Best and Worst Pool Movies...

Here are a couple more for the list:

Long de chuan ren (1990) -
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0100047/
Stephen Chow leaves for the big city to try and save his home by winning the huge snooker tournament. Jimmy White plays the champ.

Murphy's Law: Manic Monday (2003)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0350435/
This is a 2-hour episode from the British TV series Murphy's Law. This episode is about the lead character being assigned to protect a snooker player. The player is nearing the end of his career and losing his skills. After he agrees to throw matches for some gangsters, he regains his stroke and starts playing the best snooker of his career. This episode gets shown on BBC America every now and then. I recommend it.

Here's a VCR alert - Bad Boy from 1935 is going to be shown on Fox Movie Classics on Wed. Feb 8th at 3am. I'm in the Pacific time zone, so the start time may be different in your area. I watched it a couple of months ago, and it's not bad.
 
poolhall junkies

For me pool hall junkies is the worst because there was so much hype that the star was a player and it would look right.I never understood why he gave Mike Massey a speaking part and then had actors shoot all the pool!Very very disappointed.
 
junkies wasn't bad in my eyes

I liked Pool Hall Junkies a little. There were some lines that
were a little "stupid".

"I just picked up a pool cue and knew how to play" - Right.

"Because I'm the one that put the matchbooks under the legs"
- Yeh, by yourself

"You sent that guy to the ATM three times"- They started playing
for $1,000 a set. What bank/ATM allows you to take out $1000 even
once in a day. (Maybe some do?)

If the star's younger brother was so good that he could make
two or three hundred every time he went into the pool hall,
why did he have to hock his guitar?

I bet there's more nonsense in there, but that's all I could think
of at the moment. I still think the movie was OK, and entertaining.
 
Hi all!

After visiting this great site for a while this is my first post and I'm kind of happy it's about pool movies.

Like all of you I have loved and played pool most of my life but there have been large blocks of time when I haven't played at all. I've also been amazed at how few really good pool movies there are.

I am an actor by trade and about 6 months ago I finished acting (and contributing as a pool advisor) in a fairly large roll in a movie titled 'Turn the River'. The movie is not about pool but pool plays a big part in the story. It's the first film by Chris Eigeman. Famke Jensen (Jane Grey in X-MEN) is the lead character. Rip Torn, Lois Smith, Terry Kinney are in the cast. Tony Robles has a small part and does a beautiful job. Jude Rosenstock (yes that Jude Rosenstock) was cast in a small supporting roll after giving a great audition untill some last minute script changes unfortunately eliminated his part. (very common in the film business).

The latest info I got from the director is that the film will be entered in the various big film festivals: Cannes, Sundance, Toronto etc. to get the best distributor possible. I think they already have a distributor but are looking to find a stronger one.

I just wanted to put this info out there and hope the film gets into the theaters.

My all time fav is "The Hustler", by far the greatest pool movie. Great script and story. Also because pool is what Eddie loves and is passionate about. He feels the greatest as a person when he is playing this great game. It showed the dark side of pool but it also showed the beauty and greatness of it and why we love it.

Pool Hall Junkies is the pool movie I wish was never made. I was stunned after I saw it. It was so negative about pool and the pool world. It was supposedly written by two guys that love the game (go figure). I was also amazed at how many wonderful actors were in it.

Anyway, I'm happy to be part of this site.
 
VKJ said:
Hi all!

After visiting this great site for a while this is my first post and I'm kind of happy it's about pool movies.

Like all of you I have loved and played pool most of my life but there have been large blocks of time when I haven't played at all. I've also been amazed at how few really good pool movies there are.

I am an actor by trade and about 6 months ago I finished acting (and contributing as a pool advisor) in a fairly large roll in a movie titled 'Turn the River'. The movie is not about pool but pool plays a big part in the story. It's the first film by Chris Eigeman. Famke Jensen (Jane Grey in X-MEN) is the lead character. Rip Torn, Lois Smith, Terry Kinney are in the cast. Tony Robles has a small part and does a beautiful job. Jude Rosenstock (yes that Jude Rosenstock) was cast in a small supporting roll after giving a great audition untill some last minute script changes unfortunately eliminated his part. (very common in the film business).

The latest info I got from the director is that the film will be entered in the various big film festivals: Cannes, Sundance, Toronto etc. to get the best distributor possible. I think they already have a distributor but are looking to find a stronger one.

I just wanted to put this info out there and hope the film gets into the theaters.

