IMDb > The Hustler (1961)
The Hustler
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Hustler (1961) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 29 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
The Hustler -- An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   39,715 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Sidney Carroll (screenplay) and
Robert Rossen (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Hustler on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 September 1961 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Tagline:
They Called Him "Fast Eddie" See more »
Plot:
An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 14 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(123 articles)
User Reviews:
An All Time Classic See more (140 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
Create a character page for: ?

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)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Robert Rossen's The Hustler" - USA (complete title)
"Eddie Felson" - Israel (English title)
"Hustler" - Japan (English title)
See more »
Runtime:
134 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Boxer Jake LaMotta appears as as one of the many bartenders in the film. His one line is "Check," and he says it three times.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: Eddie's hands change position on his cue after his first shot against Minnesota Fats.See more »
Quotes:
[in their $3,000 game, after Minnesota Fats breaks, it's Eddie's shot]
Fast Eddie:How should I play that one, Bert? Play it safe? That's the way you always told me to play it: safe... play the percentage. Well, here we go: fast and loose. One ball, corner pocket. Yeah, percentage players die broke, too, don't they, Bert?
[he makes the shot and the spectators applaud]
Fast Eddie:How can I lose?
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #28.201" (2012)See more »
Soundtrack:
Louisville DixielandSee more »

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is "The Hustler" based on a book?
Any recommendation for other pool-playing movies like "The Hustler"?
See more »
23 out of 33 people found the following review useful.
An All Time Classic, 28 August 2005
Author: jzathajenious from Adelaide Australia

When is a movie about pool not a movie about pool? When it's The Hustler. Watching this for the first time, i was expecting a movie full of games of pool with trick shots galore, with Newman the hero getting the girl and beating Fats the champ, role credits...a nice little feel good story. wow, was i ever mistaken (and very pleasantly surprised to be). The Hustler is filled with great performances: Newman, Gleason, Scott, and Laurie all give great, GREAT performances that makes a fairly simplistic plot with little real action absolutely riveting to watch. Newman is great as Eddie the born loser with talent coming out of his ears, but not enough brains to know how to utilise it best. Gleason is great and says a lot with simple body language more than the few lines he has. Scott is phenomenal as always as a soulless gambler only looking out for himself and dragging all those around him down as well. Laurie is perfectly suited to her character, a desperate, lonely alcoholic who seems to know her relationship with Eddie is bad for both of them, yet is unwilling or unable to break free.

The Hustler is amazingly written, with quotable lines and dialogue that just cuts deep into the cores of these characters; as they interact with each other and are forced to show their true colours, we see the true people underneath as the facade is stripped away. These are damaged, broken, confused, troubled souls who seem to gravitate towards one another, as if they can sense a kindred spirit. I have to say that the reason these characters resonated so strongly with me, is because, as unpleasant as it is to do so, i can see elements of myself in each character.

This kind of movie is one that would be nigh on impossible to get made in contemporary Hollywood. A downbeat story from start to finish, with unlikeable characters, it is one of the greatest films i have ever seen. an absolute classic in the purest sense.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (140 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Hustler (1961)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Top ten Greatest Actor Performances seanmicsu
What did Bert Gordon whisper to Sarah? kag2-1
type of game they played Royalroland656
Supporting actors (few lines) knella1
anti climax knella1
Fats employed every trick to beat Felson; otherwise he loses. isolated_ions
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Color of Money The Cincinnati Kid Michael Clayton Poolhall Junkies They Won't Forget
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Drama section
IMDb USA section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.