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The Hustler (1961) DVD Review
The Hustler (1961) DVD Credits:
The Hustler (1961) Directed by:
Robert Rossen
The Hustler (1961) Written by:
Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen
The Hustler (1961) Cast:
Piper Laurie, Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason, Myron McCormick
The Hustler (1961) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
The Hustler (1961) DVD Release Date:
11th June 2007
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The Hustler (1961) Synopsis:

Paul Newman shines as cocky poolroom hustler "Fast" Eddie Felson in Robert Rossen's atmospheric adaptation of the Walter Tevis novel. Newman's Felson is a swaggering pool shark punk who takes on the king of the poolroom, Minnesota Fats (a cool, assured Jackie Gleason in his most understated performance). After losing big and crashing into a void of self-pity, Eddie meets down-and-out Sarah (Piper Laurie in a delicate performance), an alcoholic blue blood who's dropped into Eddie's world of dingy bars and seedy poolrooms. Eddie regains his confidence and attracts the attention of a shifty, calculating promoter, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott at his most heartless), who offers to bring Eddie into the big money--but at what cost? Rossen brings his film to life with the easy pace of a pool game, giving his actors room to explore their characters and develop into a razor-sharp ensemble. Eugen Schüfftan earned an Academy Award for his shadowing black-and-white cinematography, as did art directors Harry Horner and Gene Callahan for their deceivingly simple set designs. Even in the daylight this film seems to be smothered by night, lit by the dim glow of a bar lamp or the overhead glare of a pool-table light, an appropriate environment for this tale of one man's struggle with his soul and his self-esteem. Newman returned as an older, wiser, cagier Felson 25 years later in Martin Scorsese's Color of Money.

The Hustler (1961) DVD Review:


When it comes to pool-hall gambling films, The Hustler is the quintessential classic in every regard. Paul Newman reprised this role in Martin Scorsese’s sequel, The Color of Money, and there is a reason this return was so anticipated. Newman has made some great films and played many incredible roles in his years as an actor, but this simple pool shark Fast Eddie Felson is so vibrant with Newman’s young energy that he nearly leaps from the screen. The Hustler also boasts a fantastic supporting cast including Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott, making this a well acted film. Luckily these great actors were also given an incredible script about pool hustling which was shot beautifully in black and white. Co-written, produced and directed by Robert Rossen, this film was also marked as a return after Rossen’s career was halted with the McCarthy witchhunts of the 1950s.

The filming of the pool games themselves are something to marvel at, which can be done in the special features of this long anticipated two-disc collector’s edition of the film, because there is a trick shot analysis of five scenes from the film. All aspects of this film still remain as impressive as ever, and aside from weak cover art this new package does the film justice.

Fast Eddie Felson (Newman) is a small time pool player thinking he may be the best. He wins enough to strut and always have a boyish grin on his face, until the day he plays Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). The match lasts for 36 hours until Fast Eddie eventually loses, which puts him in horrible shape. It isn’t until a ruthless gambler (George C. Scott) starts to show Eddie how to hustle that he gets his taste for winning back. Bouncing easily between the melodrama and spectacular pool action, The Hustler is a complete film.

Along with new on-camera interviews with Paul Newman in three new featurettes, there is also a fantastic commentary track with the actor and various film scholars and critics. The three new featurettes are fantastic, but the second disc also includes additional featurettes which have previously been released along with photo galleries and other fun perks. There are a few features dealing with the incredible trick shots in the movie, and these are among the most fun on the second disc.

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The Hustler (1961) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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