The Hustler (1961)

Second viewing; first was on November 25, 1989.

A hustler, in this film's context, is a guy who makes a living out of conning other people into playing pool with him for money. He is actually much better than he pretends at first. Eddie is one of those, and his dream is beating a certain experienced player. He meets Sarah, a lonely woman, and she falls in love with him.

The pleasure I took from this film is derived from the great expressivity of the emotions it evokes, which are almost abstract. The plot makes use of the 'Sarah' character to instill a greater dose of drama which the game by itself wouldn't be able to provide; the result has a definite moralistic undertone. The screenplay is sufficiently refined to steer clear of absurd propositions, but I suppose it is not free of feminine clichés, and this is definitely not the most attractive aspect of the film. The psychology of gambling is an important theme, derived mostly from Dostoevsky, but here it is a game of skill, an important difference. As I said, the film tends to abstractness, and too much analysis of its logic would not do it much good. The director does an excellent job, one of the best I have seen, of bringing out the essence of the story through actors' faces and gestures. The cast responds well, and Gleason should be singled out for a stunning performance.
Seen in pan-and-scan.

Rating: 84 (down from 97)