Question 1

What real-life bet did Paul Newman lose to Jackie Gleason while filming The Hustler?

Accepted Answer

Newman bet Gleason $50 on a pool game. Gleason sank all 15 balls in one turn, and Newman paid him with 5000 pennies the next day.

Question 2

How did Paul Newman prepare for his role as a pool hustler?

Accepted Answer

Newman had never held a pool cue before. He removed his dining room table to install a pool table and practiced constantly.

Question 3

Which actor performed the only non-actor pool shot in the film?

Accepted Answer

Willie Mosconi performed the massé shot, where the cue ball sends two object balls into the same pocket.

Question 4

What is the central conflict that drives Fast Eddie Felson's story?

Accepted Answer

Eddie is a talented but self-destructive pool hustler whose bravado leads him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats in a high-stakes match.

Question 5

Which festivals or awards is The Hustler associated with?

Accepted Answer

It won an Academy Award in 1962 and was featured at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1993.

The Hustler

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