MASS MoCA brings the classic 1961 film, The Hustler, to the big screen on Friday, August 3, at 9 pm. Paul Newman shines as arrogant hustler Fast Eddie bent on beating Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), the kingpin who hasn't lost a game in 15 years. The film won two Oscars and earned nine Oscar nominations, including one for each of the four stars, Newman, Gleason, Piper Laurie, and George C. Scott.
Paul Newman plays Fast Eddie Felson, a charismatic and talented pool hustler whose fundamental flaw, arrogance, causes a series of mistakes. It's not enough just to win; his opponent must concede that he's the best. In a rare dramatic role, Jackie Gleason's Minnesota Fats uses that to hustle this hustler out of everything he's got. A dejected Eddie walks away from his long-time manager and friend, Charlie and falls for an alcoholic would-be writer and sometime prostitute Sarah played by Piper Laurie (Carrie, Children of a Lesser God, Twin Peaks). Then he falls under the spell of Bert Gordon, played by George C. Scott, a successful gambler who offers to teach Edie how to play in the big time. Pool champ Willie Mosconi makes a cameo appearance and provides Fast Eddie's best shots. Jackie Gleason shot his own game in the film.
Paul Newman scored his second of eight Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for The Hustler. He finally won the Oscar for The Hustler's sequel The Color of Money. Though Newman has gradually moved away from Hollywood, he continues to be a prominent public figure through extensive charitable work, including the Scott Newman Foundation which he founded after the drug-related death of his son and "Newman's Own" the gourmet foodstuffs products with all profits going to various charities.
Jackie Gleason broke into show business by winning an amateur-night contest at age 15 and then performing in vaudeville, carnivals, nightclubs, and roadhouses. He performed in several Broadway shows before becoming known as "The Great One" for starring in The Life of Riley, The Honeymooners, and The Jackie Gleason Show. Gleason is also well known for his role as the sheriff in the Smokey and the Bandit film series. Though Gleason is well known as a comedian dramatic roles are rare for him and The Hustler brought Gleason his only Academy Award nomination.
George C. Scott spent four years in the Marines before beginning his acting career. He received an Academy Award for starring in Patton and declared that he would not accept, insisting that the Oscars were "a meaningless, self-serving meat parade." He later won and refused to accept an Emmy for his work in the TV production of Arthur Miller's The Price.
Piper Laurie received Oscar nominations for her portrayal of the religious fanatic mother in Carrie and her part in Children of a Lesser God as well as her role in The Hustler. She also received an Emmy nomination for her role in David Lynch's cult TV series Twin Peaks.
The Hustler at MASS MoCA is sponsored by Legacy Banks. The Cinema Classics series is sponsored by Holiday Inn Berkshires.
Lickety Split will serve full dinners or snacks starting at 8 pm when the doors open. There will also be a full bar. In case of rain the film will move indoors where the Hunter Center will have been transformed into a full movie palace.
Tickets for The Hustler are $5. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office off Marshall Street in North Adams from 10 am until 6 pm daily. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org.
MASS MoCA, the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the United States, is located off Marshall Street in North Adams on a 13-acre campus of renovated 19th-century factory buildings.
MASS MoCA 1040 MASS MoCA Way North Adams, Mass. 01247 413.MOCA.111 www.massmoca.org
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
click for more
