Paul Newman shines as cocky poolroom hustler “Fast” Eddie Felson in Robert Rossen’s atmospheric adaptation of the Walter Tevis novel. Newman’s Felson is a swaggering pool shark punk who takes on the king of the poolroom, Minnesota Fats (a cool, assured Jackie Gleason in his most understated performance). After losing big and crashing into a void of self-pity, Eddie meets down-and-out Sarah (Piper Laurie in a delicate performance), an alcoholic blue blood who’s dropped into Eddie’s world of dingy bars and seedy poolrooms. Eddie regains his confidence and attracts the attention of a shifty, calculating promoter, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott at his most heartless), who offers to bring Eddie into the big money–but at what cost? Rossen brings his film to life with the easy pace of a pool game, giving his actors room to explore their characters and develop into a razor-sharp ensemble. Eugen Schüfftan earned an Academy Award for his shadowing black-an (click here for further information)
4.0 out of 5 stars
You know, like anything can be great, anything can be great. I don’t care, BRICKLAYING can be great, if a guy knows…
When I sat down to watch the Hustler I expected it to be a pretty straight forward story of talent and greed, the build up to the match of a lifetime, win or lose, all the tropes…
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hustler
Got this for my pool playing boyfriend for his birthday. He loved it, such a surprise. We watched it right away. Great movie, especially if you like pool.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rack ‘em up!
This is truly a classic DVD but more than that it’s a lesson in life to be learned by all.
I use the going in the washroom and freshing up at work and wind up wearing…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but not the classic it’s said to be
The Hustler is beloved in nearly all quarters: it’s one of Roger Ebert’s “Great Movies,” it’s on the IMDB Top 250, etc. So why did the film leave me so cold?
3.0 out of 5 stars
4:3 aspect on blueray?
Isn’t this filmed 4:3 aspect ratio? Why buy Blueray? I’ve never heard a good argument for buying pre-sixties films in 4:3 on a 16:9 capable media.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hustler
Outstanding performance by 2 legends in the business, Jackie Gleason and Paul Newman. If you own Color of Money, this is part one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gleason at his best!
The Hustler is one of my wifes favorite films. A very young Paul Newman is marvelous but the part was designed for Jackie Gleason.
4.0 out of 5 stars
As a film it’s rather uneven; but the flawless performances more than make up for that…
Paul Newman was a brilliant actor, but even more so than that, he was a brilliant co-star. I noticed this a while back when watching `Hud’ (one of his greatest movies) and how he…
4.0 out of 5 stars
What’s not to like?
I got this for our “movie night” group the week after Newman’s death in lieu of a Woody Allen pick that was originnaly on the schedule.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Atmospheric Early 60s
Dramatic, sometimes downright melodramatic. There’s something kind of James Deanish in Newman’s character – naive, brash, arrogant – old school 50s tough guy.