The Sting

The music in "The Sting" does not use orchestral, classic scoring but rather moves ahead and employs already existing music, that of Scott Joplin. While the music is from a different time period than the movie is set in, it still works for the film and its playful, upbeat nature mirrors the entertaining and unpredictable plot.

Although there is not much music in this movie, it is used to entertain at the appropriate moments. While the plot of the movie is about con artist and deceit, it is still playful and funny. The music adds to this quality. For instance, when the transitions come on screen ("the hook", "the wire", "the set-up") the music plays varying Joplin piano melodies. The opening and closing credits both offer "the entertainer" as the underscoring. This music gives the audience something different than just the usual strings and brass. Diagetic music is present in the film, but not prominently so. When the woman is performing on stage, diagetic music plays but there are not other significant examples. The music is mostly underscoring.

The music does seem to fade out when the scene is about to start or when the transition screens change but nothing too noticeable. The music is definitely shortened or at least sparse pieces are chosen for the scenes. Certainly, whole songs are not used nor it is realistic to think they could be. But the parts that are used and heard are fitting and give the movie an entertaining quality.