Staking and Partners in "The Hustler"

[arsenius]

Just finished watching "The Hustler" again, and I've got a couple of questions for you all.

The first time Eddie plays Fats, his partner keeps "his cut" of the money. Is that Kosher? It seems prudent, if your horse gets drunk and stupid, you hide some of the money. But at the same time, it doesn't seem right to bail on your man without his knowing.

Then, at the end, I don't understand how Burt thinks Eddie owes him money. I was under the impression that Eddie was playing with his "life savings," not Burt's money. But, he did say "Get on me Burt." So which was happening?

I've never been in any situation at all like these, so I'm withholding judgment. I've never been on the road and never been staked. But, those of you who have lived that life, how do you interpret those two situations?

 

[Southpaw]

At the end, he plays Fats on the $3000 that he won while he and Burt were in KY. And I guess Burt thinks that he should still get a piece of Eddies action after beating Fats. Thats why Eddie asks him if hes got alot of games lined up for him. So since they are still "partners" then Eddie owes him his cut.

Southpaw

 

[arsenius]

At the end, he plays Fats on the $3000 that he won while he and Burt were in KY. And I guess Burt thinks that he should still get a piece of Eddies action after beating Fats. Thats why Eddie asks him if hes got alot of games lined up for him. So since they are still "partners" then Eddie owes him his cut.

Southpaw

I understood that Burt still thought they were partners, but I what don't understand where he gets off thinking that! If Eddie is playing on his own dime, he's not gonna give up 75% of the money (or 50% "here" at Ames'), that's absurd. I thought Eddie was being sarcastic when he asked about having games lined up, also.

 

[Tim5000]

Maybe Burt was implying that the original agreement was still in effect, and that he gets his percentage of any and all of Eddie's winnings no matter who puts up the money?

It's been a while since I've seen it but that's the impression I got.

 

[JustPlay]

My take on Burt's action in the last game between Fast Eddie and Fats is that it was about ego, pride and envy (between Eddie and Burt). All Eddie was going to win was 3000 (Fats wasn't going to chase more than that just to make 3k max from Eddie). What was Burts cut 1500? Not enough for Burt to even care about, let alone break Eddie in half. Burt had too much pride, ego and envious of Eddie to let Eddie get the best of him. In the end he hurt Eddie in he worst way. He killed his action in any big money room.

The Hustler is a great movie. The pool playing in the move was just a bonus.

 

[jay helfert]

Burt was strictly "on the muscle" here. He knew he wasn't in on this score, but tried to "tush hog" Eddie for a piece, like only 50%.

Eddie was being very sarcastic when he asked if Burt had some more games lined up. It was kind of a reference to their last ill fated road trip.

 

[Fatboy]

Bert is like my ex girlfriend we opened a business together on my $$$, she got paid every week, when she quit working she thinks she is entitled to a piece of the action forever, we had a contract and i fufliied my obligations to her-but because i'm still in action she things she has something comming forever.

You dont own people because you staked them, the times I have been staked it was for that game and the relationship was over after I won or lost, we sorted out the $$$ and that was that. I've had a number of people stake me over the years-years ago, but not for big $$$ just a few hundred.

As Jay said he just muscled him, I have never seen that happen in any pool room ever, If it was going to happen I doubt it would happen out loud infront of the rail, but it was good for the movie.

 

[arsenius]

Thanks for the replies guys, any thoughts on the first part, about what his first partner did?

 

[Fatboy]

Thanks for the replies guys, any thoughts on the first part, about what his first partner did?

the fact he held out some $$$ on him, he wasnt suppost to but it would have been lost anyways and newman was drunk, he should have ended the game eariler and went back and fired at them the next day, or split what he held out on him up front not dodging him.

i havent seen the movie in years so i might be off on this one, what ever he did i remember it wasnt a stand up move.

 

[pdcue]

Just finished watching "The Hustler" again, and I've got a couple of questions for you all.

The first time Eddie plays Fats, his partner keeps "his cut" of the money. Is that Kosher? It seems prudent, if your horse gets drunk and stupid, you hide some of the money. But at the same time, it doesn't seem right to bail on your man without his knowing.

Then, at the end, I don't understand how Burt thinks Eddie owes him money. I was under the impression that Eddie was playing with his "life savings," not Burt's money. But, he did say "Get on me Burt." So which was happening?

I've never been in any situation at all like these, so I'm withholding judgment. I've never been on the road and never been staked. But, those of you who have lived that life, how do you interpret those two situations?

FWIW - don't you thing that Burt's behavior triggering the
suicide of the love of Eddie's life is just a tad more reprehensible
than trying to keep Eddie in his pocket?

But seriously folks - you've hit on the MAJOR flaw of the movie.
In the book, Girlfriend doesn't even go on the Derby trip -
no melodramatic fallout - no split between Eddie and Burt.