My all time fav is "The Hustler", by far the greatest pool movie. Great script and story. Also because pool is what Eddie loves and is passionate about. He feels the greatest as a person when he is playing this great game. It showed the dark side of pool but it also showed the beauty and greatness of it and why we love it.

Pool Hall Junkies is the pool movie I wish was never made. I was stunned after I saw it. It was so negative about pool and the pool world. It was supposedly written by two guys that love the game (go figure). I was also amazed at how many wonderful actors were in it.

Anyway, I'm happy to be part of this site.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update and welcome to the site, VKJ.
 
Updated List

Updated List

* 9-Ball (not out yet)
http://mainstreetproductions.com/9ball.htm

Bad Boy (51 min.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026093/

The Baltimore Bullet
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080412/

The Baron and The Kid
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086937/

Behind the Nine
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317135/
http://www.behindthenine.com/

Billy The Kid And The Green Baize Vampire (English musical)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088807/

Bye Bye Baby
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094820/

Chalk
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115859/
http://www.chalkfilm.org/index.shtml

The Colour of Money
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090863/

* Destiny Stalled
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238148/

* El Embustero
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322164/

Equals Against Devils (The Desperate Prodigal) (Japanese but has English subtitles)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165222/#comment

Hard Knukle
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148256/

The Hustler
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054997/

Kiss Shot
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097671/

Kisses And Caroms
(This takes place in a billiard pro shop, but not much pool. Funny as hell.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381341/
http://www.kissesandcaroms.com/

* Legend Of The Dragon (Long De Chuan Ren)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0100047/

* Lemon Tree Billiards House
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0269471/

Pakners (Efren Reyes)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365609/

* The Player (No web information as of yet.)

Pool Hall Junkies
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273982/

The Pool Hustlers (Io, Chiara e lo scuro)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084151/

Pool Sharks (WC Fields, 10-15 min., silent)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0005910/

* Running Out
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0302991/

The Shooting Gallery
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339526/

Snooker (Hagiga B'Snuker)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152492/

Stickmen
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251415/
http://www.stickmen.co.nz/

The Understudy: Graveyard Shift II
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096335/

Up Against The 8 Ball
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372007/
http://www.upagainstthe8ball.com/[/QUOTE]

* I have yet to see these. (So I can't confirm them even though others have.)[/QUOTE]
 
Last edited:
Although I thought PHJ was somewhat entertaining it definetly didn't portait the sport well. And what's up with the bar owner telling him how to play the defense in the final match?!?
 
Fred Astaire

This is a TV show, not a movie, but it starred an actor who was probably the best pool playing famous actor.

Fred Astaire did four episodes on the old Dr. Kildare TV series playing a pool hustler. I mention this because, according to Jay Helfert in another post, "Fred Astaire was probably the best of the bunch, capable of running 60 to 80 balls, and maybe more. He had a nice looking stance and stroke." The "bunch" refers to show biz celebrities who liked to play pool.

The plots of the four episodes sound pretty sappy, but 1964 TV was pretty sappy all around. Anyway, I wish I could see them because I admire Fred Astaire so much. Here are the plots:

22Nov65: Sister Benjamin is forced to give up her missionary work when she's stricken with leukemia--an illness she hides from her father, a gentle, itinerant pool shark.

23Nov65: When Sister Benjamin's father fails to show up for his heart examination, Kildare looks for him in the most likely place--the local poolroom.

29Nov65: Joe Quinlan (Astaire) becomes the talk of Blair Hospital when he slips out of his sick bed to hustle a wealthy patient in a pool game.

30Nov65: Despite a serious heart ailment, Joe Quinlan (Astaire) competes in a strenuous pool tournament to win the money for his daughter's hospital bill.

What do you want to bet that Fred wins the tournament to pay the hospital bill, but the strain was too much and he dies peacefully and happily with Dr. Kildare at his side?
 
