Film
The Hustler
US One Sheet / (27" x 41") / Single Sided
United States (USA)
Very Fine plus; originally folded (as issued) now Conservation Linen Backed
Robert Rossen
George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason, Michael Constantine, Murray Hamilton, Myron McCormick, Paul Newman, Piper Laurie
1961, 1964 Re-Release
“They called him “Fast Eddie”… He was a winner… He was a loser… He was a hustler.”
Rarely is a reissue poster more highly treasured than the original release, but this is – “The Hustler” one-sheet is one such title. When this movie was first released, the studio seemed to want to hide that it was about “pool hustling”, and it was sold as being a romance, and there was little to no mention (or images) of pool on any of the first release 1961 posters. But when the movie was quickly re-released three years later in 1964, it had become an Academy Award winning classic, and learning from their mistakes, the new marketing campaign featured a striking stylised design – a pool cue with images of the actors within billiard balls set against a green baize background. An absolute must-have example with an iconic design and use of bold colours which literally do ‘pop’ out from the paper of this stunning original country of origin American poster. Originally folded (as issued) the example offered here has been professionally conservation linen backed to a very high standard and appears rolled. It represents a hugely collectable and desirable example of cinema movie memorabilia for one of the defining sports based movies ever made. A truly classic movie and poster.
Trivia: All the pool shots in the movie are performed by the actors themselves (Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason) except one: the massé shot (cue ball sends two object balls into the same pocket), performed by Willie Mosconi.
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
There isn’t one weak scene in “The Hustler”. Not a one. To me this truly is the cinematic ultimate of what a movie is all about. In no other movie has there been such a universal theme so well portrayed. The theme here is what makes a winner, what defines a loser. The answer is character. How do we obtain that elusive ring? Through the crucible of disaster? Of a love lost? By selling out?
The pool game in this movie is merely a convenient prop. This movie is NOT about pool. We have seen this shoot out before. The fast young guy challenges the king. King of the Hill is a nice term for boys growing up. Some gain the maturity to move on, to quit using people for selfish gain. Walter Tevis & Robert Rossen state it takes character to overcome those early base animal instincts and to find inside ourselves there is more than raw physical talent that makes us winners. How many times have you read about a sports team `They have no character.’
It could be anything other than a pool game; business `brick laying’ `a jockey.’ The most telling statement was delivered by the character Bert Gordon (George C. Scott to Fast Eddie (Paul Newman) after Eddie’s ego got him humbled, and his thumbs broken, hustling suckers. ` This( read – life) isn’t football, you don’t get paid for yardage.’ Just count the cash. And isn’t that life now? Just count the cash. There are so many dialogue lines that that just hammer the senses. Like “You know what beat you Eddie? Character.”
The acting, absolutely brilliant. Newman’s best. He had the game face and demeanor of a dominant aggressor. Everything in this movie is what life is : Power. It is at times subtle, linear, abstract, existential (They wear masks Eddie.) Piper Laurie delivers fragility and vulnerability better than Leigh in `Streetcar.’ Scott is the loser and is stunning in role. Jackie Gleason is the mountain of a man Newman had to `climb’ over to get to the top. It is all here in one superlative package of cinematic art.
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Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.
Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.
Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.
Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.
Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.
Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.
Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.
All photographs and images used on our site are photographs of the actual poster/item you are buying, we do not use stock photographs.
LOBBY CARD
11 x 14″ printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.
WINDOW CARD
14 x 22″ printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970’s.
HALF SHEET
22 x 28″ printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.
INSERT
14 x 36″ printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.
STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60″ printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.
ONE-SHEET
27 x 41″ printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass “marquee” case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980’s most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27″ by 40″ and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.
THREE-SHEET
41 x 81″ printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970’s on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as “international” versions to be used abroad.
BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40″ Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.
BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40″, printed on paper. Very rarely used size.
ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28″ six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26″ Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.
2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55″ This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79″ Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.
FRENCH
47 x 63″ (GRANDE) or 24 x 33″ (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian’s some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.
