JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
The Hustler (1961) - Footage Included
The Hustler
DVD Cover
Starring: Paul Newman, George C Scott, jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, Murray Hamilton, Myron McCormick, Jake La Motta
“I'm the best you ever seen, Fats. I'm the best there is. And even if you beat me, I'm still the best.” – Fast Eddie
The Hustler might be set around the world of seedy pool halls and the sacrifices needed to be winner, but at its core it’s actually all about people and how they interact. What motivates them and why some are destined to fail. Tackling the art of the con and understanding human behaviour, studying those trying to survive outside of societies accepted boundaries.
Fast Eddie is a great pool player and even better at baiting a mark. Grinning, beaming confidence he has mastered the skill of amoral fakery. Charlie Burns (Myron McCormick), a mid level grifter has taught Eddie the rules of the game and sees him as a son.
The pair are making there way across the U.S and in each small town they cross a bar that has the green felt tables. This is where they make there living as Kool kat jazz music blasts from the Juke Box. They are doing alright, but Eddie’s ego and need to be recognized draw him towards the number 1 cue ball in the land, Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason).
“You can't see it, can you, Charlie? I mean, you've never been able to see it. I came after him. And I'm gonna get him. I'm goin' with him all the way. The pool game is not over until Minnesota Fats says it's over. Is it over, Fats?” – Fast Eddie
Ignoring his partner’s advice, the headstrong Eddie is soon playing the fat man and winning. Manouvering around the table with the precision, he pockets the balls with eye of a needle skill. As black balls go down, Eddie’s cocky arrogance is fed, consuming him and he starts boozing to impress his opponent.
“Its not over till the fat man says its over.” – Fast Eddie
After playing through the night and remaining victorious, its time to quit but Eddie feels invincible. This is where we see why Minnesota Fats is the best there is, before resuming play he goes to the bathroom. Takes a quick bath in the sink, brushes his hair, neatens his clothes and centres himself for battle, fresh and psychologically primed.
“Do you like to gamble, Eddie? Gamble money on pool games?” – Fast Eddie
That’s just the opening 20 minutes of this bleak drama that is steeped in a smoky jazz strained atmosphere of menace and soul destroying greed and ambition.
“Sure you got drunk. You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning... that can be heavy on your back, too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers” - Bert
John Doe says:
Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson is yet another iconic anti hero that the blue eyed smirking star will forever be associate with. He had already played Brick in Tennessee Williams Cat On A Hot Tin Roof but had yet to become recognized as Cool Hand Luke, Hud, Harper or Butch. Reprising the role 25 years later in Martin Scorcese’s loving sequel The Colour Of Money, this is the film that marked him as a quintessential angst ridden rebel.
A palpable charisma exudes from the young legend that is naturally charming. Wisely he embraces the mean and nihilistic side to Eddie that drives him and helps us understand the characters journey more. He is a tragic figure that we empathise with at his lowest and as he seeks redemption.
This comes largely from the complexities of the script and the conflicts it wades through. Lines of dialogue are strategically important to the story but also the characters and often our own lives. Not afraid to confront us with dark truths and examine taboos of the time that resonate today.
Director Robert Rossen (All the Kings Men, Lilith, Island In The Sun)maintains an authenticity and ensures we are invested in every heartbeat of this riveting classic. The dense atmosphere, fed on majestic black and white cinematography and the moody score set the tone of a hazy smoke filled underworld.
Better known as a funny man, Jackie Gleason (The Honeymooners, Smokey and The Bandit, Soldier In The Rain, Requiem For A Heavyweight) controls the screen with the same expertise that Minnesota Fats has with a cue stick. Effortlessly smooth and unblinking, his fluid movement and unflappable exterior never falter.
Piper Laurie (Twin Peaks, Carrie) plays Sarah, the emotionally crippled lush who falls for Eddie with gut churning pain.
George C Scott (Hardcore, Anatomy of A Murder, Patton, Dr Strangelove, They Might Be Giants) as the cold and calculating Bert who mentors Eddie in the darkside of the force defines his career persona with the part.
