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Title: The Hustler (1961)
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| Complete credited 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 | |
"Fast" Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary "Minnesota Fats" to a high-stakes match, but he loses in a heartbreaking marathon. Now broke and without his long-time manager, Felson faces an uphill battle to regain his confidence and his game. It isn't until he hits rock bottom that he agrees to join up with ruthless and cutthroat manager Bert Gordon. Gordon agrees to take him on the road to learn the ropes. But Felson soon realizes that making it to the top could cost him his soul, and perhaps his girlfriend. Will he decide that this is too steep a price to pay in time to save himself? Written by <jgp3553@yahoo.com>
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I think "The Hustler" is the best sports movie ever made. Fast Eddie Felson is perhaps the most talented pool shooter in the country and yet, at his core, he's a born loser. Why is Eddie so self-destructive? He has Minnesota Fats, ostensibly the country's greatest player, beaten in the first marathon match only to drink himself into insensibility and let Fats off the hook.
Throughout the movie Eddie is surrounded by other people who are self-destructive or only interested in making a buck off of him. Even Charlie, his original manager (Myron McCormick in a terrific role)needs him for a meal ticket. Bert, his second manager, is a slithering, calculating parasite who uses everyone around him. Sara, Eddie's pathetic girlfriend, is going through life in an aimless, alcoholic haze.
The movie really lets you into the lives of these people who live on the margins of society. The cinematography is outstanding, the settings and mood of the movie draw you in totally. The acting is uniformly outstanding from top to bottom. Great movies get great performances from the minor characters, too. Vincent Gardenia, Michael Constantine, Murray Hamilton and McCormick are perfect in the smaller roles while Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie (all getting well-deserved Oscar nominations) and George C. Scott are indelible in the major roles. Even boxer Jake LaMotta has a cameo as a bartender.
Can Eddie finally overcome being a born loser? Can love redeem any of these lost people? What makes a person a champion? Is it talent alone or does a champion need some inner demon that can only be defeated by pursuing victory at all costs?