The Hustler

A young pool player challenges a famous opponent to a high-stakes match. THE HUSTLER, independently produced by Robert Rossen and filmed in Midtown Manhattan during the winter and spring of 1961, introduces Fast Eddie Felson, one of the most energetic characters in American cinema. Paul Newman’s character is unforgettable because the film is not about his victory, but about his defeat: by pool, by life, and by his lack of character. It is a rare American film in which the hero “wins” by surrendering and accepting reality instead of pursuing his dreams.

At first glance, Newman’s handsome appearance seems out of place in the world of seedy billiard halls and itinerant players, but Rossen deliberately uses this contrast to portray a smooth, confident hustler who inevitably reaches his lowest point. Billiards is the battleground, but the film is not about the game itself: the real confrontation turns out to be psychological.

THE HUSTLER was nominated for eight Oscars and won two (Art Direction and Cinematography). Paul Newman was notably passed over for the Oscar for Best Actor, which went to Maximilian Schell for JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG: one of the great missed opportunities in Oscar history.

This film is part of Lucky Chance (27 Feb-1 Mar): a three-day film festival about humankind’s desire for gambling.