Made in 1961, I had never really watched it all the way through until last night. Jackie Gleason, Paul Newman, George C. Scott. Good acting, good directing.

Some of my observations:

1) Holy shit! EVERYBODY smoked in a movie then. They smoked playing pool, smoked after eating regardless of where they ate, smoked in the shower too probably.  

2) Gleason & Newman shot quite a bit while wearing sport coats or jackets. How the hell can one shoot pool while wearing a business jacket? Were they cut looser back then?

3) Newman & Gleason did their own shots from what I could see. I know Gleason shot pool in real life & was pretty damn good. It certainly added to the movie, IMO.

4) The whole B&W film adds a noir feel to the thing. I know I sometimes shoot photos in B&W to gain a certain feel, but this time it really added to the smokey, gritty feel of the pool hall.

5) Lastly, they just don't make actors like Newman, Gleason & Scott any more. Nor movies like this anymore. Not one car chase, not one sex scene but highly engaging drama through the whole movie. Film studies students should be watching this sort of stuff in school, IMO.

I watched it as well. I've seen  this movie several times and enjoy it every time.

You are spot on about the acting. Newman was one of the best; and Gleason was perfectly cast in this movie, he did a great job.

One of my favorite movies.

Perverted

Twisted

Crippled

Film school teacher here.

Trust me.  Many students study this film

All great observations. The actors back then were a different breed; tough, indepentent, intelligent.

The Color of Money, while uneven, was a worthy sequel.


Newman never phoned it in.


 

JTS Brown.

If I remember correctly Minnesota Fats actually did most of the close in shots. Good movie and I agree that color of money was a decent follow up. As for the suits I would imagine that if you played pool as a profession your suit would be tailored for that purpose.

At the level they were playing at there is a mental aspect. Fats was a class act. Always clean, Calm, and ready to burn you down. Much like James Bond or Iceman their image was a part of their game.

If I remember correctly (been a while since I've seen the film) Wilie Mosconi has a cameo and is listed as a technical advisor. I don't think he gets a credit in the list of actors though. Gleason has a line where he addresses Mosconi and I do believe he calls him Willie.

Ehhhh. I know Willie Mosconi HATED Fats. Didn't speak to him, didn't even want to play him. There's a book out about their made-for-tv match in the early to mid-1960s, hosted by Humble Howard Cosell. It traces both Fats & Mosconi's childhoods. Intriguing reading, IMO.

I got to meet Fats in Nashville, about 2 years before he died. His mind was pretty much gone by then, sadly.  

ETA: Yes, Willie Mosconi is indeed listed.

Jake Lamotta played a bartender! Wow! Didn't know that until now.

I meant his character in the movie. Class act was probably the wrong phrase. I was trying to point out how he was clean and smooth and that was part of what made Eddie so mad.

Rudolph Wanderone called himself New York fats until the movie came out. Ever the showman he started calling himself Minnesota Fats after the movie made a big splash. Fats never was a top player. Top trash talker but never a top player! I've been into the Chicago pool scene for 30 years and have seen some crazy shit. In a few hours I'll be playing at Chris's Billiards where the Color of money was shot. Green felt is every bit as addicting as BRD!

One of my favorites.

A film classic.

Not as good as Saw 3 or Fast and Furious 6

Probably a little known fact. Jackie Gleason was a helluva conductor too.

You'll enjoy The Twilight Zone's original (1961) "A Game Of Pool" episode with Johnathan Winters and Jack Klugman.

SyFy channel airs the 1960s episodes late at night (mostly) in case you can't find a copy.

My mother had several of his albums from the '60s. I couldn't find them when my brother and I cleared out their house.
The Last Dance.

The Hustler and Color of Money are two of my favorite movies.  I grew up with a good pool table in the basement.  Someday I hope to get another.

IIRC, Jackie Gleason was friends with Minnesota Fats and Mosconi

Fats was an entertainer as much as pool player, IMO. I remember when I first got cable in the 1980s & ESPN had their "Legends of Pool" tournament. Fats never shut up while playing, never.  

While he didn't win the ESPN tournament, he did have a respectable showing, IIRC. Seems like Willie Mosconi won it?

One of my favorites

A great movie, and Newman was one of the best actors ever, not to take away from the rest of the cast.

http://2012diaries.blogspot.com/2009/11/curious-tale-of-jackie-gleason-richard.html