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The Hustler (1961)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
25 September 1961 (USA) moreTagline:
They Called Him "Fast Eddie" morePlot:
An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 13 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(29 articles)
Fox Releasing 'The Paul Newman Tribute DVD Collection' (From Cinematical. 6 July 2009, 1:32 PM, PDT)
Paul Newman Tribute DVD Set Due in September
(From Get The Big Picture. 1 July 2009, 10:00 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
The Definitive Movie About Pool moreUS Showtimes:
(register to personalize)Cast
(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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
134 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Certification:
Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #20068) | Brazil:12 | Ireland:12 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16 | UK:X (original rating)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During the filming, one of the production days happened to fall on St. Patrick's Day. Prior to Jackie Gleason's arrival to the shoot at the pool hall, the lighting crew took out all the clear gels, and replaced them with green ones. Upon seeing this, Gleason was so impressed he said, "Boys! This looks beautiful! Take the rest of the day off!". He left, and production was shut down for that day! moreGoofs:
Continuity: During the last game, Eddie calls and pockets the 1 ball. Then he sets up, calls the 12 ball and you hear the ball dropping into the pocket. Eddie then walks around to the other side of the table and calls the next shot - the 12 ball again. moreQuotes:
[Eddie watching Minnesota Fats during their first game, whispers to Charlie]Fast Eddie: Boy, he is great! Jeez, that old fat man. Look at the way he moves: like a dancer... And those fingers, them chubby fingers. That stroke... it's like he's, uh, like he's playin' the violin or somethin'.
more
Soundtrack:
Louisville moreFAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersIs "The Hustler" based on a novel?
Any recommendation for other pool-playing movies like "The Hustler"?
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This is, without a doubt, the closest anything out of Hollywood ever came to touching the soul of a pool player. Paul Newman plays "Fast Eddie" Felson, a young player from California who travels east to take on the ultimate challenge: to beat "Minnesota Fats," played by the late Jackie Gleason.
Willie Mosconi, probably the greatest pool player who ever walked the Earth, was technical adviser and choreographed many of the game sequences. On technical merit alone, this film is a pool player's classic. Beyond that, however, the way "Fast Eddie" takes to his skills and relationships pushes this film out as a classic for the general audience. In one scene, he is describing what it is like to be really good at something. It is one of the best speeches about excellence I have ever heard. This is one of my top three films. On a scale of ten, I give it an eleven.