"Fast Eddie" Felson is a pool player from Oakland, CA. As good as anyone who ever picked up a cue, Eddie's biggest weakness is his arrogance. Eddie travels cross-country with his partner Charlie to challenge the legendary player "Minnesota Fats". After losing his money to over-confidence, he falls in love with Sarah, an alcoholic would-be writer and sometime prostitute, and falls under the spell of Bert Gordon, a successful gambler who offers to take Eddie under his wing and teach him how to play in the big time. However, the consequences prove tragic when Sarah joins Eddie and Bert on a trip to Louisville for a high-stakes match with a dandy named Findlay.
Cast: Jackie Gleason, Paul Newman, Piper Laurie
Crew: Robert Rossen (Director), Eugen Schufftan (Director of Photography), Kenyon Hopkins (Music Director)
Release Dates: 25 Sep 1961 (United States)
Tagline: They Called Him "Fast Eddie"
Did you know? After this movie, Piper Laurie took a 15-year break from acting, devoting the time to her marriage and raising her only daughter. The next film she shot was Carrie (1976), which earned her her second Oscar nomination. Read More
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as Minnesota Fats
as Eddie Felson
as Sarah Packard
as Turk
as Bert Gordon
as Big John
as Findley
as Charlie Burns
as Preacher
Production
Producer
Production Company
Distribution
Distributor
Camera and Electrical
Director of Photography
Music
Music Director
Sound
Sound Editor
Costume and Wardrobe
Costume Designer
Editorial
Editor
Makeup and Hair
Makeup Artist
Film Type:
Feature
Language:
English
Sound Mix:
Mono
Aspect Ratio:
2.39:1 (Scope)
Taglines:
They Called Him "Fast Eddie"
A searching look into the innermost depths of a woman's heart . . . and a man's desires!
A motion picture that probes the stranger... the pick-up... why a man hustles for a buck or a place in the sun!
They called him "Fast Eddie"... He was a winner... He was a loser... He was a hustler.
Only the angel who falls knows the depths of hell.
Trapped by the underworld . . . they risked love and fortune in a desperate gamble!
A searching look into the innermost depths of a woman's heart . . . and a man's desires!
A motion picture that probes the stranger... the pick-up... why a man hustles for a buck or a place in the sun!
They called him "Fast Eddie"... He was a winner... He was a loser... He was a hustler.
Only the angel who falls knows the depths of hell.
Trapped by the underworld . . . they risked love and fortune in a desperate gamble!
Filming Locations:
Trivia:
Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason performed all the pool shots in the movie except one: the massé shot (cue ball sends two object balls into the same pocket), which was performed by Willie Mosconi.
While on set, Paul Newman challenged the much more experienced Gleason to a $50 bet on a game of pool. After Newman broke, Gleason knocked all 15 balls in without giving Newman another shot. Gleason recalled that the next day Newman paid him off with 5000 pennies.
Before landing the role of Fast Eddie Felson, Paul Newman had never held a pool cue before in his life. He replaced his dining table with a pool table so he could spend every waking hour practicing in preparation for the movie.
After this movie, Piper Laurie took a 15-year break from acting, devoting the time to her marriage and raising her only daughter. The next film she shot was Carrie (1976), which earned her her second Oscar nomination.
While on set, Paul Newman challenged the much more experienced Gleason to a $50 bet on a game of pool. After Newman broke, Gleason knocked all 15 balls in without giving Newman another shot. Gleason recalled that the next day Newman paid him off with 5000 pennies.
Before landing the role of Fast Eddie Felson, Paul Newman had never held a pool cue before in his life. He replaced his dining table with a pool table so he could spend every waking hour practicing in preparation for the movie.
After this movie, Piper Laurie took a 15-year break from acting, devoting the time to her marriage and raising her only daughter. The next film she shot was Carrie (1976), which earned her her second Oscar nomination.
Filming Start Date:
06 Mar 1961
