The Hustler (Episode 82) - Hot Date with Dan and Vicky

To get an authentic pool hall feel for his second to last feature The Hustler (he would only make 1964's Lilith before passing away in 1966), director Robert Rossen shot in two actual pool halls in New York City.  New York also stood in for other parts of the country --everything from a Pittsburgh bar to a Kentucky mansion was shot in the city.  And when his lead Paul Newman couldn't master certain pool trick shots, he cut in the hands of pool technical advisor Willie Mosconi.  Though Jackie Gleason's character Minnesota Fats was created by Walter Tevis for the novel on which the movie is based, real life hustler Rudolf Wanderone adopted the persona and insisted that the character was based on him.   Your Hot Date hosts discuss the classic 1961 film and it's towering performances from Newman, Gleason, Piper Laurie and George C. Scott.  They also give us their thoughts on some recently seen including The Wife, Green Book, Glass, Velvet Buzzsaw, The Prodigy, Cam, BlackkKlansman, Victor Crowley, Russian Doll and the Broadway adaptation of 1976's Network.     Place your bets and enjoy Hot Date 82: The Hustler.  Please leave us some feedback and visit our website at www.hotdatepod.com.