In 'The Sting,' the quote 'You gotta keep his con even after you take his money' explains the art of the grift. The film’s musical legend is 'The Entertainer,' a ragtime piece by Scott Joplin played on the piano. Ragtime, with its 'ragged' or syncopated rhythm, perfectly matched the fast-paced, clever world of 1930s con artists. While the music was actually from the early 1900s, its use in the film made it a massive pop hit decades later. The piano’s jaunty, upbeat sound provided a sense of fun to the movie's illegal dealings. This choice showed how a specific piano style can define the 'cool' factor of a cinematic legend and the witty, fast-talking dialogue of its characters.