Rating of
4/4
For pool players everywhere
Lee - wrote on 01/27/13
Let me make this nice and clear for you...if you like playing billiards you will definatly enjoy this film. After watching 1986's The Color Of Money which also stars Paul Newman once again replaying his role as Fast Eddie Fulson i was shocked to learn that it had a predecessor in the form of 1961's The Hustler. Enjoying the 86 version as much as i did i jumped to watch this now not being a fan of classic black and white film i was a little leary but was very surprised how quickly i came wrapped up in this. Fast Eddie Fulson (Newman) comes across Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) he immediatly challenges him to a vicious 24 hr marathon of pool only to have his own game of hustling backfire on him as he leaves penniless. He bumps into a new gal at the busstop, Sarah Packard (Piper Laurie) ehich in turn refires his jets as he foes at the big man yet again.
Great pool shots and tricks done mostly by Gleason and Newman themselves make this one of the first black and white films i have enjoyed since being introduced to Psycho and The Birds.
