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IMDbPro

The Player

  • 1971
  • GP
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
4.4/10
21
YOUR RATING
Minnesota Fats, Jerry Como, and Rae Phillips in The Player (1971)
DramaSport

The life of Lou, a pool hustler, disintegrates through his association with the beautiful and sophisticated Sylvia, who refuses to understand or accept his way of life.The life of Lou, a pool hustler, disintegrates through his association with the beautiful and sophisticated Sylvia, who refuses to understand or accept his way of life.The life of Lou, a pool hustler, disintegrates through his association with the beautiful and sophisticated Sylvia, who refuses to understand or accept his way of life.

  • Director
    • Thomas DeMartini
  • Writer
    • Thomas DeMartini
  • Stars
    • Minnesota Fats
    • Jerry Como
    • Rae Phillips
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.4/10
    21
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Thomas DeMartini
    • Writer
      • Thomas DeMartini
    • Stars
      • Minnesota Fats
      • Jerry Como
      • Rae Phillips
    • 1User review
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast10

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    Minnesota Fats
    • Minnesota Fats
    Jerry Como
    • Lou Marchesi
    Rae Phillips
    • Sylvia
    Carey Wilmot
    • Linda
    Jack Colavita
    • Jack Colavita
    Dick Nelson
    • Phil, the peanut butter man
    • (as Richard Nelson)
    Thomas DeMartini
    • One-Pocket Joey
    Victor Anthony
    • Bill
    Gordon Ogden
    • Walsh
    Lee Edwards
    • Ed
    • Director
      • Thomas DeMartini
    • Writer
      • Thomas DeMartini
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    4.421
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    Featured reviews

    EyeAskance

    "Behind the eight ball", indeed...

    Pool sharks are more-less a thing of the past, but not so long ago, they represented a minor but vibrant American subculture. Though often derided as vagabonds and grifters, some of these billiard mavericks who lived by the cue achieved a sort of rock-star obeisance, replete with ardent fans and fawning groupies. The Mick Jagger of them all was the legendary MINNESOTA FATS.

    THE PLAYER, barely released in 1971, is one of a very small handful of films centered on the pool shark ethos. Minnesota Fats appears as himself, and his presence marks the sole point of interest in this otherwise abortive minimus of a motion picture. The dribble of a story at hand concerns a young pool scuff finding his lifestyle a hinderance to his romantic pursuits. Mostly, however, this film is about pool. Pool halls. Pool tables. People playing pool. Telephone discussions about pool. It's a dull and toilsome monotony which doesn't even showcase any particularly impressive maneuvers, and Minnesota just shows up randomly to sink a few balls. The sound, editing, and camerawork are atrocious, and the incidental music an annoying blast of bubblegum Farfisa chords.

    A static regional Z movie which was thought lost for ages. I suppose we can be thankful that it survives, but I can't imagine it having appeal to any but the most stalwart billiard historians.

    2/10.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Extensive searches for a print of the film had been unsuccessful for many years. Sources had claimed that it was unreleased and/or uncompleted, despite it having a paper trail of promotional material. On April 1st, 2024, the YouTube channel FT Depot posted a fully scanned print of the film that had been discovered in a deteriorating state, making it available for the first time in 50 years.
    • Soundtracks
      June Winds
      Music by Shorty Rogers

      Lyrics by David Craig

      Sung by John Bahler and Jackie Ward

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 5, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • International Cinema Inc.
      • Ogden-Perry Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Minnesota Fats, Jerry Como, and Rae Phillips in The Player (1971)
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    By what name was The Player (1971) officially released in Canada in English?
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