MovieChat Forums > The Hustler (1961) Discussion > Playing for 40 hours STRAIGHT?!!!?!!

Playing for 40 hours STRAIGHT?!!!?!!

posted 8 years ago by mgsullivan-50452
6 replies | jump to latest

This is, perhaps the one thing I dont get about the movie. That first matchup v. fats. Seriously, who can simply stay awake that whole time, let alone, play for that long? Since this was so long ago, are matches played for weeks on end nowadays?

they were socializing, drinking, smoking..etc. And the ppl who stayed to watch, in those uncomfortable chairs, Really?!? Also, given the length of each game, onscreen, was only a couple mins, how is it that they only bet so little? Were massive breaks taken in between each game?

this is the one thing I find superhuman about this movie.

[–] toddthe 8 years ago

40 hours is possible just ask any degenerate.
29 hours at a crap table, i left up maybe $50 bucks, should have got a players card.
Good times

[–] markdancedcrazy 8 years ago

I've heard some crazy snooker stories, like guys in the UK playing in tournaments for days at a time. I don't think they do it sober, though!

[–] dahoss65 8 years ago

If Newman can eat fifty eggs, then he can certainly play pool for forty hours straight.

[–] kag2 8 years ago

I suspect that Fats was either practiced at marathon matches, or if not, was willing to endure one to beat a very tough competitor in Eddie. I also suspect that Fats probably drank only a small portion of his whiskey (or had Preacher cut it with water), thus "hustling" Eddie, who drank all of his bourbon. You might notice that Fats only brought liquor in after Eddie raised the bet to $1,000 per game (from $200), which is maybe $7,000 or more in today's money.

Is that what Bert meant by "character" being the deciding factor?

[–] nelking 8 years ago

Wow....you guys caught something that must've gone WAY over my head. I definitely knew it was a marathon match but I thought it was more like 12 hours or so, i.e 8PM to 8 AM. In general, "my" scenario seems to make sense...they were both drinking (Eddie a lot more than fats) and at one point, Fats washes up and gets back to it.....so, again 12 hours for that type of activity seems right. How did I miss that this was supposed to have taken place over a 3 DAY stretch?

[–] afredfan 8 years ago

Fats took Eddie's measure from the beginning; Eddie was playing for glory, look at the scene where the crowd applauds Eddie he looks so smug.
Fats is a pro, he plays for money. He isn't as good as Eddie at the talent part of the game, I think he knows it. Fats plays the man.

Drinking-Fats says to his pal "get it from Johnny's" a signal to give Fats a massively watered down bottle. Eddie is drinking straight, Fats is drinking watered down with ice. Happens alot in poker home games, too.

Fats wins with smarts, and character and experience. Eddie is playing a talent based game, but he only wins when he is at his best. When he gets tired, drunk, or emotional his game suffers.
Fats knew his hustle of Eddie the first time would be a long, long play. Eddie did not.

Play the man. Pool is a game of people played with balls.