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The Hustler Overview:

The Hustler (1961) was a Drama - Sports Film directed by Robert Rossen and produced by Robert Rossen.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Walter Tevis published in 1959.

SYNOPSIS

An arrogant and amoral hustler haunts poolrooms skinning suckers waiting to get a crack at bringing down Minnesota Fats. When he starts to have real feelings for a woman, he's faced with a dilemma. To pick up Fast Eddie's story years later, see The Color of Money (1987), an excellent sequel for which Newman won the Best Actor Oscar.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

The Hustler was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1997.

Academy Awards 1961 --- Ceremony Number 34 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorPaul NewmanNominated
Best Supporting ActorJackie GleasonNominated
Best Supporting ActorGeorge C. ScottNominated
Best ActressPiper LaurieNominated
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Harry Horner; Set Decoration: Gene CallahanWon
Best CinematographyEugen ShuftanWon
Best DirectorRobert RossenNominated
Best PictureRobert Rossen, ProducerNominated
Best WritingSidney Carroll, Robert RossenNominated
See More Oscar Winners

The Hustler BlogHub Articles:

The Hustler (1961, Robert Rossen)

on May 8, 2020 From The Stop Button

It’s an hour into The Hustler before the film offers any real information about protagonist Paul Newman. We’ve seen Newman and mentor slash manager Myron McCormick pool hustle their way across the North American continent, getting Newman to New York City so he can play the best pool player in th... Read full article

The Hustler (1961)

By Beatrice on Apr 26, 2017 From Flickers in Time

The Hustler Directed by Robert Rossen Written by Sidney Carroll and Robert Rossen from a novel by Walter Tevis 1961/USA Rossen Films/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Repeat viewing/Netflix rental One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Minnesota Fats: That’s what the game&#8217... Read full article

Ruined by Romance: Drive (2011) and The Hustler (1961)

By Judy on Aug 7, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

I was excited when Drive came out: finally, I thought, a new Bourne. An action flick with intelligence and fine acting, starring a man who had bypassed romantic leads after The Notebook to refine his skills in indies. And the promo! It looked exciting and moody, with the kind of premise that meant m... Read full article

Ruined by Romance: Drive (2011) and The Hustler (1961)

By Judy on Aug 7, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

I was excited when Drive came out: finally, I thought, a new Bourne. An action flick with intelligence and fine acting, starring a man who had bypassed romantic leads after The Notebook to refine his skills in indies. And the promo! It looked exciting and moody, with the kind of premise that meant m... Read full article

The Hustler (1961)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 5, 2014 From 4 Star Films

Starring Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie, and Jacke Gleason, the film follows a pool hustler named Fast Eddie Felson (Newman). A cocky and skilled player, Eddie travels all the way from Oakland, California to face the legendary Minnesota Fats (Gleason). In an epic pool marathon with very ... Read full article

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The Hustler 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] How can I lose?
Bert Gordon: [to Eddie] You owe me MONEY.
[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'.
Minnesota Fats: Big John, do you think this boy is a hustler?
Big John: You Eddie Felson.
Fast Eddie: Who's he?
Big John: What's your game? Whaddaya shoot?
Fast Eddie: You name it, we shoot it.
Big John: Look, friend, I'm not trying to hustle. I don't never hustle people that walk in a poolroom with leather satchels. Don't try to hustle me.
Fast Eddie: Okay, I'm Eddie Felson. I shoot straight pool.
See More Quotes from The Hustler
The Hustler Facts
An aficionado of acting, George C. Scott told interviewer Lawrence Grobel in his December 1980 "Playboy" magazine interview that his The Hustler co-star Paul Newman's performance in that film was nothing special (both actors were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances). However, he found Newman's performance as the eponymous Hud to be a superb piece of acting.
There's a misconception that the character Minnesota Fats is based on the real Minnesota Fats (Rudolf Wanderone Jr.). Actually, the character appeared in the book and the film before Wanderone, who up until this time had called himself "New York Fats", appropriated the name.
Rossen hired real street thugs and enrolled them in the Screen Actors Guild so that they could be used as extras.
Kim Novak told Larry King on his television show that she turned down the role of Sarah Packard eventually played by Piper Laurie.
The words Sarah writes on the mirror are "perverted", "twisted" and "crippled".
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