Academy Awards, USA 1962
| Won Oscar | Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Eugen Schüfftan |
| Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White Harry Horner Gene Callahan | |
| Nominated Oscar | Best Picture Robert Rossen |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role Paul Newman | |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role Piper Laurie | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jackie Gleason | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role George C. Scott
Refused even to be nominated.
| |
| Best Director Robert Rossen | |
| Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Sidney Carroll Robert Rossen |
Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Directed by Robert Rossen
My rating: 4 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Fox)
Paul Newman is a talented but cocky pool hustler who travels the country with his money man conning unsuspecting billiard players. He tires of the small time and they go to the pool hall of Minnesota Fats, the best player in the country, to challenge him. They have a marathon battle of the wills, and while Newman appears more talented his character falters over the long haul as he becomes too tired to carry on and Fats declares victory. Seeking solace, he picks up lonely alcoholic Piper Laurie in a dingy restaurant and they start a troubled relationship consisting of long nights of drinking and sex. Newman returns to small time hustling and gets his thumbs broken. Laurie nurses him back to health, but cannot convince to quit. He takes an offer of financing from con man George C. Scott and challenges Minnesota Fats to another long night. He wins, but it comes at a high price. Outstanding performances from the ensemble cast and moody black and white photography by Eugene Schüfftan which perfectly captures the seedy backroom pool halls of America make this an essential film.
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