Pool
shark and hustler Eddie Felson is doing just fine. His life includes much
alcohol and he meets a lonely alcoholic woman whom he comes to live with soon,
but his sad life isn’t glamorized. The film isn’t ruined by music either.
There’s an eerie silence that speaks for itself. The lack of music helps the
viewer concentrate better on the visuals of the film, whether it was intended or
not.
Newman
is superb in one of his best roles, which he plays to a tee. The only other
role I’ve seen that I liked him in was Butch Cassidy and
the Sundance Kid – another one of those films I thought I wouldn’t like,
but did in the end.
Though
I felt The
Color of Money, its late sequel, was a bit too showy (probably because I
don’t care for Tom Cruise), I enjoyed this film. It got me interested in pool,
and not too long thereafter I actually learned how to play. Wow.
The film also hosts the late George
C. Scott, wise old sage, as a supporting actor in the role of Bert Gordon.
Related Links:
·
The Hustler - review by Tim Dirks
·
Elizabeth's
Paul Newman Page
·
Classic
Movies - Paul Newman
·
The
Films of George C. Scott
Quotes from The
Hustler:
Houseman: Ya miss again ya loose again!
Fats: Do you like to gamble Eddie? Gamble money on a pool
game?
Fats: “Sausage,” Rack M Up!
Bert Gordon: You got talent.
Eddie Felson: I got talent? So what beat me?
Bert Gordon: Character.
Bert Gordon: You've 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.
Fast Eddie: I don't rattle, kid. Just for
that I'll beat you flat!
Fast Eddie: Get on me Bert, I can't lose.
Bert Gordon: Stay with this kid; he's a
LOSER.
Fast Eddie: I'm shootin' pool, Fats.
When I miss, you can shoot.
Fats: Fast Eddie, lets
play some pool.
[About his pool stick]
Fast Eddie: It's got nerves in it. It's a
piece of wood, got nerves in it.
Fast Eddie: How can I lose? Twelve ball. How can I lose?
Because you were right. It's not enough to have
talent. You gotta have character, too. Four ball. Yeah, I sure got character
now. I picked it up in a hotel room in Louisville.
Trivia about The
Hustler:
·
All the pool shots in the film are performed by the
actors themselves (Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason) except one: the massé shot
(when the cue ball sends two balls into the same pocket), which was performed
by Willie Mosconi.
·
Continuity:
The can of talcum powder Eddie is holding switches hands.
Cast
overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman .... 'Fast' Eddie Felson
Jackie Gleason .... Minnesota Fats
Piper Laurie .... Sarah Packard
George C. Scott .... Bert Gordon
Myron McCormick .... Charlie Burns
Murray Hamilton .... Oames Findley
Michael Constantine .... Big John
Stefan Gierasch .... Preacher
Vincent Gardenia .... Bartender
Clifford A. Pellow .... Turk
Gordon B. Clarke .... Cashier at Bennington's
Alexander Rose .... Score Keeper
Carolyn Coates .... Waitress
Carl York .... Young Hustler
Jake LaMotta .... Bartender
