Which Scorsese film features a leading role played by Paul Newman?

Which Scorsese film features a leading role played by Paul Newman? The answer is The Color of Money. Martin Scorsese directed this 1986 sports drama, in which Paul Newman reprises his role as pool player Eddie “Fast Eddie” Felson.

The film is a sequel to 1961’s The Hustler and follows the older Eddie as he mentors Vincent Lauria, a talented but immature young player played by Tom Cruise. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio co-stars as Carmen, Vincent’s girlfriend and business partner.

The Color of Money is based on Walter Tevis’s novel of the same name, although its story differs substantially from the book. Scorsese emphasized the physical drama of pool through close-ups, rapid editing, saturated colors, and unusual camera angles around the table.

Newman won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for the role. A common mix-up is to identify The Hustler as the Scorsese film, but that earlier movie was directed by Robert Rossen; Newman played Eddie Felson in both films.