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:

Jackie Gleason was in reality a very good pool player and did many of his own shots in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The first time we see Eddie play, he tries to duplicate the corner shot the second time but misses. The chalk and wallet next to him disappear when he takes the shot, but return in different positions as the ball rolls off the table.

Quotes:

Bert Gordon:Eddie, is it alright if I get personal?
Fast Eddie:Whaddaya been so far?
Bert Gordon:Eddie, you're a born loser.
Fast Eddie:What's that supposed to mean?
Bert Gordon:First time in ten years I ever saw Minnesota Fats hooked... really hooked. But you let him off.
Fast Eddie:I told you I got drunk.
Bert Gordon:Sure you got drunk. You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning... that can be heavy on your back, too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "All in the Family: Archie Is Cursed (#4.14)" (1973)

Soundtrack:

Louisville Dixieland

Wonderful

Possible minor spoilers.

'The Hustler' is a great movie that involves the game of pool. Although this is important it is not really about the game. It is more about the life around it, Fast Eddie Felson's life in particular. Paul Newman plays this man in a terrific way. Eddie is a great pool player, he could be the best, if only he had more character. This is what Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) tells him. It is true. Eddie is a self-destructive man. He drinks too much and he does not know when to stop. At one point early in the movie he is playing the man who is considered the best of the country, Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), and he has won 18.000 dollars but he gets too drunk and loses everything.

(Minor spoilers.) Then he meets a girl Sarah (Laurie Piper) who, like him, drinks too much. They start living together and it seems that Eddie is changing, but we suspects he is always thinking about playing Minnesota Fats again. Eddie gets in some trouble, his thumbs are broken, and after this he decides that he needs Bert Gordon to get back on track again. Gordon made him an offer before his thumbs were broken which seemed pretty unfair but now Eddie thinks he has no choice. He has the woman he loves on one side, who could get him out of trouble, and the game of pool and his desire to be the best on the other. What will happen is for you to see.

The interesting story about this self-destructive man is also about the self-destructive woman and the events around her are almost inevitable. The hero is a hero in most ways, but it is a hero who must face his weaknesses instead of discovering his strong points. This kind of hero is rare these days. Paul Newman shows us why he became such a great star with this memorable role.

Other things are very good too here. Although the game is never explained it is fun to watch every shot, some of them almost impossible. The black and white cinematography looks great. Fast Eddie Felson would return in Martin Scorsese's 'The Color of Money', a lesser film in some points but very good as well.