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Great Film overall

Good concept, poorly executed.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Produced and directed by Robert Rossen, who co-wrote the screenplay (with Sidney Carroll) which was based on Walter Tevis's novel, this above average drama about pool players, pool halls, and those that frequent them also includes a dysfunctional romantic relationship between two of its lead characters, played by Paul Newman (in the title role) and Piper Laurie. Newman plays a confident "up and comer", Eddie Felson, who's come to town to challenge the great Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason, who hasn't lost to a challenger in 15 years. Eddie's longtime road partner Charlie Burns (Myron McCormick) provides the stake money, but Eddie ignores any offered advice. After the two players get a "feel" for each other's games, their match lasts 25 hours, during which both drink plenty of alcohol and Eddie gets up $18,000 on the "fat man". However, despite Charlie's pleadings, Eddie refuses to call it a day and proceeds to lose all but a couple of hundred dollars to the old master before passing out. A wily businessman, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott), witnessed the whole affair; Bert's "business" involves setting up these kind of gambling situations, for the side betting action, playing the percentages, and winning large sums of money as the result. All this happens within the film's first 30 minutes!Unfortunately, except for a couple of other (much) later sequences, the exciting action drops off as the story ploddingly becomes introspective, delving into Eddie's character (his motivations, etc.), and that of his drunken girlfriend's, Sarah Packard (Laurie), for 100+ more minutes. After his "fall", Eddie meets Sarah, pulling her out of her "funk" as their relationship begins & becomes "romantic" (though she'll later describe it as one of degradation); it continues until Bert is able to pull Eddie out of his (Bert becomes Eddie's new moneyman). Then, eventually, after a private party billiards match, during which it's unclear who's hustling who, and a somewhat absurd denouement to the romance (and more), the anticipated rematch between Eddie and Fats is finally played out.Rossen received the last of his Academy Award nominations: for Best Picture, Director, and Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium); Eugen Schüfftan won his only Oscar (on his only nomination) for his B&W Cinematography and Harry Horner and Gene Callahan (his first) also won for their B&W Art Direction-Set Decoration - both perfectly capturing the seedy atmosphere of pool rooms, where sunlight is unwelcome. Newman and Laurie (her first) received lead actor nominations; Gleason (his only) and Scott (who refused his recognition) were nominated in the Supporting Actor category. Additional, excellent support was provided by Murray Hamilton, Michael Constantine, (raging bull) Jack LaMotta (a cameo, really), and Vincent Gardenia. Real life pool expert Willie Mosconi, who performs at least one of the trick shots as a double, also appears as an uncredited character in the film.

The Hustler (1961) **** (out of 4) 'Fast' Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) shows up to play the legendary Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) in a game of pool and soon the hotshot realizes that there's more to winning than just talent. After some time off the hustler winds up with a woman (Piper Laurie) who suffers from alcohol abuse but even worse is when he teams up with a gambler (George C. Scott).Robert Rossen's THE HUSTLER is without question one of the greatest films of its type. Most people are connected to it because of its story of a hustler and the gambling aspect but there are some of the greatest performances you're ever going to see on display here as well as a pretty depressing look at losers. Throughout the movie Felson is constantly called a loser, which is a term that fits the majority of the characters in this rather grim, dark and depressing film.For me the greatest thing here are the performances with Newman easily leading the way. It's easy to see why this is the film that turned Newman into a superstar. Up until this point he had played a fair share of troubled rebels but everything in him just came together for this role. He's certainly very believable as this young guy who can't seem to stay out of his own way when it comes to trouble. This is a very troubled character and the actor perfectly nails every aspect of it. Gleason will always be known as a comedic actor but he could nail drama when he needed and this is the perfect example. It certainly doesn't hurt that the two actors were also great pool players and this brings a real nature to the film.Laurie is rather heart-breaking in her role as the drunk and then you've got Scott playing one of the biggest snakes in film history. There's no question that his Burt character is one of the great villains in film history. Myron McCormick is excellent in his small role and then you've got a young Murray Hamilton. THE HUSTLER also benefits from some wonderful cinematography that perfectly captures this pool world. I mean, has there ever been a better example of why B&W is so great? Add in the terrific score and you've really got something special.THE HUSTLER is a classic film that constantly gets better each time you view it.

I waited about forty years to finally watch this film. It is a tale of both depravity and courage. Paul Newman is a pool hustler. He and his buddy go from pool hall to endless pool hall to scrounge up a few bucks. The thing is that Newman is a really gifted player and one day decides that he's had enough penny ante. The problem is that he is not wise to the ways of gamblers and the bigger hustlers. George C. Scott appears in one of his greatest roles. Piper Laurie is a spooky actress, but pulls off the alcoholic, depressed soul that hooks up with Newman and finds her ship may have sailed. Jackie Gleason really steals every scene. He is probably one of the greatest comic actors of all time, but has been relegated to that place where "TV" people go. As Minnesota Fats, he is formidable but part of the real world. The cinematography of the dark halls is also marvelous and the direction grabs us and holds us.

American film "The Hustler" features too many hustlers for whom winning is everything.They are so determined to win all their games that neither night not days matters to them.It is the incessant playing of the ball game which reveal their true selves.However,it is Eddie Felson played by Paul Newman who ends up outsmarting himself due to his excessive passion for pool.As far as this film is concerned, there is a lot to learn and watch for the lovers of the game.One can simply marvel at the manner in which both actors Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason play their pool shots.One would be doing tremendous damage to 'The Hustler' as a serious film by declining to comment on the way it transforms itself from a sports flick into a serious one.It achieves that effect by depicting a different ball game involving human feelings to be found in society especially in a relationship between a man and a woman.A lot of 'Sports' films who have won both critical as well as commercial acclaim have been made in Hollywood but 'The Hustler' would remain the most elegant sports film which portrayed that a player should also give equal importance to life which is found outside the game.