A comedy about a casino gambler in the fictitious city of Loserville, USA, who becomes the victim of a ruthless gambler. A black comedy about a Las Vegas lounge singer, the lout she lives with, and a young blackjack dealer the lout has managed to jinx at his own table. Director Don Siegel's last film.
A boozing pool shark works his way up the ranks from small pool halls to the big-time in the Midwest. "Fast" Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary "Minnesota Fats" to a high-stakes match, but he loses in a heartbreaking marathon. Now broke and without his long-time manager, Felson faces an uphill battle to regain his confidence and his game. It isn't until he hits rock bottom that he agrees to join up with ruthless and cutthroat manager Bert Gordon. Gordon agrees to take him on the road to learn the ropes. But Felson soon realizes that making it to the top could cost him his soul, and perhaps his girlfriend. Will he decide that this is too steep a price to pay in time to save himself?