All the 4 leads, the director, the screenplay and the picture were nominated for Oscars. It lost disappointingly to West Side Story and Maximilian Schell took home best actor for Judgement at Nuremburg. It did win for cinematography and Art Direction.
John Doe finds himself immersed in this duel of chalk dust and electric drama ever since he first saw it as a kid. Eye opening back then for it’s frank sexuality and violence, it has lost none of it power and still stands out like Eddie, as one of the best that there ever was.
The DVD:
Transfer: Widescreen 2:35:1/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: Anecdotal and analytical Audio Commentary with cast and crew, Featurette “The Hustler The inside Story” and a pair of treats for those who play. Seamless Branching: Trick Shot analysis and How To Make the shot-5 Sequences.
Here is a short scene with Paul Newman and Piper Laurie.
This is one of my favourite films ...
And your review has done it justice ...
Even if your whole review was just the following piece of dialogue? ... I'd still consider it an excellent review ...
This is superb scriptwriting:
“Sure you got drunk. You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning... that can be heavy on your back, too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers” - Bert
Worth the read just for that quote ... but a lot more ...
Keep em coming ...
David ...
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I thought this was a great movie...thanks for the reminder...
Norm
Film & TV on DVD
That quote really is the crux of Eddie's journey isnt it?And also contains painful truth about my own life at times.
A great script has the power to guide our understanding of human behaviour.
It is the crux of the movie to me ...
But I'd have a lot different take on it to others ...
A lot of so-called successes (all financially independent, self-made people btw [apparently their parents played no part in their birth?]) in life have said to me:
"What are you afraid of? Succeeding in life?" ...
The usual modern, new-age psych crap ... heard it all before a thousand milliion times ... it doesn't wash with me Fink!
I've never answered them ... (they think I can't ... and think they have bamboozled me by their financial acumen and logic) ... but if I wanted to respond? And treat them like a piece of shit, as they do to others 'so inferior to them'? ... I'd say:
"If being like you is what success is all about? ... And the measure of a man's life on earth? As in, to become an ignorant coporate arsehole with no self-knowledge, and no real knowledge about life itself? I'd prefer to be a loser thanks ... Now give me my pool cue and my drink, and get the fuck out of my face, you suit-wearing tosser."
David ...
Film & TV on DVD
It frightens me that you often echo my own sentiments, only more eloquently.
Now rack em up and lets play a little 9 ball. Drinking bourbon from a bottle and a pack of lucky strikes in hand. Charlie Parker filling out the background noise as the dames parade by.
Horrorphile
Piper Laurie is superb in this.
As is everyone else of course.
Robbed of more Awards.
Great review JD!!!!
Hit the nail on the head ...
By no means are you behind the 8 ball here!
Film & TV on DVD
George C Scott is one hard man in this, love every line he speaks, Gleason is a revelation in this, there is such understated cool and etheral calm to him...Piper Laurie matches the men, no small feat either.
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Is that the Jake La Motta, the subject of Raging Bull?
Film & TV on DVD
Its is young, angry Newman that defined an era...also have a look at Hud to see him play truly despicable and irreedemable while still sweating cool from every pour.
And yep, that is the real Raging Bull, he turns up as a Barman in the movie.
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I was set for my comment, when Luke said it just before me....
Oh well, no less true for being said twice...
Great review of a great movie.
Theresa
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
Film & TV on DVD
Creepty, it has been a while since we were insynch but it has happened before...great minds or fools?
Thanks for the nod.
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for the kind words.
Welcome Optomistic Opportunism,
The Hustler is a much more serious and powerful film than The Sting.
Where as the Sting is an entertainment piece The Hustler is a gritty drama that will leave you stunned by its themes and dark atmosphere.
Both great movies in different ways.
Thanks for the visit, come back anytime.
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Did you see the extra on "The Color of Money", where Newman told how Gleason hustled the entire cast (including Newman himself) out of all their pocket money at pool?
I miss Newman >sigh<