Join star Piper Laurie for a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of one of the masterpieces of Hollywood’s golden age!
Three-time Academy Award nominated star Piper Laurie appears in person with Robert Rosson’s gritty tale of triumph and loss in the world of pool. Paul Newman plays “Fast” Eddie Felson, a pool shark whose brilliant skills are matched only by the strength of his inner demons. Eddie grinds through dingy halls and bars, winning small payoffs while taking dangerous bets. He also begins a tortured romance with Sarah, an alcoholic given wounded grace by Piper Laurie’s remarkably sensitive portrayal. Things change when heartless gambler George C. Scott teaches Eddie the psychology of winning in the hopes of landing a showdown with Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). The Hustler (nominated for nine Academy Awards) remains a bracing investigation of characters driven to self-destruction but searching desperately for reasons to hang on. Newman later reprised his role in Martin Scorsese’s sequel The Color of Money. (USA, 1961, 134 min., b/w, 35mm courtesy of 20th Century Fox Archive)
Piper Laurie’s new memoir, Learning to Live Out Loud, recounts her journey from being born Rosetta Jacobs in a Jewish immigrant family in Detroit to becoming an acclaimed star. Her movie career is highlighted by herAcademy Award nominated roles in The Hustler, her bravura performance as Sissy Spacek’s religious fanatic mother in Brian DePalma’s Carrie(1976), and in the moving Childen of a Lesser God (1986). Her brilliant television career includes her Golden Globe winning role as Catherine Martell in David Lynch’s legendary Twin Peaks, as well as numerous roles in Law & Order: SVU, Frasier, Will & Grace, ER, Cold Case, St. Elsewhere, Ben Casey, Naked City, & Playhouse 90. She recently directed the Off-Broadway show Zero Hour, about the life of Zero Mostel.
