The Hustler

This article is about the 1961 film by Robert Rossen. For the novel this film is adapted from, see The Hustler (novel). For other films titled similarly, see Hustler#Films.

The Hustler
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Rossen
Screenplay bySidney Carroll
Robert Rossen
Based onThe Hustler
by Walter Tevis
Produced byRobert Rossen
Starring
CinematographyEugen Schüfftan (as Eugene Shuftan)
Edited byDede Allen
Music byKenyon Hopkins
Production
company
Rossen Enterprises
Distributed by20th Century-Fox
Release date
  • September 25, 1961 (1961-09-25)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.1 million[1]
Box office$7.6 million[2]

The Hustler is a 1961 sports drama film, directed by Robert Rossen. It tells the story of small-time pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson, who challenges legendary pool player "Minnesota Fats".

The film, which was based on the 1959 book of the same name by Walter Tevis, stars Paul Newman as Fast Eddie, Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats, Piper Laurie as Sarah, George C. Scott as Bert, and Myron McCormick as Charlie.

The Hustler was a major critical and popular success, gaining a reputation as a modern classic. Its exploration of winning, losing, and character garnered a number of major awards; it is also credited with helping to spark a resurgence in the popularity of pool.[3] In 1997, the Library of Congress selected The Hustler for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[4][5] The Academy Film Archive preserved The Hustler in 2003.[6]

A 1986 sequel, The Color of Money, starred Newman reprising his role as Felson, for which he won his only Academy Award.

  1. ^ Solomon p. 253
  2. ^ The Hustler, Box Office Info. The Numbers. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dyer119 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "New to the National Film Registry". Information Bulletin. Library of Congress. December 1997. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
  5. ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". LoC.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "Preserved Projects". Academy Film Archive.