The Hustler (1961)

Director:

Robert Rossen

Writers:

Sidney Carroll (screenplay) and
Robert Rossen (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 September 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

They Called Him "Fast Eddie"

Plot:

An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.

Plot Keywords:

Manager | Partner | Pool Hustler | Pool Hall | Hustler

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Eddie Felson
Jackie Gleason	...	Minnesota Fats
Piper Laurie	...	Sarah Packard
George C. Scott	...	Bert Gordon
Myron McCormick	...	Charlie Burns
Murray Hamilton	...	Findley
Michael Constantine	...	Big John
Stefan Gierasch	...	Preacher
Clifford A. Pellow	...	Turk (as Cliff Pellow)
Jake LaMotta	...	Bartender
Gordon B. Clarke	...	Cashier
Alexander Rose	...	Score Keeper
Carolyn Coates	...	Waitress
Carl York	...	Young Hustler
Vincent Gardenia	...	Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Adams	...	Old Doctor (uncredited)
Tom Ahearne	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Charles Andre	...	Waiter at Parisien Restaurant (uncredited)
Don Crabtree	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Gloria Curtis	...	Girl with Fur Coat (uncredited)
Robert Daget	...	(uncredited)
Don De Leo	...	Another Player (uncredited)
Charles Dierkop	...	Pool Room Hood (uncredited)
William Duell	...	Louisville Hustler (uncredited)
James Dukas	...	Kibitzer (uncredited)
Brendan Fay	...	Player (uncredited)
Jack Healy	...	Hotel Proprietor (uncredited)
Hoke Howell	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Don Koll	...	Racetrack Ticket Clerk (uncredited)
Charles McDaniel	...	Reservation Clerk at Louisville Hotel (uncredited)
Charles Mosconi	...	Second Man (uncredited)
Willie Mosconi	...	Willie (uncredited)
Sid Raymond	...	First Man (uncredited)
Art Smith	...	Old Man Attendant (uncredited)
Blue Washington	...	Limping Attendant at Ames Billiards (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Rossen

Writing credits
Sidney Carroll		(screenplay) (as Sydney Carroll) and
Robert Rossen		(screenplay)
Walter Tevis		(based on the novel by) (as Walter S. Tevis)

Produced by
Robert Rossen	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenyon Hopkins

Cinematography by
Eugen Schüfftan		(director of photography) (as Eugene Shuftan)

Film Editing by
Dede Allen		(film editor)

Production Design by
Harry Horner

Set Decoration by
Gene Callahan

Costume Design by
Ruth Morley		(costumes designed by)

Makeup Department
Donoene	....	hairstyles
Robert Jiras	....	makeup

Production Management
John Graham	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles H. Maguire	....	assistant director (as Charles Maguire)
Ulu Grosbard	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Don Kranze	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Angelo Laiacona	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Albert Brenner	....	associate art director
Jack Flaherty	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Edward Beyer	....	sound editor
Jim Shields	....	sound (as James Shields)
Dick Vorisek	....	sound (as Richard Vorisek)
Jack Fitzstephens	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Herbert Holcombe	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
William Cronjager	....	assistant cameraman
David Golden	....	chief electrician
Saul Midwall	....	camera operator
Muky	....	still photography
Martin Nallan	....	chief grip (as Martin Nallan Jr.)
Felix Trimboli	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard Stone	....	assistant editor
Evan A. Lottman	....	montage of pool scenes editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Angelo Ross	....	music editor
Dan Terry	....	musician: Louisville music

Other crew
Marguerite James	....	script supervisor
Willie Mosconi	....	technical advisor
Fred Hift	....	publicist (uncredited)
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Rossen Films (as Rossen Enterprises, Inc.)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1961) (USA) (theatrical) (presents) (as 20th Century Fox) (A Cinemascope Picture)
• Centfox (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1962) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Key Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Magnetic Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Film Opticals  optical effects

Also Known As:

"Robert Rossen's The Hustler" - USA (complete title)
"Eddie Felson" - Israel (English title)
"Hustler" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16 | UK:X (original rating) | Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #20068) | Brazil:12 | Ireland:12 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Rossen Films

Trivia:

Carol Eve Rossen was one of many actresses considered for the part later taken by Piper Laurie.

Goofs:

Continuity: Sarah moves her hand off Eddie's knee twice, when she asks him where he goes when he goes out.

Quotes:

[Fast Eddie is bothered because Bert called him a born loser]
Fast Eddie:Cause, ya see, twice, Sarah... once at Ames with Minnesota Fats and then again at Arthur's, in that cheap, crummy pool room, now why'd I do it, Sarah? Why'd I do it? I coulda beat that guy, coulda beat 'im cold, he never woulda known. But I just hadda show 'im...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Swimming with Sharks: The Art of the Hustle (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Hustler Theme

Newman, Scott and Gleason Ignite...

Robert Rossen carefully directs this film with every ounce of poise one can muster. There's not a dull moment within the entire picture. It's filled with exciting characters, fine editing and a compelling story that'll shock and thrill you. The cast is incredible, as to be expected with these names: Newman, Scott, Gleason, Piper Laurie and Murray Hamilton are crystalline in their performances.