Tag Archives: Paul Newman

Pulp Friday: The Hustler

The Hustler

“A taunt, suspenseful novel of a strange smoke-filled world where drifters, sharks and lushes live by one rule that is a command: WIN!”

Today’s Pulp Friday needs no introduction, The Hustler, by Walter Tevis.

This cover is from the paperback version published by Dell Books in 1959.

I’m sure you’ll agree with me it’s a beautiful cover. The book is great and it was also a terrific movie starring Paul Newman. Indeed, just posting this image makes me want to see the movie again.

The back cover design below is also great.

Enjoy.

The Hustler back coverRead more

WUSA

Has anyone ever done dissolute as well as Paul Newman?

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Hud, The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, and the little known WUSA.

WUSA numbers among that great batch of films made in the early seventies, when the Hollywood studio system was in crisis and desperate to give anything a try. The counter-culture had worked its way into the mainstream (but was dying on the streets), the country was struggling to come to terms with its increasing violent engagement in Vietnam.

Released in 1970 and set in New Orleans, WUSA is a character study of three people, all in the wrong place at the wrong time, even if they don’t know it yet.

Joanne Woodward is Geraldine, a dishwater blond with a razor cut across one check courtesy of the abusive husband she left behind in Texas.

Anthony Perkins is Rainey, an idealistic Christian who thinks he’s been employed to do a survey to help the city’s black population, but has actually been set up by the city’s right-wing politicians to help them throw people off welfare.

Newman is Rheinhardt, a cynical alcoholic drifter. His first point of call after arriving in New Orleans is a church service on skid row being run by a fafe priest, Farley, who owes Rheinhardt a hundred dollars from a previous scam in New York. … Read more