A while in 1986, Martin Scorsese obtained a private letter from Paul Newman. The long-lasting actor was concerned with working with the person behind Imply Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull. However at this juncture in his profession, Scorsese wasn’t essentially making those self same sorts of cult hits. He was in a transitional interval. He wanted an enormous Hollywood image to assist earn some favor with the studios – the type of favor that will let him make the flicks he actually wished to make … like, say, Goodfellas, which might hit cinemas a mere 4 years later.
Scorsese is a dyed-in-the-wool cinephile. So when Newman wrote to him about directing a sequel to the legendary movie The Hustler (1961) and provided to reprise his function as Quick Eddie Felson, you’d greatest imagine Scorsese was . That movie would turn out to be The Coloration of Cash (1986). It’s a film about nine-ball pool, certain – however actually it’s a time capsule of early, maniacal Tom Cruise, and late, stoic (however nonetheless cool) Paul Newman – each at peak powers. Newman is greatest identified for his namesake Daytona – however on this movie, he dials it again and places on the Rolex of the individuals … the Datejust.
Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and Eddie Felson (Paul Newman), Datejust on his wrist, taking within the sights and sounds of the pool corridor in The Coloration of Cash. Screengrab courtesy, Touchtone Photos/ The Walt Disney Firm
Why We’re Watching
The U.S. Open Pool Championship wrapped this previous Sunday, and the APA World Pool Championship is queued up for October. That places us squarely in Pool season, and never the sort you swim in. The Coloration of Cash is arguably the very best film about pool on the market – and we are able to lump The Hustler in with it since they’re firmly of the identical cinematic universe (look out, Marvel).
Quick Eddie Felson (Newman), pool cue in hand, and Rolex Datejust on wrist in The Coloration of Cash. Screengrab courtesy, Touchtone Photos/ The Walt Disney Firm
In 1986, Quick Eddie is previous his prime, hanging round pool halls, flirting with bartenders, and recognizing money to hustlers (one in every of whom is performed by John Turturro). However then a brand new hotshot enters the fray. Vincent Lauria (performed by Cruise) is an arcade-game-loving man youngster with a greaser hairdo and a character that’s one half Bruce Lee, and 1,000 components, effectively, Tom Cruise. Felson sees one thing within the younger whippersnapper, and takes him below his wing. The remainder of the movie is a fever-dream of ’80s music, and smoke-filled billiard bars – and it will get higher with each viewing.
Lauria (Cruise), and Felson (Newman) along with his Datejust, able to pocket all 9 balls in a single go in The Coloration of Cash. Screengrab courtesy, Touchtone Photos/ The Walt Disney Firm
What’s so nice about this film, from a watch perspective, is simply how related the solid and crew are with iconic timepieces. Newman, as talked about right here, there, and all over the place (underrated Beatles music), is synonymous with the Rolex Daytona. Martin Scorsese is a present Rolex model ambassador, and has usually been seen sporting the long-lasting Day-Date, also called the “President.” Tom Cruise? Oh, he’s a “movie films in outer house”, “hold off the wings of airplanes,” ”bounce on a sofa on Oprah,” “do all my very own stunts” … ambassador. However for what it’s price, he’s been identified to put on a watch or two previously (like his TAG Heuer in Jerry Maguire).
For this movie, Paul Newman breaks from his Bund strap, Daytona vibe, as a substitute sporting a conservative 36mm Rolex Datejust – what seems to be the ref. 16200 – on a jubilee bracelet. His has an off-white, nearly ivory-colored dial with a easy bezel – that means it’s all metal (no gold for Eddie Felson – it’d be too vulnerable to scratches across the pool desk). The watch is seen on Newman’s wrist for nearly your entire movie, which is sensible since so most of the pictures are of fingers and wrists – it’s a film about pool in spite of everything.
Related Rolex Datejust 16200 to the one Newman wears in The Coloration of Cash. Picture, Phillips
There’s a 24-year hole between the Hustler and The Coloration of Cash. Felson doesn’t put on a Datejust within the authentic movie, which implies it’s left to our creativeness how his character landed such an iconic watch on his felt-resting wrists. My cash is on him shopping for it after an enormous event victory. All of us want one nice watch, and that is his.
There are nearly too many good watch recognizing scenes to reference – just like the one the place Felson approaches Lauria at his day job (in a toy retailer) and convinces him to hit the street for an upcoming nine-ball event. Seated in a makeshift break room within the retailer’s warehouse, Felson has a pressed gray go well with, burgundy turtleneck, aviator sun shades, killer mustache … and the glistening Datejust on his wrist.
Felson (Newman) capping off his fashionable outfit along with his Datejust whereas speaking to Lauria (Cruise) within the break room of a toy retailer in The Coloration of Cash. Screengrab courtesy, Touchtone Photos/ The Walt Disney Firm
This film has actually stood the check of time, and the watch has been one thing of a tastemaker. Horological legend Aurel Bachs wrote a chunk not too way back, recalling how this film led to his falling in love with this very Datejust even going as far as naming it the “Eddie Felson.” It simply goes to point out you Paul Newman’s energy as a method icon. He was – and is – far more than the racing chronograph that took his identify.
Related Rolex Datejust 16200 to the one Newman wears in The Coloration of Cash. Picture, Phillips
When We’re Watching
The perfect watch films are those that characteristic the timepiece within the very opening scene. Proper after the Scorsese-narrated credit fade to black, we discover Felson seated on the bar of a pool corridor, doing a bizarre sensual whiskey tasting with a feminine bartender. It appears, in his post-pool hustling years, he’s turned to a lifetime of wholesale alcohol peddling.
The 2 of them start to bicker over what sort of omelet Felson as soon as made for her. Seems it was bitter cream and caviar, which – effectively, I’ll reserve judgment till I attempt one. All through this peculiar debate, Felson’s arm is resting on the bar [00:04:38] permitting for a full view of his jubilee bracelet Datejust. With the watch, his unfold collar shirt, and darkish gray go well with – we get a full understanding of Eddie Felson proper from the bounce.
Screengrab courtesy, Touchtone Photos/ The Walt Disney Firm
Quickly after this scene, as Phil Collins’ “One Extra Evening” blares out over the bar audio system, Felson hears the crack of balls on the pool desk behind him. Startled, he notices the energetic Lauria taking command over the desk. After a couple of minutes of examination, Felson invitations Lauria and his girlfriend out for dinner. It’s at this meal that he begins to pitch Lauria on changing into a full-time participant, and, his protege. He sees greatness in him – perhaps slightly little bit of his former self.
He tells Lauria that being a pupil of the sport is akin to being a pupil of human habits. Cruise’s Lauria has Felson’s watch in his hand throughout this dialog. Felson then bets the dinner invoice that he can depart with a girl on the bar in two minutes. By means of slightly trickery, he will get the girl to agree to go away with him, earlier than returning to the desk to announce his victory. At this second we get a transparent view of the watch in Lauria’s hand as Felson says, “Human strikes, child. You research the watch however I research you. You get the examine.” He then takes again the watch, and throws money on the desk for a cab, and leaves. It doesn’t get extra Paul Newman than that.
Screengrab courtesy, Touchtone Photos/ The Walt Disney Firm
The Coloration of Cash (starring Paul Newman, and Tom Cruise) is directed by Martin Scorsese, with props by Jeffrey R. Renfrow. It’s accessible to hire on iTunes or Amazon.
