In the 1961 film The Hustler, Paul Newman portrayed one of his most memorable characters, Fast Eddie Felson, an up-and-coming pool player who wants to beat the legendary Minnesota Fats and prove he is the best player in the country. A quarter of a century had passed since that film shot into theaters, and Paul Newman cued up to reprise his role in the Touchstone Pictures film The Color of Money, which was released on this day in 1986.
Twenty-five years after The Hustler,
the former pool shark takes on a protégé, played by a young, up-and-coming actor named Tom Cruise. Despite the fact that this young hustler is cocky, impatient, and headstrong, Fast Eddie takes him under his wing, but after a falling out, Eddie takes up his cue stick and takes on the young hot shot. Tom Cruise was in awe of working with the Hollywood legend and was eager to hear the advice offered, such as,
“Don’t be afraid to take risks.
The last few films I’ve done have been risks, and I’ve been getting Academy Award® nominations for them. Oh, I’ve had my highs and lows, Cruise, and if you stick around long enough, so will you.”
