It’s really important to revisit this excellent movie. There’s no shortage of films centered on con artists and schemes (like Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels), but I’d never encountered one with such a gentle spirit and characters who were genuinely appealing. It's a lighthearted family comedy from the 1970s, telling the story of a group of tricksters risking everything to outsmart a wealthy and influential mobster, seeking revenge for a friend killed by his henchmen. The film was a significant financial success in the United States at the time and received numerous accolades, including seven Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, and Best Art Direction! It’s hard to believe that a movie with so many positive attributes could have been forgotten, yet it's true. I never saw it on television, rarely heard anyone mention it, and I don't think it had much visibility outside of its country of origin. It wasn’t shown in Portugal, but I can see why: the film premiered just before a military coup occurred in the nation, and the remainder of that year was very difficult here, so people weren't particularly interested in going to the movies. Therefore, I believe reintroducing this film and showing it again in theaters, perhaps in a restored version, would be a fitting tribute to its quality. The movie features three major actors who deserve recognition for their performances: Robert Redford demonstrates skill and talent in a film that will open many doors for him, Robert Shaw delivers one of the finest dramatic portrayals of his career, and Paul Newman is captivating as an elegant and affable swindler full of tricks. Watching these three great performers together is simply wonderful. The supporting cast is also strong, including Robert Earl Jones, Charles Durning, Eileen Brennan, Ray Walston, among others. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography is flawless, achieved through the careful vision of director George Roy Hill and a skilled team, perfectly mimicking films from the 1930s with the added benefit of color, using deliberately brownish, golden, and yellowish tones. The sets, props, and costumes are truly remarkable; the cars will make classic car enthusiasts envious, and the costumes would be a welcome addition to any gentleman’s wardrobe thanks to their old-fashioned elegance. The period is accurately recreated, and the film effectively balances dramatic tension with humor. The soundtrack draws heavily on Scott Joplin's piano melodies and is lovely to listen to, and the title cards are beautifully designed and works of art in themselves. It runs for two hours, but it’s so enjoyable to watch and so well-edited that the time passes quickly.

Source on TMDB