The Hustler (1961) is a black and white Drama/Sports film about a rookie pool player who competes in a single-high stake match against a professional player with a long time winning streak. This movie is enjoyable regardless of whether or not you are a pool player. The acting is great and the mysterious music puts you on edge and makes you excited.I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys classic dramas. The cinematography, dialogue, and plot are all excellent and executed properly. In the scene where they first play pool together, the music starts off slowly at a low tempo and increases in tempo and volume as the game gets closer and closer to finishing.This film has it all- romance, a unique plot, gorgeous costumes, great music and amazing acting. Eddie Felson has the talent. He is an excellent pool player which is proved by how many games he wins. But, talent isn't all that it takes to make it big at pool. Does Eddie Felson have what it takes to be successful?

The kind of a movie that you really don't see much of anymore. Moody character study of many fine performances. How many movies do you see where every actor and actress nails their role ? Though I read somewhere that George C. Scott didn't care for Newman's portrayal Of Felson. Hard to see why. The one and only problem comes towards the end as we are left to guess how Sarah took her own life. I realize the film was made in 1961 but if she slit her wrists we have no way of knowing. Perhaps it was too early yet to show blood and or a razor in her hand ? Or for all we know she could have taken a handful of pills. It is confusing when you first see the movie.

I hadn't seen this movie in a while. It's one, that, if having seen it before, you carefully choose when to see it again. Because both at once you get the pleasure of seeing some wonderful performances but...you must also be prepared to be left with a feeling of emptiness. This movie is a perfect example of how brilliant directing can convey every bit as much the same expressiveness WITHOUT gratuitous sex and violence. In black & white and seemingly with one hand tied behind its back in relation to the lack of taste (for the sake of broader box office appeal) that is often displayed in more contemporary movies -- this movie is bursting with feeling and emotion on a darker level of human existence. It automatically assumes that its audience is adult. So the directing concentrates on artistic subtlety. Which allows the actors to display their talents. Leaving it up to the viewer to color in between the lines using his or her imagination. And for me that's some of the true brilliance in these older movies. A child could watch this movie with no concern. And yet an adult can come away feeling deeply touched and disturbed. IMO, this movie cemented Paul Newman as a box office star. It will stand the test of time. Because as long as humankind exists we will be battling our inherent ills and weaknesses. I think this movie IS a masterpiece. I would advise watching it on a cold, rainy day. Immerse yourself.

You get a pretty good idea where "The Hustler" will lead you after witnessing Paul Newman's utter defeat at the hands of pool legend Jackie Gleason (man, it's cool to watch him shoot). It's such a marathon contest that the effects are devastating. And that's only in the first 40 minutes or so, and the depths that Newman has to go to to overcome his personal demons and experience rebirth are gut-wrenching. I guess it'd qualify as spoilers to say he comes back and wins, but not the way you'd think.This is a fantastic movie - about character, not really pool - and it boasts some amazing talent. Newman, sure, but George C. Scott's a magnetic presence in an unscrupulous role. and Piper Laurie is the painful reminder of the bitter cynical undercurrent flowing beneath all of it.Outstanding.9/10