The Hustler
1961
****
Director: Robert Rossen
Cast: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Myron McCormick, Murray Hamilton, Stefan Gierasch
A compelling drama about "Fast Eddie" Felson, a young and cocky pool hustler who gets a heartbreaking lesson about winning and losing. Sidney Carroll and Robert Rossen adapted Walter Tevis' 1959 novel. The moody black and white cinematography and art direction/set decoration earned Academy Awards. Paul Newman, who is excellent, had to wait for his Oscar for another 25 years when he reprised the role in The Color of Money.
