I have seen more then The Hustler a 1000 times

put a name to the outlined palyer.

I don't know but he is in a lot of scenes. Do you know or are you asking?

That pic is what I was talking about in my first post. The staging is perfect. Look at the guy in the background sleeping in the chair. The more you look the more you see.
 
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It came is a two tape set. In the beginning most tapes were like from $59.00 to over a $100.00.. I am talking about the late 70's. The prices came down fast once the rental stores began opening.

Yes, mine is the two tape version, don't remember the cost.
 
Very nostalgic, brings back a lot of memories.

My dad was a huge film buff and had a ton of movies on 16 and 35mm film, including The Hustler iirc.

Can't imagine what that stuff cost back then. I know there are still a couple projectors and cans of film laying around somewhere. Now I'm curious exactly what still might be here.
 
Piper Laurie

You hit the nail on the head there. That scene when ever the movie was on TV was always edited out. Many people had never seen that scene till they saw the movie on cable or had the video. I guess the guys who did the editing for TV thought that scene was boring.

Piper Laurie should have gotten an Academy Award along with Paul Newman for that love story. Both were snubbed at the Oscars because pool was involved.

Newman said years later that this was his greatest role.
 
Charlie Dierkop

I recognized Charles Dierkop. He is an actor who was in later Newman movies like BC and the SD kid and the Sting. In the Hustler he is the guy who drags him out to have his thumbs broken.

There are not many mistakes in the movie. Near the end before Eddie tells Fats "You play a great game of Pool" there is a cut where Newman seems to be in a completely different spot in relation to Gleason.

Another thing I noticed is how convincing Newman is as a player. He moves around quickly and has a decent stroke. This is also assisted with great editing that makes everything move seamlessly.

I think one of the big mistakes in the movie is when Charlie tells Eddie "You have been playing 25 hours". That would make it around 9 pm the following night yet the place is empty. It should be hopping especially with a big action game going on. The first night at 8 PM every table was going it looked like.

I lived in Charlie's hometown for many years. When he came back for a visit (in 1969 I believe) we played some at Dick & Ann's Bar for a few bucks. Decent player and a nice guy!
 
Am I the only one who thinks this movie is depressing as hell? I've gotten through it once all the way and a few times bits and pieces. I can't imagine 3 months worth. Always wondered what the appeal is. I
 
Am I the only one who thinks this movie is depressing as hell? I've gotten through it once all the way and a few times bits and pieces. I can't imagine 3 months worth. Always wondered what the appeal is. I

One of very, very few, I would imagine.
 
Gleason thought of himself as a pretty good player, and in the movie he looks like he can play. His friend, Toots Shor , told Gleason a salesman he knew was coming to New York and was looking for a straight pool game.Gleason agreed to play the "salesman". The salesmans name was Willie Mosconi.
 
Am I the only one who thinks this movie is depressing as hell? I've gotten through it once all the way and a few times bits and pieces. I can't imagine 3 months worth. Always wondered what the appeal is. I
It is a modern Shakespearean story and character study. The setting could be any number of places, but it takes place in the subcultural world of the pool room. You need to watch it a number of times to really to appreciate it and judge it.

It only has a few principle characters and very little dialogue. It is done in 4 acts. I love the B&W. The first act where he has the confrontation with Fats and they play is about a half an hour. How many movies have you ever seen that could maintain a scene that long.
It is a masterpiece.
 
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