make them look good.

Johnny Hooker: I know plenty of guys.

Henry Gondorff: It's not like playing winos in the street. You can't outrun Lonnegan.

Johnny Hooker: I never played for no winos.

Henry Gondorff: You gotta keep his con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him.

Johnny Hooker: You're scared of him.

Henry Gondorff: Right down to my socks, buster! You're talkin' about a guy who'd kill a grifter over a chunk of money that wouldn't support him for two days!

[Gondorff enters the poker game pretending to be drunk]

Henry Gondorff: Sorry I'm late. I was taking a crap.

Johnny Hooker: He's not as tough as he thinks.

Henry Gondorff: Neither are we.

Henry Gondorff: Is Lonnegan after you too?

Johnny Hooker: I don't know. I ain't seen anybody.

Henry Gondorff: You never do, kid.

Henry Gondorff: Glad to meet you, kid. You're a real horse's ass.

Johnny Hooker: Luther said I could learn something from you. I already know how to drink.

Johnny Hooker: I gave him the breakout just like you said.

Henry Gondorff: And?

Johnny Hooker: 'S good. He threatened to kill me.

Henry Gondorff: Hell, kid, they don't do that, you know you're not getting to 'em.

Henry Gondorff: Tough luck, Lonnehan. But that's what you get for playing with your head up your ass!

Henry Gondorff: You have to keep this con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him.

Doyle Lonnegan: Mr. Shaw, we usually require a tie at this table... if you don't have one we can get you one.

Henry Gondorff: That'd be real nice of you, Mr. Lonniman!

Doyle Lonnegan: Lonnegan.

[Gondorf nods and burps in response]

Doyle Lonnegan: Four nines.

Henry Gondorff: Four jacks.