Rent The Hustler (1961)

4.0 of 5 from 150 ratings
2h 9min
Rent The Hustler Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
Paul Newman heads a superb cast featuring Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott and Piper Laurie in this riveting film that received an Academy Award nomination as Best Picture of 1961 and brought all four of its stars Oscar nominations. Newman is electrifying as Fast Eddie Felson, an arrogant, amoral hustler who haunts back street pool rooms fleecing anyone who'll pick up a cue. Determined to be acclaimed as the best, Eddie seeks out the legendary Minnesota Fats, who's backed by Bert Gordon. The love of a lonely woman could turn Eddie's life around, but he won't rest until he bests Minnesota Fats, no matter what price he must pay.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , Carl York, , , , , , Gloria Curtis
Directors:
Producers:
Robert Rossen
Writers:
Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen
Others:
Harry Horner, Gene Callahan, Eugen Shuftan
Studio:
20th Century Fox
Genres:
Drama, Sports & Sport Films
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: The Bishop's Wife, Award Winners, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024, Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Cate Blanchett, inema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, Oscars: Winners & Losers, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Martin Scorsese, Top 10 Best Last Films: World Cinema, Top 10 Best Picture Follow-Ups, Top Films
Awards:

1962 BAFTA Best Foreign Actor

1962 Oscar Best Cinematography Black and White

1962 Oscar Best Art Direction Black and White

BBFC:
Release Date:
19/08/2002
Run Time:
129 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Subtitles:
Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, French, Italian
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
B & W
Bonus:
  • Audio Commentary by Dade Allen, Stefan Giorush, Ulu Grosbard, Paul Newman, Richard Schickel, Carol Rosson and Jeff Young
  • The Hustler, The Inside Story
  • How To Make The Shot
  • Trick Shot Analysis
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Spanish Theatrical Trailer
  • Behind-The-Scenes Still Gallery
  • Interactive Menus
  • Scene Access
BBFC:
Release Date:
23/05/2011
Run Time:
129 minutes
Languages:
English DTS 2.0 Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
B & W
BLU-RAY Regions:
(0) All
Bonus:
  • Milestones in Cinema History: The Hustler
  • Audio Commentary by Paul Newman, Carol Rossen, Dede Allen, Stefan Gierasch, Ulu Grosbard, Richard Schickel and Jeff Young
  • Paul Newman at Fox
  • Jackie Gleason: The Big Man
  • The Real Hustler: Walter Tevis
  • Life in the Fast Lane: Fast Eddie Felson and the Search for Greatness
  • Swimming with Sharks: The Art of the Hustle
  • The Hustler: The Inside Story
  • Paul Newman: Hollywood's Cool Hand
  • Trick Shot Analysis by Mike Massey
  • How to Make the Shot with Mike Massey, Featuring Five Scenes
  • Theatrical Trailer

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Reviews (2) of The Hustler

Pool Hall Tragedy. - The Hustler review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
26/06/2012

This has an aura of nocturnal transience. Strangers cross paths in bus stations, hotels, waiting rooms and pool halls. It traps these nightflies in the frame of its b&w photography, in its noirish lighting, its urban set design and authentic pool hall locations. It is realistic, yet as poignantly mythic as an Edward Hopper painting.

Most of all it catches the essence of this world in its ill-fated anti-hero, the pool shark Fast Eddie Felson who must overcome personal tragedy to beat Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) in an epic contest at the Ames Pool Hall. Eddie is brilliantly inhabited by Paul Newman with huge intensity and charisma and sadness.

 Newman and Piper Laurie as his lonely, aimless, alcoholic lover are extremely affecting together, captured in the deep, narrow spaces of her apartment. George C. Scott is tough and intimidating as Eddie's manager who shows the hustler how much of himself he has to sell in order to succeed.

The film is all atmosphere. The scenes develop at leisure, assembling the strangers in a sort of ceremony in the pool rooms as the night settles in and the hustle begins. The pessimistic script sounds like beat poetry. Some of the dialogue is thrilling. So lovely, so full of sorrow. 

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Alcoholism and pool - The Hustler review by BP

Spoiler Alert
29/08/2017

This was on my list of classic films. It was much darker than I thought it would be. The pool scenes are great (they had long pool matches back then) but it's no barrel of laughs. Newman is good I thought, so are George C Scott (from Dr Strangelove) and Jackie Gleason; Piper Laurie I wasn't bowled over by her character or her performance, which is a shame because I liked her in Carrie.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

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