This 1961 drama stars Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott. All four actors received Academy Award nominations for their performances.
Jackie Gleason as "Minnesota Fats."
“Fast” Eddie Felson (Newman) is a small time California pool hustler who makes his way across the country taking on opponents, letting them get ahead until the stakes are high, then swiftly winning the game and leaving town. He arrives in New York with his manager/partner to challenge the legendary “Minnesota Fats” (Gleason) to a game. Eddie gets ahead in the match, but ends up losing a total of $18,000.
Broke and disillusioned, Eddie leaves his longtime manager and begins hustling at third rate pool halls throughout the city. Eddie wants a rematch with Fats, and hooks up with coldblooded gambler Bert Gordon (Scott), who offers to stake Eddie for 75% of the winnings. The partnership and eventual rematch come at great personal cost to Eddie.
Hollywood at Home: The Hustler, Saturday at 9 p.m. on PBS-HD 6.
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