Updated List

Pool Movies

* 9-Ball (not out yet)
http://mainstreetproductions.com/9ball.htm

Bad Boy (51 min.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026093/

The Baltimore Bullet
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080412/

The Baron and The Kid
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086937/

Behind the Nine
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317135/
http://www.behindthenine.com/

Billy The Kid And The Green Baize Vampire (English musical)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088807/

Bye Bye Baby
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094820/

* Carambola
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0404857/

* Casablanca, Casablanca
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0090801/

Chalk
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115859/
http://www.chalkfilm.org/index.shtml

The Colour of Money
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090863/

* Destiny Stalled
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238148/

* El Embustero
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322164/

Equals Against Devils (The Desperate Prodigal) (Japanese but has English subtitles)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165222/#comment

Hard Knukle
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148256/

The Hustler
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054997/

Kiss Shot
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097671/

Kisses And Caroms
(This takes place in a billiard pro shop, but not much pool. Funny as hell.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381341/
http://www.kissesandcaroms.com/

* Klassik
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0230419/

* Legend Of The Dragon (Long De Chuan Ren)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0100047/

* Lemon Tree Billiards House
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0269471/

Pakners (Efren Reyes)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365609/

* A Paradise Without Billiards (Ett Paradis Utan Biljard)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0102630/

* The Player (No IMB.com information)
The following info was found here: http://www.billiardboys.com/moviegallery/billiardmovies.html
The Player (1971)
Starring: Jerry Como, Rae Phillips, Carey Wilmot, Jack Colavita, and Minnesota Fats
Written and Directed By: Thomas DeMartini
Theatrical Release: 1971 (limited)
Other Release: (none)
Plot: Billiards legend "Minnesota Fats" (real name Rudolph Wanderone) plays himself in this feature film that seems to have been lost in obscurity.

Pool Hall Junkies
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273982/

The Pool Hustlers (Io, Chiara e lo scuro)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084151/

Pool Sharks (WC Fields, 10-15 min., silent)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0005910/

* Running Out
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0302991/

The Shooting Gallery
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339526/

Snooker (Hagiga B'Snuker)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152492/

Stickmen
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251415/
http://www.stickmen.co.nz/

* There Are No Thieves in This Village (En este pueblo no hay ladrones)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0059147/

* The Touch: The Challenge (Il Tocco: La Sfida)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0115447/

* Turn The River (not out yet)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0811128/

The Understudy: Graveyard Shift II
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096335/

Up Against The 8 Ball
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372007/
http://www.upagainstthe8ball.com/[/QUOTE]

* I have yet to see these. (So I can't confirm them even though others have.)

Thanks to SILVER__WOMBAT for finding the link http://www.billiardboys.com/moviegallery/billiardmovies.html and getting us more movies added to our list. The pictures and info on there are great too.
 
Movie 9 Ball Starring Jennifer Barretta

9-Ball" The Movie - "WPBA MEMBER JENNIFER BARRETTA TO STAR IN UPCOMING FILM "9-BALL" -- Jennifer Barretta has been cast to star in the new movie "9-Ball" directed by Anthony Palma of Main Street Productions, who also wrote the screenplay and will produce. Barretta says: "I'm absolutely thrilled to have been cast as Gail! Our lives have many similarities which will authenticate my portrayal of her." "9-Ball" is about a young, up and coming female pool player (Gail) who breaks away from hustling pool in the back rooms of bars under the manipulation of her exploitative uncle, to follow her dream of becoming the Women's 9 Ball Champion of the World........

http://www.mainstreetproductions.com/9ball.htm
 
I have it and it is not much of a movie...but I still have it. If you understand the language it might be better.
 
> On The Baltimore Bullet,it's pretty cheesy. Not a whole lot of real pool being played either. I saw one of the exact cues used in this movie at Bill McDaniel's shop in 1991,he made most of them. There are a few fairly nice trick shots done during the opening credits. Tommy D.
 
I couldnt agree with jay helfert more. The Hustler has been the only truly great pool movie made. TCOM was poorly written and did little to expose the true nature of road playing. PHJ was absolutely horrible. The story line was a joke, a pro player playing with all fiberglass cues and has possibly the worst open bridge i've ever seen before in my life (i dont even think he used a closed bridge). Until a movie is written by someone who has a true passion for the sport, and can find someone who is equally passionate to direct it, there will never be another great pool movie. It depresses me to see everyone saying that TCOM or PHJ wasnt that bad, why settle for mediocrity? I dont think its too hard to ask for atleast one more realistic and well written pool movie, do you?
 
The best pool movie in years is currently being made by a team in Los Angeles (not me). It is a documentary on Pool and professional pool players. I have seen the first 25 minutes of it (all that has been edited so far), and it is TERRIFIC! A wonderful look at the game and the players.

You'll know when it comes out, hopefully this year.
 
Worst Kiss Shot with Whoopie.

3660251_ori.gif
 
Wow, I can't believe the 9Ball movie is still being made. Is this really true? 5 years in the making. Their Facebook page is still showing current production activity.
 
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