The 1961 movie, The Hustler, sparked a real-life pool craze and inspired an actual pool hustler to rise to fame by renaming himself Minnesota Fats after Jackie Gleason's on-screen performance of the pool hall king with that name.

This movie which is now considered great is one where only a handful of movie characters are so real that the audience refers to them as touchstones. Here, there are at least two touchstones. One is Fast Eddie Felson who is a pool shark played by Paul Newman. The other is Jackie Gleason in the role of Minnesota Fats.

Pointedly, Gleason is the legendary pool champion that Eddie must beat to prove himself the best. But, what is very interesting is that Gleason provides truly unforgettable impressions, although he does not have a lot of dialogue. He uses only a handful of words, apart from calling his pool shots. With Gleason it is all presence, body language, the sad face, the concise, intent way he works the table, the lack of wasted moves. He gives the impression of a man purified by pool, who has moved through all the sad compromises, crooked bets and hustling moves. He is a man who now simply, elegantly, plays the game.

Unlike Fats, Eddie is still hustling; he makes his living by dependably being the best, time after time. Others must test themselves against him; and, he is the ruler of a shabby kingdom.

In the end, Eddie like Fats learns that a real hero can win by surrendering, by accepting reality instead of his dreams.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org