Paul Newman, Piper Laurie and George C. Scott star in this movie about a Pool Hustler battling with his demons to prove himself as the best Pool player in the world not only to the pool playing community but to himself. The movie features hustling and betting on pool among many other themes and plots. Any poker player will be familiar with the pool room setting with the mish-mash of hangers on, hustlers, has-beens and wannabes all connected by their wish to win by any means necessary. For a look back into what the gambling world was like back in the days before the World Series of Poker and the acceptance of poker into mainstream culture watch “The Hustler” for an insight into this forgotten world.
Paul Newman plays “Fast” Eddie Felson who has evidently made a career as a travelling pool hustler and when we join him he is doing very well, ready to take a shot at the world number one. Most hustlers are content with winning money from those either too drunk or too stupid to know that they are technically outgunned by a better player but not Eddie. He wants the glory and respect from the best pool player in the world. He travels to the pool hall inhabited by the 15 year unbeaten professional hustler Minnesota Fats, played by real life Pool expert and acclaimed actor, Jackie Gleason.
Felson ups Fats’ normal stakes to show he means business and starts playing in a game designed to prove to Fats he is the best in the world. Unfortunately Eddie does what many a poker player has done and plays for too long and drinks too much eventually collapsing after losing all of his money. Busted out both mentally and physically after having his thumbs broken after a hustle goes wrong he takes a break from the game to find himself and mentally prepare for an inevitable re-match with Fats as a more rounded individual.
Piper Laurie plays the mentally unstable love interest of Newman in this movie and there is a long romantic segment after Felson gets injured that offers a deeper look into the world of the hustler and the effect of this lifestyle on a persons psyche. George C. Scott brilliantly depicts the wealthy stake horse that controls rather than works with his aids. The ending suitably points out that the people with power are the people with the money. Eddie eventually proves himself to himself but at a cost of being retired as a pool hustler, which is a bit of a bad beat for him as with this newfound self awareness he would have probably dominated the game. Only in 1986 in the sequel movie “The Color of Money” does Eddie make a return to the game, 25 years after this incident.
The movie is well produced and a review in the NY Times from 1961 notes that “An appropriately nervous jazz score keeps the eardrums sharp”, which is very accurate and adds to the nervous tension you feel throughout.
The film essentially comes in three parts. The first part is the big match which ultimately busts Eddie and there is a section of marvellous dialogue between the old master Fats and the young cocky pretender Felson before they start playing which is a must see. You then get the self-deprecating and ultimately self-discovering romantic middle segment of the film followed by the inevitable tragedy. The final scene is the final big game where Eddie reclaims his place in the world taking on Fats once again with everything on the line.
Any poker player, Pool player or gambler will enjoy this movie as gambling forms the bedrock of the plots development. There are plenty of stereotyped characters but the film will leave you satisfied and keen to watch the (also very good) sequel movie. For me the middle segment gets a little mundane but after completing the movie you will probably watch it again as it is a classic movie in its genre.
By Malcolm Clarke