The people who made the movie just couldn't help themselves,
they had to make a soap opera finish instead of a fine little
story for grown-ups.

Dale

 

[curlyscues]

money was not the object

My take on Burt's action in the last game between Fast Eddie and Fats is that it was about ego, pride and envy (between Eddie and Burt). All Eddie was going to win was 3000 (Fats wasn't going to chase more than that just to make 3k max from Eddie). What was Burts cut 1500? Not enough for Burt to even care about, let alone break Eddie in half. Burt had too much pride, ego and envious of Eddie to let Eddie get the best of him. In the end he hurt Eddie in he worst way. He killed his action in any big money room.

The Hustler is a great movie. The pool playing in the move was just a bonus.

We really don't know how much he took off of fats. and the point of the game was not make the money anyway. (just a fringe benefit)

Eddie's purpose as a pool player was to make the great Minnesota Fats say he couldn't win. "i can't beat you Eddie"

M.C.

 

[hemicudas]

Burt was strictly "on the muscle" here. He knew he wasn't in on this score, but tried to "tush hog" Eddie for a piece, like only 50%.

Eddie was being very sarcastic when he asked if Burt had some more games lined up. It was kind of a reference to their last ill fated road trip.

Totally agree, Jay. But,,,,,the trip was only ill fated because the girl died. If Eddie could have toughened up and bitten the bullet, I know he loved the girl, he and Burt could have busted the world. Sorry, must just be me. I want the cash. That would have been my bitter-sweet ending.

 

[JustPlay]

Everyone is correct! It was just a movie. A fabricated story for us to enjoy. And the best thing about the movie- it had nothing to do with pool and everyting to do with pool......Try figuring that one out.

 

[arsenius]

FWIW - don't you thing that Burt's behavior triggering the
suicide of the love of Eddie's life is just a tad more reprehensible
than trying to keep Eddie in his pocket?

But seriously folks - you've hit on the MAJOR flaw of the movie.
In the book, Girlfriend doesn't even go on the Derby trip -
no melodramatic fallout - no split between Eddie and Burt.

The people who made the movie just couldn't help themselves,
they had to make a soap opera finish instead of a fine little
story for grown-ups.

Dale

Absolutely, that's more reprihensible! However, in that case, there's no question about whether what Burt did was wrong (if you can't see that, please stay the **** away from me and my loved ones!;-). The two things I asked seem more open to debate.

I like both endings, so I'm happy they made the movie that way.

 

[jay helfert]

Thanks for the replies guys, any thoughts on the first part, about what his first partner did?

When you're partners with someone, especially in gambling situations, you always have a right to "pull up". That means you can take your share of the money and quit. And go home for that matter.

 

[jay helfert]

Everyone is correct! It was just a movie. A fabricated story for us to enjoy. And the best thing about the movie- it had nothing to do with pool and everyting to do with pool......Try figuring that one out.

This is a classic flim that is studied in film classes to this day. It used pool as a context for telling a story about the human condition.

 

[alstl]

This is a classic flim that is studied in film classes to this day. It used pool as a context for telling a story about the human condition.

I agree, but I have a question. Was it realistic for Burt to tell Eddie he was going to be finished in any pool room from then on? In Color of Money Eddie makes reference to that as the reason he quit playing, saying some people put him out of business.

 

[CrownCityCorey]

Burt was strictly "on the muscle" here. He knew he wasn't in on this score, but tried to "tush hog" Eddie for a piece, like only 50%.

Eddie was being very sarcastic when he asked if Burt had some more games lined up. It was kind of a reference to their last ill fated road trip.

That's it!

Burt was just trying to "ream" Eddie cause Burt is an asshole piece of shit!

 

[Southpaw]

I agree, but I have a question. Was it realistic for Burt to tell Eddie he was going to be finished in any pool room from then on? In Color of Money Eddie makes reference to that as the reason he quit playing, saying some people put him out of business.

I guess back then there were bangers and champions and not much in between, so when Burt told him this, he knew that Eddie was one of the well known players. After all, they had heard of him before he came into Ames poolroom. So with this being said, he probably meant that the "word" would be out on him and he would get busted up again if he went to any "big-time" poolhalls.

Southpaw

 

[Luxury]

I practice in my house's pool room by myself with the Hustler playing constantly. It is incredibly acted and my favorite part of the movie is when Bert yells, "You owe me MONEY!"

By saying, "Get on me Bert. I can't lose." I think it is understandable for Bert to think he was in on the bet.

I've often thought of using Eddie's line and telling someone if they are about to kick my ass that they better kill me because if they just beat me an inch from my life I will come back and kill them.

What a movie!

Here is a question: The first hustle they do with the bank shot how come Eddie only wants action from the bartender? Is he afraid of beating the whole room out of money and getting his ass kicked?