The Hustler

This gritty, downbeat adaptation of the Walter Tevis novel was director Robert Rossen’s favorite of his films, and one of Paul Newman’s as well. He reprised his role as pool shark Fast Eddie Felson in Martin Scorsese’s 1986 The Color of Money and won the Oscar that eluded him here. Pool pro Willie Moscone coached Newman and served as hand double for the close-up shots. Mostly relegated to banal glamour girls parts in the 50’s, Piper Laurie turned everyone’s head with her harrowing portrayal of Newman’s ill-fated girlfriend.